In this episode of Adventures with ADHD (YouTube and Podcast), I share my journey as an autistic individual with ADHD, Tourette's, and OCD. I discuss the importance of a strengths-based approach to neurodivergence, emphasising how focusing on strengths can help manage challenges. I reflect on my childhood experiences, the impact of my inner critic, and the significance of self-acceptance. I also highlight the need for understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals, particularly in educational settings, and conclude with insights from my upcoming book: Lost and Now Found: A guide to understanding and accepting yourself for late-discovered autistic adults.TakeawaysA strengths-based approach can help neurodivergent individuals thrive.Childhood experiences shape our inner critic and self-perception.Navigating school can be challenging for neurodivergent children.Embracing differences can lead to leadership qualities.Self-acceptance is crucial for personal growth.It's important to express feelings and seek support.Neurodivergent individuals can be leaders of tomorrow.Reframing thoughts can improve self-esteem.Suzi and Kate’s upcoming book offers guidance for late-identified autistic adults.Our book is now available for pre-order here (affiliate link so I will get a small commission if you use it): https://amzn.to/4foy5Fi

In this conversation, I interview Melissa Kelly, an ADHD coach, who shares her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD and autism later in life. We discuss the challenges of neurodivergence, including rejection sensitivity, dysphoria and trauma responses, and emphasise the importance of self-care and energy management. The conversation also explores the debate surrounding the concept of neurodivergent traits as 'superpowers' and provides guidance for those who may be questioning their neurodivergence.Topics discussed:Melissa was diagnosed with autism and ADHD at 43.Coaching transformed Melissa's life and inspired her to help others.Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) is common among neurodivergent individuals.RSD can lead to overwhelm and burnout.Trauma responses in neurodivergent individuals can be similar to PTSD.Self-care for neurodivergent people is unique and essential.Rest is as productive as work for neurodivergent individuals.The term 'superpower' can minimise the challenges of neurodivergence.Connecting with other neurodivergent individuals is affirming and supportive.Being kind to oneself is crucial in the journey of self-discovery.Connect with Melissa here:https://www.pauseandthriveadhdcoachin...#adhd #autismawareness #neurodivergentvoices #adhdcoach #rejectionsensitivity

In this episode of Adventures with ADHD, I speak with Joy Schulz, a holistic life coach and spiritual mentor, about her journey of self-discovery as a neurodivergent individual. Joy shares her experiences growing up in a cult, realising her neurodivergence, and how her spiritual awakening has shaped her identity. We discuss the importance of community, the role of human design in understanding oneself, and the tools available for embracing neurodivergence. Joy emphasises the need for representation and the power of choosing one's beliefs in the journey towards self-acceptance and healing.Find out more about Joy here:https://www.radicaljoyfulness.com

In this episode of Adventures with ADHD, I interview Gemma Hentsch about her experiences as a trans woman navigating the intersections of gender identity, neurodivergence, and the tech industry. We discuss the complexities of gender, the current climate for trans rights, and the importance of support systems. Gemma shares her journey of self-discovery, the challenges faced by the trans community, and the resilience needed to advocate for change. The conversation highlights the need for understanding and acceptance in a world that can often be hostile to those who are different.#Gender #Neurodivergence #TransRights #ADHD #Autism #LGBTQ+Please like and subscribe :)

In this episode of Adventures with ADHD, I interview Vicki Jones, a mother of twin boys, one of whom is diagnosed ADHD and autistic (PDA). Vicki shares her journey of writing the children's book 'I've Got You', which aims to support children with neurodivergence and their families. The conversation explores the challenges and triumphs of parenting neurodivergent children, the importance of communication and acceptance, and the need for community support for parents. Vicki emphasises the unique strengths of her son and the collaborative process of creating the book, highlighting the message that families can navigate their journeys together.Get your copy of 'I've got you' here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ive-got-you-...

