ADHD Crash Course

When we experiences sensory defensiveness, every day sensory inputs can be overwhelming  (or even painful!) Those of us with ADHD are more likely to have these differences in sensory processing  (although you can also have sensory defensiveness/ sensory processing issues without ADHD).Sensory defensiveness has a significant impact on our daily function.  When common sensory inputs (like sights, touch, and sounds) overload our nervous system, it can be impossible to focus on what we want or need to do in the day. We might feel drained, agitated or panicked as our body respond to the perception of danger from these sensory cues.The agitation and overwhelm that sensory overload triggers can make it difficult to regulate our nervous system, even long after the sensory input is removed!  Understanding what sensory defensiveness is, how it impacts us, and  and what we can do to help is an important tool for those of us with ADHD and the topic of today's episode of ADHD Crash Course.Want to learn more about Sensory Strategies for ADHD? Join my free training below:FREE Sensory Strategies Training!

There are times that our emotions are so strong that we struggle to identify exactly what we're feeling. There's a surprisingly simple technique that can help us understand our more complicated emotions, and in doing so, develop the skills we need to regulate these emotions! Today we'll look at how to use the feelings wheel that was developed by Dr. Gloria Wilcox. This simple tool can help us label our more complicated emotions, regulate emotionally, and better communicate about our emotions with others. We'll also explore a related approach from Dr. Daniel Siegel; his "name it to tame it" model, and learn how just identifying/ labeling our emotions can serve as a powerful tool in regulating them!Download your FREE Feelings Wheel PDF here!Interested in learning more about my group coaching membership? Join the wait list today to get more information! 

Imposter syndrome can make us feel like our wins are more luck than due to our skills or abilities. Even if we've spent a good deal of effort to get our outcomes, our achievements makes us feel more like a fraud than a success.  With Imposter Syndrome, our wins don't feel like wins at all; our brain tells us that they're just luck, outliers, or flukes.On today's episode of ADHD Crash Course, we'll discuss Imposter Syndrome and learn:3 reasons why people with ADHD are more likely to experience Imposter Syndrome Why over-confidence and capability are often inversely relatedThe Dunning Kruger Effect and why people who have more knowledge/ skill/ experience are often the very people who doubt themselves the mostWhy Donae thought she could easily reupholster a couch despite having no previous experience If you are dealing with imposter syndrome, you are not alone! Listen to today's episode to learn how to manage it.Interested in learning more about my group coaching membership? Join the wait list today to get more information! 

Today I'm chatting with Jackie Silver, a Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist who works with neurodivergent and physically disabled communities through a weight-inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming lens.We're discussing some of the common barriers that those with ADHD face when it comes to nutrition and Jackie offers her insights on strategies that help!You can reach Jackie here:Website: jackiesilvernutrition.com 

Habits can be tough! Today's episode focuses on 4 ways habits "go wrong" and what we can do about it. ***New starting Spring 2024! Clarity Coaching's ADHD Coaching Membership! For more information about the membership and updates for the launch, join the waitlist/interest list here: membership.

Planning and prioritizing can be a challenge for most of us, especially at work. Professional productivity often demands a lot from our executive functioning skills!Things like breaking down big projects, coordinating with clients or coworkers, monitoring progress, or managing our schedule/ time are components of greater responsibilities that we have at work. Struggling with these can impact our performance in big ways!Today I'm interviewing Antonia Bowring, a top ranked executive coach, speaker, and author who, at the age of 50, received a diagnosis of ADHD. Antonia will share a bit about her personal story as well as her own insights on planning and prioritizing at work.If you are interested in reading Antonia's book, Coach Yourself!: Increase Awareness, Change Behavior, and Thrive you can find it here.You can also connect with her on her website and on Tik Tok @ Antonia Bowring 963.

Today we chat with Erin Vandermore, a licensed therapist, wellness coach, and the founder of Age of Uncertainty Coaching about the complicated connection between trauma and ADHD. Since ADHD and trauma can show up very similarly, it can be challenging (even for clinicians) to differentiate between the two. The fact that many of those with an ADHD diagnosis have experienced trauma around their diagnosis and/or the impact ADHD has had on their lives adds to the complexity of this topic. Erin offers expert insights on how we can identify trauma and understand its influence on our lives. She explains how somatic therapies like EMDR work and how they can be used to overcome our traumatic experiences.Listen to this episode of ADHD Crash Course to learn more about the ADHD/ Trauma Connection! If you would like to connect with Erin, she can be reached at Age of Uncertainty Coaching.

Sometimes we're just stuck. It might look like scrolling on our phones, hitting the "next episode" button on Netflix, or even just staring out the window. What makes us "stuck" is not the activity itself; it's the fact that we want or need to move on but it feels impossible to do so.What can we do to move out of that place of stuckness to one where we can choose what we do next? How can we get going when we feel like we're moving through quicksand?Today we'll talk about using "transition activities" to gently move out of a frozen state and into one of mobility and productivity.  This is not about "trying harder", it's about learning how to work with your nervous system exactly where it is!

