Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD
Patricia Sung
Productivity, Parenting, and Education for Moms with Adult ADHD
Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder...
Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house.
Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard!
We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me?
Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out.
How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was.
What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT.
Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash.
Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life.
We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane.
When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well.
At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom.
If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama!
You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on!
With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD
Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com
Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd
Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup
Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com
Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder...
Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house.
Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard!
We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me?
Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out.
How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was.
What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT.
Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash.
Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life.
We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane.
When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well.
At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom.
If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama!
You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on!
With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD
Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com
Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd
Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup
Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 3, 2022 • 41min
E129: 3 Steps for Getting Your Crap Together! Time Management for ADHD Moms with Guest Host and ADHD Mom Entrepreneur Angel McElhaney
Mother Necessity has dropped a lot of babies on this earth. When was the last time you learned something new or figured out a major problem out of pure necessity? Like, if you didn't figure something out and FAST - you would lose your ever-lovin' mind? or job? or partner? Today is a treat: ADHD Mom Entrepreneur Angel McElhaney guest hosts the podcast and asks me all about how and why I created the framework behind Time Management Mastery for ADHD Moms. This system was born out of SHEER necessity (for my sanity) and now it's helping dozens of ADHD moms figure out how to work WITH their ADHD brains and build a daily routine that fits their special flavor of ADHD + their family dynamics. Back in the day, I was in a place where mothering was not fun. All my pre-mom skills were not working and I was falling apart at the seams. I felt like I couldn't keep up, and I was in a perpetual state of failure. I was one more sensory overload input away from a total MOM-SPLOSION. It was a hard tour of duty, and I often wanted to give up. I KNOW there are many of you reading this right now who are currently in that trench that feels like the pit of despair. Big hugs, mama. After I finally realized what I was doing wasn't in alignment with what my ADHD MOM brain NEEDED, I decided "the heck with normal...I'm gonna do this MY WAY." While I'd been trying to organize my time, I was using 2 unworthy starting points: A) what *the experts* say is the right way and B) my previous phase of life, aka, a non-mom. And motherhood changes things (as if you hadn't noticed, lol!) So, what did I do? I used my super creative problem-solving ADHD brain and unpacked what was REALLY happening during my day that made everything feel so overwhelmingly scattered and #hotmess vibes. Through my own ADHD knowledge and a TON of outside research, I built a system for myself that eventually developed into a framework that has been helping DOZENS of ADHD moms finally feel like they have the tools to manage their days like a totally in control boss. The waitlist opened today for the next session of Time Management for ADHD Moms. Sign up before the official opening, and grab your special BONUS for being an early bird for once. :Smile: Join the waitlist here ---> https://bit.ly/tmmwaitlist Click for full transcript.
Jan 27, 2022 • 29min
E128: The Gut Brain Connection: How our gut health impacts our mind, hormones, and mental health with Heidi Hogarth
Where is 95% of serotonin is created? In YOUR GUT! Clean gut + Good bacteria = MORE Seratonin AND a Happier Brain Our bodies are amazing and far more interconnected than we often realize. Today's episode is part two of a fascinating conversation with naturopath, a mom of two, and a PMDD survivor, Heidi Hogarth. Heidi is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to understanding our body chemistry. I couldn't get enough! Today's episode covered: The connection between gut health & brain health Why it's important to focus on creating a healthy gut microbiome How anti-inflammatory diets help minimize extreme hormonal shifts What foods, supplements, and vitamins promote a healthy gut Using Tapping or EFT to help regulate stress What cycle syncing teaches us about our bodies I left this conversation feeling more intrigued about how our bodies work, and ready to hyperfocus on my next biology lesson. It's also encouraging to know that there are simple diet changes and natural