Julie Legg is joined by Randi-Lee Bowslaugh, a Canadian author, former competitive kickboxer, and mental health advocate. Diagnosed with autism later in life, Randi-Lee brings clarity to the lived and shared experiences that often fall between diagnostic cracks - emotional regulation struggles, sensory sensitivities, people-pleasing, and chronic exhaustion from masking.

This conversation highlights a growing reality: many women are missed, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood when it comes to ADHD and/or autism diagnosis. This episode is an, insightful listen for anyone exploring where they may sit on the neurodivergent spectrum - especially those who resonate with both ADHD and autism traits.

Key Points from the Episode:

• How a child’s diagnosis can be a mirror. Randi-Lee only began to explore her own neurodivergence after advocating for her daughter
• The overlapping traits of ADHD and autism in women, including:
  • Emotional overwhelm
  • Sensory sensitivities (noise, texture, unexpected touch)
  • Social burnout and masking
  • Executive dysfunction hidden behind high achievement
• Why so many women go undiagnosed due to people-pleasing, perfectionism, and internalised expectations
• Routines as lifelines – Randi-Lee shares how disrupting even small routines can completely throw off her sense of calm
• Her experience with depression, misdiagnosis, and the importance of treating co-occurring conditions alongside neurodivergence
• Creativity as expression and therapy – from writing books to producing an indie film based on her brother’s mental health journey
• A powerful reminder that “being different doesn’t mean being broken”

Links: 

• LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randileebowslaugh/ 
• WEBSITE: http://www.rbwriting.ca
• AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3LNbuCy
• YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTmVQUW8K8r1sBDchLyTwA?sub_confirmation=1
• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rbwriting
• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/randileebowslaugh
• TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@randileebowslaugh

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Thanks for listening.

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• Julie Legg is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD