Glitchy Switch: What ADHD feels like to an adult.

In this episode, I talk about something that comes after the diagnosis — the bit hardly anyone explains properly: asking for reasonable adjustments at work for adult ADHD and/or autism. Even when you know you’re legally covered, and even when the company rhetoric is all inclusion and belonging, asking can feel oddly exposing — like you’re admitting you’re not up to the job. I share what it actually felt like for me, what I learnt the hard way, and why this is still a journey for both individuals and workplaces. In this episode: Why a formal diagnosis can create the space to ask for adjustments — and why it can still feel vulnerable. Why “reasonable adjustments” are surprisingly poorly documented, and what I wish I’d known sooner. The first hurdle: getting the words out loud, and why it can feel profoundly othering. What can go wrong when requests are handled clumsily, even when people mean well. The reality of implementation: when adjustments need other people’s buy-in, and how to make them stick. Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻  glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode of Glitchy Switch, I talk about what it feels like to have both adult ADHD and autism — that AuDHD “push–pull” where one part of you wants novelty and motion, and another part of you wants structure, clarity, and quiet.  I share the contradictions it creates in real life — from paperwork and routines, to small talk and social energy — and why, looking back, it makes a lot of sense that I ended up in a career built around structure and rapport.  In this episode: What “ADHD wants go, autism wants no” actually feels like in day-to-day life. Why I can crave novelty, yet get anxious when things are vague or unclear. The social contradiction: coming across confident, but finding small talk genuinely stressful. How AuDHD shows up at work, including why structure can feel like relief. What this push–pull looked like for me in dating, and why ambiguity was both thrilling and terrifying. Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻  glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode of Glitchy Switch, I talk about the first big thing that hit me after my autism diagnosis: what it means for relationships.  I share how the diagnosis is helping me reframe years of relational anxiety, why I’ve often gone the opposite of the “blunt autistic stereotype”, and how understanding my wiring is already changing the way I show up — with less shame, and a bit more self-respect.  In this episode: Why autism explained so much of the anxiety I’ve felt around relationships. The classic “autistic bluntness” stereotype — and why my pattern has been different. How I’ve built a social “ruleset” over decades, and the emotional cost of running it. What happens when my logic meets someone else’s social shorthand — and why that can hurt so much. What’s already started to shift since diagnosis. Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻  glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode of Glitchy Switch, I share what it actually felt like to be told — as an adult — that I’m autistic as well as having ADHD. I talk through the assessment process in plain terms, what surprised me most when I was answering the questions, and why the emotional “landing” of the diagnosis wasn’t dramatic — it was quieter than that. In this episode: What does an adult autism assessment actually involve — and how is it similar to an ADHD diagnosis? What was it like having Helen fill in the “someone close to you” questionnaire? What happens when you catch yourself giving the “socially acceptable” answers — and then have to decide what’s actually true? What did the consultation feel like in the moment — and why was it so exhausting? What did I feel immediately afterwards — and what started clicking into place in the days that followed? Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻  glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode of Glitchy Switch, I share the start of a new realisation I didn’t see coming: once methylphenidate eased many of my classic adult ADHD struggles, a different set of sharper-edged traits started showing up more clearly.  If you’ve ever wondered why autism traits can become more noticeable after treating ADHD — or why you can feel “better” in one way but more sensitive in another — as usual this is my honest, lived experience. In this episode: How ADHD medication reduced the fog — and revealed other “louder” channels underneath.  Why lack of structure and unclear expectations started feeling genuinely anxiety-inducing, especially at work.  How noise, office overwhelm, and sensory stress began hitting differently — and what a quiet space changed for me.  What “justice sensitivity” felt like when it ramped up, and why it can be so emotionally draining.  The moment autism content started landing a little too accurately — and why I decided to pursue an assessment.  Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻  glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode of Glitchy Switch, I unpack a phrase I kept hearing when I started ADHD medication: “grooving new habits”. It sounded sensible, but I had no idea what it actually meant in real life — or what it would feel like. So I share what I’ve learnt since starting a medication like methylphenidate: that the real gift isn’t superpowers, it’s space — enough space to notice old reflexes, make a different choice, and repeat that choice often enough that it becomes your new default. In this episode: What “grooving new habits” actually means in plain English. How medication can create a tiny gap between impulse and action. Why paying attention and listening properly can be a habit. How I’ve started catching myself before I react. Why the habits can still hold, even when the meds wear off. Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻  glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode of Glitchy Switch, I’m back after a quiet spell — my first episode since November 2024 — and I’m exploring a question so many newly diagnosed adults ask: “Should I go onto ADHD medication?” I share why I didn’t start ADHD meds straight after diagnosis, what shifted during a major job change, and what it was actually like taking the plunge of stimulant medication.  In this episode: What’s been going on since the last series. The factors that influenced my decision to medicate my adult ADHD. Why the thought of starting medication makes some people uneasy. A level set on methylphenidate (the medication I take) in plain terms, and the options I considered. What it felt like contemplating my first dose. Get in touch: LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Email 👉🏻 glitchyswitchpodcast@gmail.com Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode we're exploring the strange phenomenon of feeling a sense of guilt, or a compulsion to do something, even when all common sense and our feelings are telling us we need to relax. There's a mix of cultural norms as well as ADHD traits at play here, which can make it even tougher to finally allow oneself to recharge. In this episode: How the corporate world making a virtue out of busyness compounds the ADHD sense of "otherness". How relaxation can come from activities that are just sufficiently occupying yet relaxing at the same time. Why rest is even less rewarding for ADHD people. How an empty diary can induce anxiety. When even very busy periods still feel like slacking. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode we tackle something many ADHD people struggle with which is that hiding-to-nothing, perfectionism. I wondered my whole life where my perfectionism came from and it was until I received my diagnosis that I started to understand a bit more. I mention Stephen Guise's book How to Be an Imperfectionist -- you can find it on Amazon. In this episode: The ways that perfectionism manifests itself. The role that rejection sensitive dysphoria plays in perfectionism. How emotional dysregulation triggers the perfectionist. Why perfectionism is an inevitable consequence of masking. What it feels like to become a "recovering perfectionist." Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

