You're Wrong About ADHD

Around three years ago, Katie’s life fell apart. She couldn’t focus on daily tasks, struggled to sleep and became angry and impatient. Worst of all, she started forgetting everything. After visiting her GP, Katie learned her ADHD symptoms had got significantly worse because she had entered the perimenopause. And she’s not alone. 94% of women with ADHD said they experienced more severe ADHD symptoms during perimenopause and menopause according to a survey by ADDitude. Many women find the treatments that have worked for them in the past, suddenly don’t. They struggle to cope and hit crisis point.Dr Louise Newson is a GP and menopause specialist who founded Newson Health. She joins Sam and Katie to explain how the menopause can affect women with ADHD and sets out the different treatment options available.For more information, check out Newson Health's website: www.newsonhealth.co.uk/wellbeing-centre/You can find Newson Health's fantastic booklet on ADHD and the perimenopause and menopause here: www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/adhd-and-the-perimenopause-and-menopause-booklet/

Karen Doherty, a neurodiversity specialist couples therapist, shares her expertise on improving relationships impacted by ADHD. She discusses the importance of empathetic communication, offering practical strategies like using code words to de-escalate conflicts. Karen emphasizes mutual education about neurodiversity as a way to strengthen relationships and highlights the role of therapy in enhancing emotional connections. Personal accountability and effective dialogue are key to navigating challenges faced by neurodivergent and neurotypical partners.

This week Sam and Katie are joined by Capital FM and Capital Dance presenter Meg McHugh who only discovered she had ADHD when she was in her twenties. Meg tells them about the struggles she faced before she received her diagnosis and how her life has changed since. After her diagnosis, Meg set up a TikTok account where she shares her story of living with ADHD and gives tips on managing it. Follow her account: @immegmhugh for more.Get in touch, send your stories and questions to ADHDpodcast@global.com

Living with ADHD can be difficult as the symptoms make everyday activities more of a challenge. It can be hard to stay organised, meet deadlines and keep up with work, family and friends. Fortunately, there are lots of strategies available to help manage these challenges. Sam and Katie share the coping strategies they use, from writing lists and setting alarms to regular exercise and establishing a consistent routine. Get in touch, send your stories and questions to ADHDpodcast@global.com

ADHD can make it difficult for you to get motivated when it comes to tasks or activities you don't like. To be honest, sometimes it's hard to motivate yourself to do things you do like. You just can't make yourself start, however hard you try. It's something Sam and Katie both really struggle with. So, why is it so hard to do things that should be easy? Dr Tony Lloyd from The ADHD Foundation is back to answer Sam and Katie's questions. He explains how ADHD can cause a lack of motivation and provides practical tips on how to get tasks done. For more information, go to The ADHD Foundation's website: www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/resources Get in touch by sending your questions and stories to ADHDpodcast@global.com

We're taking a short break over Christmas to rest and recharge! So, take a breather, enjoy Christmas and we’ll be back on 8th January 2024 with a brand-new episode on motivation. Dr Tony Lloyd from The ADHD Foundation is back to tell us why motivation is one of the biggest challenges for people with ADHD and we’ll share some of the strategies we use to help us get stuff done. If you are feeling the pressure over the Christmas period, please be kind to yourself and do take a break. The ADHD Foundation and ADHD UK have resources, help and support on their websites for anyone who is struggling. For more information go to: www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/resources or www.adhduk.co.uk Don’t forget, you can listen to all episodes of You're Wrong About ADHD on Global Player. Download it from the App Store or go to globalplayer.com.Thank you so much for listening! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Christmas can be really stressful. There are so many different things to think about, so many gifts to organise, food to buy and so little time to get everything sorted. Add ADHD into the mix and it becomes even harder. By Christmas day, you can end up feeling totally exhausted. But there are ways to make things easier and more enjoyable. Henry Shelford from ADHD UK joins Sam and Katie to answer your questions on Christmas. They share their top tips and strategies, so you can enjoy the festive period without feeling like it's all too much.For more information and resources, go to ADHD UK's website: www.adhduk.co.ukGet in touch by sending your questions and stories to ADHDpodcast@global.com

Music can have a profound effect on people with ADHD. It can provide a calming influence, help you to concentrate and reduce hyperactivity. It can also be very distracting. Music plays a significant role in Sam and Katie's lives and they believe that ADHD has shaped their experience of it. They discuss how music benefits them and the moments when they need total silence. Joining them is Tristan Hunt, a Music Industry ADHD Coach, to explore the relationship between music and ADHD and discuss why people with ADHD are often drawn to creative jobs. To learn more about Tristan, visit his website: www.tristanhunt.co.uk, and check out his Instagram at www.instagram.com/tristanhuntuk.Get in touch, send your stories and questions to ADHDpodcast@global.com

The ADHD medication shortage is making things complicated for lots of people right now. But in an ideal world, Katie sees ADHD as her superpower. Since being diagnosed, she's come to see all the things she loves about ADHD and the advantages it brings. Sam totally disagrees. He's fed up of people calling ADHD a superpower because he thinks it creates unrealistic expectations and doesn't match his experience with ADHD. Can Katie persuade Sam that ADHD is a superpower? Will Sam change her mind? Or can they at least find some middle ground... Get in touch, share your questions and stories at ADHDpodcast@global.com

Katie has suddenly been unable to get hold of the medication she takes to help manage her ADHD. She only has five tablets left and has no idea when she'll be able to get her next prescription - and she's not alone. ADHD patients around the UK are struggling to get hold of their medication due to a national shortage. According to ADHD UK, 97% of people have been impacted by the ADHD medication supply issue which is expected to last until next April. In this emergency episode, Katie tells Sam how the shortage will affect her. If you or someone you know has been affected by anything you hear in this episode, please contact your GP or contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or www.samaritans.orgNHS advice below: If you are struggling to get your ADHD medication, the first step is to try other pharmacies, as another one may have it in stock. You can use the find a pharmacy page on the NHS website, www.nhs.uk. Your local pharmacy may also help you to find a supply, and you can ask for your prescription to be made available to other pharmacies.If you are still unable to get your prescription, please contact your GP or ADHD service for advice. Do not try to substitute other medications yourself as this may be dangerous.