Meet Ruth Berkoff Rubarb Cough, a talented performer who discovered her neurodivergence by writing a play!
In this interview, Ruth discusses her journey to discovery and her passion for performing her play The Beauty of Being Herd, which is about a woman who goes to live as a sheep.
See link to interview in the comments 
Ruth gives an open an honest account of the struggles to get writing when her inner critic is getting loud as well as tried and tested ways to work with it so that she can do what she loves; writing and performing!
Ruth is a Leeds born and bred performer and writer. She trained in contemporary circus at Circomedia, Bristol, and spent two years with master clown and pedagogue, Philippe Gaulier.
She's acted professionally since 2015 on stage, playing Lady Macbeth, Mrs Cratchitt and many more roles, including the wife of a man with motor-neurone disease in the short film, Grace, in which she was the top finalist in Actress Universe Film Festival 2022.
As an ex-Samaritan, Ruth cares deeply about people feeling understood. As a four time pantomime dame, she cares passionately about people having a BRILLIANT time at the theatre. Her performance has been described by the British Theatre Guide as ‘warm hearted and empathic.’
Ruth began writing in earnest after she had a brain haemorrhage in 2017. When she couldn’t find any stories from other survivors, she wrote her own. Her light-hearted blog, A Small Bleed on the Brain, has been shared by charities like Headway.
She writes so that other people (and herself) don't feel so alone.
The Beauty of Being Herd is her first full show and you can see it at The Brighton Fringe in May on the 2nd, 3rd, 24th and 25th.Get your tickets here:
The Beauty of Being Herd - Brighton Fringe

In this episode of Adventures with ADHD, I speak with Sam Roome about her journey to sobriety and the impact of alcohol on individuals with ADHD.Sam shares her personal experiences with alcohol, the challenges she faced, and the positive changes she has experienced since becoming alcohol-free.We discuss the science behind addiction, the role of dopamine, and the societal perceptions of alcohol consumption.Sam also highlights her book, which guides those looking to stop drinking and offers practical tips for starting an alcohol-free journey.

Sam Roome is a mum, Sober Coach, trainee counsellor, speaker and author who diversified from a 20-year career as a chartered accountant when she stopped drinking in 2020 and it became her mission to normalise the conversation around alcohol.Sam’s own childhood was torn apart by the impact of having two alcoholic parents.Sam had never considered not drinking, clinging on to the label of “normal drinker” for 30 years.  She ignored the “shift” as she calls it where she had unknowingly moved from drinking by choice to needing a drink in response to every mood change.She believes what triggered this shift were flashbacks to childhood traumas causing a struggle as a new mum, but she didn’t realise it at the time.  This shift slowly began to impact her life as it came with a gradual increase in drinking volume, which she also ignored, still believing her drinking was “normal”.  And she believes it was by society’s worryingly vague standards.Then one day Sam believes she “woke up” - a passing moment where she stopped and asked herself the question “what am I actually getting from this?” was to change everything.  Her three children, one of whom has a rare chromosome disorder, were a huge catalyst to change.  She didn’t want them to even glimpse what she had been through as a child and could see for the first time how easily this could happen.Sam thought not drinking would be boring, tough, a lifelong burden, but instead, when the alcohol fog lifted, she uncovered her new life! Sam is passionate about spreading the message that not drinking is pretty fabulous if you let yourself try The Sober Experience – her guide to removing alcohol.

Details of Sam's book and coaching can be found at:https://thesoberexperience.co.uk/The Sober Experiencehttps://www.instagram.com/the_sober_experience?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==#adhd#sobriety#alcoholfreee#addictionrecovery#MentalHealthl#DopamineBoost

Suzi Payton 

AuDHD speaker – comedian – coach

Need a speaker with a difference – check out my showreel:

https://youtu.be/Sw4BMAAKnZw?si=AzNnUUyt-p36NTbm

Book a call here:

https://suzipayton.com/book-a-call/

Free resources for ND folks:
https://suzipayton.com/resources/

In this episode of Adventures with ADHD, I interview the multi-talented and creative Sammi Ford.

We discuss her journey to a late-in-life diagnosis of autism and ADHD and how her differently wired brain has enabled her to pursue a variety of careers (she has flown planes in the RAF and parachuted out of them!).