remedies we can make in our every day lives to bring ourselves to a more balanced hormonal and emotional state. Learning about how your body works can REALLY help you live better. My hope is you take away at least one tip or piece of information that leads you down a path to healing. Healing is hard work, but sooooo worth it, Successful Mama! A big thank you to Heidi for helping women understand their bodies so they can do what they can to live a happy and healthy life. You can learn more about Heidi by visiting her website. You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about PMDD. If you are looking for more resources to help you along in your ADHD journey I would like to invite you to head to my resource page and snag some great free tools. Go to patriciasung.com/resources. Not only will you be able to download ADHD resources on the spot, but you'll also get more ADHD mom tips right to your inbox. :) Links to resources mentioned in this episode: International Association of Premenstrual Disorders Wild Power: Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power Book Cycle Synching Basics for ADHD Women: Your Hormones are Your Energy Superpower #116 Tapping (EFT) as Treatment and Self Care for Adult ADHD with Kate Moryoussef #89
Jan 20, 2022 • 29min
E127: Feeling the Rage before your Period? Beyond PMS: Symptoms & Treatment for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
When you've got PMS on steroids, the rage and depression are exponential. Ever hear of pre-menstrual dysphoria disorder? They call it PMDD for short, and it's a very real and serious hormonal disorder that affects up to 10% of women! Symptoms include things mood swings (aka rage attacks), sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, depression, and even severe panic attacks. Many women with PMDD are either extremely tired or have bouts of insomnia. And then there's excessive crying and other emotional swings. Not to mention all the bloating, gastro issues, food cravings, and possible weight gain. Phew. I need a nap after writing that alone! Today my guest Heidi and I unpack what PMDD is, the symptoms of PMDD, how PMDD can be linked to post-partum issues, and how to talk to your doctor about getting a diagnosis. If you've been following along on in the last few months, we've talked a lot about menstrual health, hormones, and cycle syncing. We've uncovered numerous ways our menstrual cycle relates to ADHD symptoms in women. It's fascinating and disturbing at the same time. But there is hope, Successful Mama! Heidi Hogarth is a naturopath, a mom of two, and a PMDD survivor. She's on a mission to support women who suffer from PMDD and help them find the best natural health tools so they can get off the hormonal emotional rollercoasters & back to their calm, positive, and loving selves. She's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to understanding symptoms of PMDD. She offers insight into what supplements and dietary changes can help you when you feel like you are suffering from PMDD. A big thank you to Heidi for helping women understand their bodies so they can do what they can to live a happy and healthy life. If you are looking for more resources to help you along in your ADHD journey I would like to invite you to head to my resource page and snag some great free tools. Go to patriciasung.com/resources. Not only will you be able to download ADHD resources on the spot, but you'll also get more ADHD mom tips right to your inbox. :) ➡️ Tell me in the comments, have you ever experienced any PMDD symptoms and wondered if there was more going on under the surface? ⬅️ FOR THE BLOG: Links to resources mentioned in this episode: International Association of Premenstrual Disorders Wild Power: Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power Book Cycle Synching Basics for ADHD Women: Your Hormones are Your Energy Superpower #116 Tapping (EFT) as Treatment and Self Care for Adult ADHD with Kate Moryoussef #89 Click for full transcript.
Jan 13, 2022 • 20min
E126: The #1 Reason Your Day Feels Chaotic and Out of Control as a Mom with ADHD - Top 3 Episodes Encore!
Scatterbrained. Distracted. Overwhelmed. Drowning. No motivation. I know why your day feels so chaotic and out of control as a mom with ADHD because I am a mom with ADHD. As I reflected on the episodes we produced over the last two and a half years, I realized that some of the top-rated Motherhood in ADHD episodes deserved another time in the spotlight. These topics were just TOO GOOD. Today's "Episode Encore" is all about understanding the #1 reason your day feels chaotic and out of control as a mom with ADHD. We talk about the frequent ways our ADHD derails us. As a mom living with ADHD you have tons of things to manage - kids' appointments, house things, work, relationships...etcetera...etcetera. Phew...Not to mention finding time to take care of your own health and well-being. Trying to find the time for it all can make you want to crawl back into bed and hide under the covers! Look, I totally get it! There are LOTS of mamas out there feeling the exact same way as you and it hurts my heart. So, now I teach ADHD moms how to overcome this challenge in the Time Management Mastery for ADHD moms course! By implementing this simple framework in your life it will take you from frazzled and freaked out too, "Hey...I have my crap together!" You CAN manage your ADHD brain AND your time - to make them BOTH work for you. I want you to feel amazing about your schedule. I want you to be overjoyed when you reflect on your week and realize - you did SO MANY things that you wanted to do with your time! Time Management Mastery opens back up NEXT MONTH so get your spot on the waitlist to be the first to know when you can join. Sign up here: bit.ly/adhdframework Click here for full episode transcription.
Jan 6, 2022 • 16min
E125: Self Regulation: Executive Function and ADHD - Top 3 Episodes Encore!
"I'm a failure. People don't like me. I just keep screwing everything up!" If any of those thoughts have crossed your mind and you are continually overcritical of yourself...this episode is for you. These types of thoughts happen to everyone (including our neurotypical friends). For those of us with ADHD, these constant and reoccurring negative thoughts are a force to be reckoned with. But they don't have to control you or overshadow your life. As I reflected on the episodes we produced during 2021, I realized that some of the top-rated Motherhood in ADHD episodes deserved another time in the spotlight. These topics were just TOO GOOD. Today's "Episode Encore" is all about understanding Self Regulation and our executive function plays a part in how we feel about ourselves. I share information about Self Regulation including reflection, impairment, sensory overload, fear, frustration, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, friendships, dopamine, CBT, celebrating our wins, managing self-criticism, and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. It's the whole enchilada in this one! Have a listen and let's learn about our ADHD brains and how we can work WITH them instead of against them! DID YOU KNOW? There's a place where you can get your calendar and to-do list organized one step at a time, so you enjoy more time with your kids while feeling confident + capable in your day... even when your ADHD hijacks your plan. Register for Daily Planning for ADHD Moms - sign up here --> bit.ly/adhdplan Looking for a little more added support? There’s a place for you! Here >>> JOIN THE MOTHERHOOD IN ADHD COMMUNITY Click here for full transcription.
Dec 30, 2021 • 31min
E124: Emotional Regulation: Executive Function and ADHD - Top 3 Episodes Encore!
Do your feelings go from 0-100 in no time flat? As we wrap up 2021, let's revisit a few of Motherhood in ADHD's top-rated episodes. Today's "Episode Encore" is all about understanding emotional regulation and how executive function plays a part in how people with ADHD manage their emotions. Explaining ADHD WITHOUT discussing Executive Function is like reading a book and skipping every other chapter. It just doesn't make sense because you lose part of the context, right? Executive functioning is the CEO of our brain. And as the CEO of our brain if regulates pretty much everything in today's discussion about Emotional Regulation. Today we cover the basics around sensory overload, fear, fight or flight, frustration, children pushing our buttons, anger, embarrassment, period cycles, hormones, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Bipolar, and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. Holy Moly, Batman! Lots of juicy good stuff in this one. Have a listen and let's learn about our ADHD brains and how they work. Guess what, I have LOTS of free resources for you, Successful Mama. Check out all the goodies I've created for you on my resource page here. Not only will you be able to download ADHD resources on the spot, but you'll be on your way to getting more ADHD mom tips right to your inbox. :) DID YOU KNOW? There's a place where you can get your calendar and to-do list organized one step at a time, so you enjoy more time with your kids while feeling confident + capable in your day... even when your ADHD hijacks your plan. Register for Daily Planning for ADHD Moms - sign up here --> bit.ly/adhdplan Looking for a little more added support? There’s a place for you! Here >>> JOIN THE MOTHERHOOD IN ADHD COMMUNITY Listen to the transcription here. Links to resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 37 on Letting Go of Thoughts Dr. Sandra Kooij’s Women, ADHD, and Hormones webinar with ADHD Europe Dr. David Goodman’s article on Emotional Regulation What happens when brains feel fear? What is Emotional Lability? Defining Sensory Processing Disorders Free resource from Patricia: Managing ADHD Beyond Medicine The Disorganized Mom’s Guide to a Peaceful Morning: Patricia’s free how-to video series to bring calm to your mornings in 5 steps
Dec 16, 2021 • 18min
E123: Why It's Difficult to Prioritize Your To-Do List and Actually Stick with your Plan as a Mom with ADHD
Feeling stuck is temporary...when you have the right tools. Understanding how YOUR brain actually works makes it easier to establish systems and create a plan that will work for YOUR brain. Plain and simple. Simple...but not necessarily easy. Let's just say ADHD and executive function aren't great friends. What does that mean for us? It means we end up fighting our brains in a battle royale of figuring out what the MOST important thing is we should be doing at any given time. Many times it feels like we're stuck trying to solve the longest word problem in 12th-grade algebra. Ain't nobody got time for that! ESPECIALLY for moms. It's a real challenge for ADHD brains. But if I had to guess I'd say you're the type of mom that's always up for a good challenge. In today's episode, we talk all about why moms with ADHD struggle with prioritizing and what to do so you can actually stick with your plan. Did you know there’s a place where you can get your calendar and to-do list organized one step at a time, so you enjoy more time with your kids while feeling confident + capable in your day... even when your ADHD hijacks your plan. If you've been following along you'll know that I've been celebrating my 40th birthday this week by giving YOU a gift! Today's the last day to save $40 on Daily Planning for ADHD Moms! Use code HAPPY40 and sign up here --> bit.ly/adhdplan Looking for a little more added support? There’s a place for you! Here >>> JOIN THE MOTHERHOOD IN ADHD COMMUNITY Click here for the full transcription.