A lifelong struggle I've had is that I have a compulsion to apologise all the time for myself. It's almost like I have to apologise pre-emptively just for being odd or weird or something, and I've come to see the role that ADHD has played in this trait since my diagnosis. In this episode I dig into what I've discovered about this frustrating aspect of my personality, and where specifically I think it comes from. In this episode: How rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) plays a role in over-apologising. How experiences when we're young impact our self-worth. Why reassurance is great, but never quite sinks in. Calibrating where the line is between masking and self-regulation. How it can be difficult to unmask even with friends. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In one of the more raw and personal episodes, we're talking about the ongoing challenge of feeling comfortable speaking up about your traits to your work colleagues in order to relieve some of your stress and anxiety. Even when you've been very open about your diagnosis, this can still be very difficult at times. In this episode: Why even being open about the big picture of having ADHD means disclosure can be stressful. Examples of how better understanding ones traits can be helpful, yet daunting to say out loud. How shame doesn't just disappear overnight. How many years of masking mean that your defences are very firmly established. The mindset to take to make progress on the slower job of getting used to talking about your traits. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode, we're talking about the strange phenomenon wherein you discover that your traits are becoming more pronounced after your ADHD diagnosis than they were before, and seem to be taking more managing. There's a couple of things going on here which we'll unpack. In this episode: The role that confirmation bias plays. Understanding what skills regression means and its impact. How the initial euphoria of diagnosis is just the beginning. Some concrete examples of what this can look like. The importance of not making excuses. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

We're going back to basics in this episode with what I think is the fundamental thing to understand about ADHD and people with ADHD. When people ask about it, it's easy to get lost in the morass of traits, diagnosis, presentations and so on, but I think what I've come up with here is the solid underpinning to them all, and something that plays its part in how I talk about my ADHD every day. In this episode: Where people with ADHD have a higher cognitive load. How this additional load causes feelings of shame. The notion of "privelege" associated with being neurotypical. How you can be understanding of ADHD people however they present. The specific challenge of lack of emotional regulation. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In today's episode we're going to be talking a bit about how we can be considerate of our spouse or partner upon diagnosis of ADHD, because it's very easy to get caught up in your own experience without thinking of what it's like for the person you spend your life with to digest. In this episode: Being mindful of becoming an "ADHD bore." Understanding that your partner has spent many years forming their own "muscle memory" about your behaviours. Why your diagnosis is a team sport, and how you can see it as a way of working together. Why you should avoid seeing diagnosis as a "free pass" to carry on regardless. Why your ADHD doesn't define you. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