Many people with ADHD  have the experience of being perceived as selfish in conversations (or even in their relationships). It can be frustrating for both the person with ADHD and their friends! ADHD traits can negatively impact our communication and relationships; impulsivity, memory challenges, and divergent thought preference can make it harder for us to connect/ be in sync with others.In todays episode we'll discuss common ways ADHD traits impact our communication/relationship and what we can do about it. We'll discuss how we can make changes that line up with our own values without masking or being inauthentic.

We are always on the hunt for the perfect planner/ time system/ organization system for ADHD!The search can be frustrating AND expensive! The most important part of any system that we choose is something that doesn't come with the planner we buy...our habits around using it!In today's episode, we'll talk about several questions you can ask yourself to find the right planner/ time system for YOU and steps you can take to ensure whatever you choose actually works to keep track of your time and cut down on chaos.Discount link for the Remarkable 2: https://remarkable.com/referral/QDMY-7NUN

Although grades serve as one measure of our progress, they should NOT be the only measure! Students with executive functioning deficits (and even those without) benefit when we shift our focus from the outcome to the effort they are making. Not only does this decrease anxiety, it helps develop key EF skills like planning, prioritizing, self-monitoring, and flexible thinking. Building these skills matter more than achieving a perfect score on any one test or class.  When we overemphasize  grades, it can actually make it more difficult for students to develop the executive functioning skills they need! Why? They stop focusing on what they can control in the moment and get overwhelmed with a future outcome.Learn how we can shift our emphasis with our students and why it matters in this episode of ADHD Crash Course!

Working memory can be thought of as our shortest term memory; it's the information we hold in our mind in order to get things done. These are some common ways working memory deficits show up in our day to day lives:Having to dig a box mix out of the trash several times to re-read steps when bakingWalking into a room but forgetting why you're thereForgetting a new acquaintance's name seconds after you've heard itIf any of these sounds familiar, you can join us today for a discussion on working memory; what it is and how to support your brain if you struggle in this area!

Many of us have had the experience of sharing how ADHD impacts us only to be met with the response "You're using ADHD as an excuse". How can we respond to this? Today we'll take a look at this common misconception when it comes to understanding ADHD. Our own perceptions of our "locus of control"  can make a big difference in how we respond to comments like these! 

There's a word swap you can use to strengthen executive function skills AND approach yourself (and others) with less judgment. Try replacing "why" with "how" in some of your questions.Example: "Why did I wait until the last minute to start this project?""How do I decide when to start my project?""Why is it so hard for me to make decisions?""How  do I make decisions?"When we're frustrated, why questions can make us feel defensive. They ask us to justify our motives or reasoning.  “How” questions shift us to a place of curiosity- how exactly is this thing getting done (or not getting done)? Why asks for motivations, but how is a question that looks at our process.  "How" helps us see the steps that lead us to an outcome and make changes. Then we can decide if there are different steps we want to take to change those outcomes!

What is DBT ( (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)? How is it different from CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and how is it used to support people with ADHD?Today we'll explore the DBT approach and its components, including mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance skills. 

Why do divergent thinkers frequently deal with overwhelm? One possible reason is our tendency to see all of the things... all at once! Our brains like to make connections and that can serve us in some settings but lead to overwhelm in others.When it comes to overwhelm, this pattern of thinking can make prioritizing and decision making tough. It's harder for us to "back off" of the connections our brain has made and see/ do one thing at a time. (This focus on one thing at a time is an important part of keeping overwhelm at bay).In today's episode of ADHD Crash Course, I'll talk about practical ways that we can see less and how to use this approach to beat overwhelm!

Today we're talking about Mental Load, otherwise known as "invisible labor" and why understanding this concept is so important for those of us with ADHD.What is mental load? It's the cognitive labor that goes into taking care of life. It’s the “worry work”; anticipating what is needed, researching options, planning, organizing, remembering, monitoring—- all of the thought work that goes into managing homes, work, family, and social lives. If you are not in a partnership, you carry the weight of this work independently and if you have ADHD, this invisible labor can be even more challenging since in requires strong executive functioning skills. Being in a partnership may not necessarily lighten this load for women, though. Studies suggest that women are often the default person for carrying the mental workload in families and that this can lead to overwhelm and burnout. Today we'll talk about this dynamic and ways we can protect against the negative impact of not sharing this cognitive work.Additional Resources:Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Today we speak with Dawn Barclay, author of "Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse".  Dawn shares helpful tips for how we can support our children with invisible needs like ADHD, Autism, and anxiety and enjoy creating family memories with less stress!You can connect with Dawn in the following ways:WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagramLinkedIn

Today we chat with Dr. Tamara Rosier, author of Your Brain's Not Broken. Dr. Rosier discusses the difference between convergent and divergent thinking and why understanding this difference can have a huge impact for those of us with ADHD!Many with ADHD prefer divergent thinking since this allows for creativity, expansion, and connection. While necessary for everyday life, tasks that fall under the convergent thinking category are often found to be boring or frustrating to those with a preference for divergent thought. We need both "thought modes" to thrive in our modern world and Dr. Rosier's interview will offer us some tools to help us do that!Dr. Tamara Rosier's website

Today we’re chatting with ADHD Career Coach and Mentor Shell Mendelson who specializes in helping those with ADHD find fulfilling and sustainable careers. She'll discuss the 7 steps she uses with her clients to help them find their perfect fit professionally!Link to Information on Shell's Masterclass