Dec 14, 2021 • 5min
My 40th Birthday Gift for You
Today is my 40th birthday! As I celebrate a new decade, I'm taking a moment to appreciate all of you, and say thank you for your support. I want your 2022 to be start off with you feeling confident and capable about how you approach your day. As Annie Dillard says, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." This is why I created Daily Planning for ADHD Moms for you. To build a life that you love - and that starts by knowing how you want to run your day, using a system that is set up by an ADHD brain for your ADHD brain. And fits mom life. We learn how to keep up with our calendar and tackle the mile-long to do list, so that you can stop feeling the shame of forgetting appointments or "not doing anything today" and start feeling good about yourself again. My birthday flash sale starts today and runs through Thursday, December 16th, so use the coupon code HAPPY40 and snag Daily Planning for ADHD Moms for $40 off in honor of my 40th trip around the sun. Sign up at bit.ly/adhdplan Next year is going to be your year to bloom, so let's see where you go, and how you change and grow! Click here for transcription.
Dec 9, 2021 • 37min
E122: Tantrum or ADHD Meltdown? How to Deal with our Children's BIG Emotions with Dr. Laura Froyen
Don't "manage emotions". Understand them instead. Dr. Laura Froyen is our guest this week and she digs into the underlying causes that propel our kiddo's BIG FEELINGS. Listen to this episode to learn more about: Understanding the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown Why and when our children might need to "borrow" regulation from us How to react and what to say when your child seems inconsolable The importance of allowing feelings and emotions to move through the body without getting stuck Learning more about emotional regulation helps us ALL understand our big feelings and unpack the root cause behind the emotion. The way she speaks with kindness and patience in her voice is not only because she is a professional in the field of emotional regulation, she's also a mother...a mother with ADHD at that. So she gets it, Successful Mama. We can do this! Teaching a child how to self-regulate their emotions can feel like an uphill battle, especially when we struggle with it ourselves. But with the right information and the right support...YOU CAN make progress and YOU WILL help your child understand the information UNDER the emotion. You got this. Speaking of support and resources, head over to my website to download a plethora of helpful ADHD tools and resources to help you navigate your world as an ADHD mom. Download your free resources at patriciasung.com/resources Oh - and I popped in a little hint about an upcoming surprise I have in store for you. Make sure you tune in next week to see what it is! Post any tactics you've found to help your kiddo through their BIG emotions in the comments. The more information the better! Dr. Lauren Froyen has her Ph.D. in human development and family studies and has been helping individuals, partners, and co-parents become the parents they truly want to be. She uses her experience specializing in marriage and family therapy to help restore balance and compassion to families while bringing calm and JOY back into their daily lives. Follow her on Instagram and check out her podcast here. You can also join her Facebook Community here. Links to things mentioned in this episode: The Invisible String Book The Kissing Hands Book The Purrble Calming Toy Companion The Enchanted Life: Reclaiming the Magic and Wisdom of the Natural World Looking for a little more added support? There’s a place for you! Join here >>> JOIN THE MOTHERHOOD IN ADHD COMMUNITY Click here for transcription.
Dec 2, 2021 • 32min
E121: Estrogen, Progesterone, and Your Menstrual Cycle: Do scientific research studies prove that our ADHD symptoms are affected by our hormone levels? with Dr. Michelle Martel
What is scientific research REALLY doing for women with ADHD? It might *feel* like there is no research being done to help women with ADHD...but my guest today has insight into what's ACTUALLY going on behind the scientific research curtain. Dr. Michelle Martel, a professor and Director of Clinical Training of Psychology for the University of Kentucky, utilizes a translational, “bench to bedside” perspective to examine developmental pathways to Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), using multiple levels of analysis. Her bio is impressive and our conversation is SO GOOD. Her research uncovers what's really going on in the brains of people with ADHD and further - figures out what's going on internally with our hormones. Dr. Martel brings tons of knowledge around how our hormonal fluctuations affect our ADHD symptoms AND what that means for our mental and emotional health. I'm thankful for people like Dr. Martel who have dedicated time and energy to helping the ADHD community. Her research is not only fascinating, it gives YOU, Successful Mama, options to improve your life by understanding your body. DID YOU KNOW? There's a place where you can get your calendar and to-do list organized one step at a time, so you enjoy more time with your kids while feeling confident + capable in your day... even when your ADHD hijacks your plan. Register for Daily Planning for ADHD Moms - sign up here --> bit.ly/adhdplan Looking for a little more added support? There’s a place for you! Here >>> JOIN THE MOTHERHOOD IN ADHD COMMUNITY Click here for transcription.