After a bit of a break I'm back! First things first, I'm answering the question of where I've been the past few months, which actually I hope will provide some insight into how the ADHD mind works on a very applied level.  In this episode: How enthusiasm in hyperfocus and lack of emotional regulation turns to pressure. How rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) makes creating social media content even harder. How taking stock and rebalancing even things you love is absolutely critical. The importance of connection with likeminded people through the podcast. How tiredness and stress means traits "leak" more. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode, we're talking about the practical challenges of managing time and schedules with ADHD. The core traits of ADHD—difficulty focusing, an overactive mind, and diverging thoughts—make time management a significant hurdle. I've always prided myself on being punctual, but it has come at the cost of hyper-vigilance and constant anxiety. This time we're talking about moving from denial to developing constructive time management tools that align with how my brain works.  I mention the Miro board I use for planning in the episode - you can find a read-only template here. In this episode: The reality of time Management with ADHD. Tapping into sensitivity and feelings to help better connect with planning. Using visualisation as a way of adopting a positive mindset and fostering interest. Using CBT techniques to help try and mitigate unhelpful beliefs that may get in the way. Being honest about triggers and making peace with coping progressively better rather than deny their existence. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

After a brief hiatus to recharge my batteries (albeit I'm a bit husky, apologies), I'm back and excited to chat with you again, this time to explore the day-to-day challenges of living with ADHD traits. These might seem minor on the surface, but they significantly impact daily life and require continuous, and often tiring, effort to manage. In this episode: What its like to be clumsy unless you're constantly concentrating. Why "body doubling" is helpful. The debilitating phenomenon of poor working memory. How managing impulsivity is a full time job you have to work doubly hard at as a professional. The importance of a professional "personal boardroom". Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

This week, we're diving into a topic I’ve been eager to share—music. In this episode, I reflect on how ADHD has shaped my musical tastes and experiences, and explore the deep emotional and technical connections that make music so powerful for me. In this episode: How "edgy" music provides a buzz of adrenalin without getting into trouble. Why house music's style and structure are perfect for the ADHD brain. How the mix of "tension and release" plays its part. Why soulful music registers so particularly. Vindication through the number of ADHD DJs. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

I've always worked in large corporations and in this episode we go into what it's like to be an ADHD person in big companies trying to find niches that fit your unusual blend of traits and make a career. In this episode: The significance of creativity and curiosity in niche roles within tech companies. The challenges of balancing technical expertise, creativity, and people-oriented skills in a corporate setting. The struggle of maintaining motivation and performance in monotonous tasks for ADHD professionals. The benefits of structure and the comfort it provides to ADHD individuals in a corporate environment. The role of divergent thinking in driving innovation and the importance of managing this trait. Allyship groups and their positive impact on creating inclusive corporate cultures for ADHD individuals. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.

In this episode we're talking about the nuances of friendships through the lens of ADHD traits, and exploring how they influence our behaviour particularly when making new friends. From the exhilarating rush of connection to the relentless fear of rejection, my ADHD traits have shaped the ebb and flow of my friendships, revealing both challenges and strengths along the way. In this episode: The complexities of managing impulses and dopamine cravings in the context of building new relationships. The nuances of reliving shared moments and the compulsion to interrupt conversations. The profound impact of rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD) on friendship dynamics, offering a deeper understanding of ADHD-related anxiety. The role of divergent thinking in fostering humour and connection, despite occasional feelings of isolation. The rich diversity of friendships and the enduring bonds that transcend any challenges posed by ADHD traits. Support Glitchy Switch: Instagram 👉🏻  https://bit.ly/3Tumtaq LinkedIn 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/3wK0pzz Facebook 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4avKVOB  Note: This podcast is shared purely as first-hand experiences to help others and should not be considered medical advice. Listeners should seek proper guidance if they have concerns or questions of a medical nature.