It hasn’t all been all highs, though, and Sammi discusses candidly her low point where she experienced a breakdown, which led to her discovery of being neurodivergent.

Sammi discusses her passion for art and poetry, as well as helping other neurodivergent individuals find their way, through sharing her personal journey.

A former RAF officer, Sammi Ford is a linguist and the MD and owner of an international industrial company SPCB UK.

Diagnosed late in life with autism and ADHD, her creative career started in her spare time as a means for mindfulness.

She is currently working on her memoir and a poetry anthology and has performed at events such as Neurodiversity Pride, the Vegan Wellbeing Retreat and the Lincoln Book Festival.

She has won several awards for photography including a national wildlife competition. Her fine art and poetry is featured in the e-zine “Beyond The Spectrum” and she was shortlisted for the 2024 Hammond House International Literary Prize. 

Sammi is passionate about raising positive awareness of neurodiversity, particularly in later-diagnosed women, using her own experience and can be booked as a speaker or to lead poetry workshops.

Find Sammi in the following places:

www.spcb.co.uk

www.mosskillers.co.uk

www.sammifordart.co.uk

www.bespokefilters.co.uk

www.bestsprayers.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaford/

https://www.instagram.com/sammifordart/

#NeurodivergentVoices

#ADHDSpeaker

#AutismSpeaker

#MentalHealthAwareness

#NeurodivergentStories

PS Please get in touch if you are looking for a dynamic autism and ADHD speaker for your event or conference at www.suzipayton.com

Victoria Russell is based in Oxford and runs two businesses - VGR Business Support, which offers accountancy and administration services and Inspired Mind UK

Consulting that only launched this year, which is business coaching and mentoring for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and startups.

Growing up in the eighties it didn't even enter Victoria’s mind that she might be neurodivergent, despite having a brother with ADHD and it wasn’t until her own child was diagnosed with AuDHD and she started researching information to help her daughter that the lightbulb moment happened and Victoria realised she was neurodivergent herself.

Victoria now uses the knowledge she has gained from her own lived experience with her daughter and the many courses and training that she has now completed, to help others with both of her businesses.

In this podcast we discover:

·      How Victoria first came to realise she was neurodivergent

·      How masking has affected her and her daughter, both before and after diagnosis

·      How having some fluidity in her working week makes for less stress

·      Some self-care tips

·      The importance of giving yourself a break sometimes

·      And what is in the middle drawer of her freezer!

VJR Business Support website: www.vjrbusinesssupport.co.uk 
Inspired Minds UK Consulting website: www.imuc.co.uk
Suzi Payton is a coach, comedian, speaker and podcaster. Her website is: www.suzipayton.com

To book a discovery call with Suzi email: [email protected]

Tracy (Tig to her friends) has been a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a mental health worker, a mental health patient, a singer, an actor, a lover, a writer, a friend, adrunk, a wife, fun, scary, a homeless projects worker, a customer service advisor, a museum manager, an educator, an addictions counsellor, a body harmony practitioner, dead, alive. She continues to be some of these, especially alive. Her family and friends are glad of this.

In this episode Tig:

·      shares details about her diverse background and portfolio career, including her work as a body harmony therapist, writer, performer, and more.

·      She reflects on her lifelong experiences of feeling different and standing out, which led her to seek an ADHD diagnosis as an adult during the pandemic.

·      She discusses the relief and insights she gained from the diagnosis.

·      Tig describes various techniques she uses to manage her ADHD, such as chasing healthy dopamine highs, rewiring neural pathways, and using body harmony practices to regulate her nervous system and emotions.

·      She shares the personal story behind her one-woman play "Every Wrong Direction", including how it evolved from exploring her relationship with her absent father to addressing the revelation of his abusive behaviour.

·      We discuss the importance of self-forgiveness and compassion for those newly diagnosed with ADHD or other neurodivergences, advising against comparison and instead focusing on finding what works best for one's unique needs and strengths.

Find Tig at www.everywrongdirection.co.uk

If you would like to get in touch with me to discuss ADHD/autism coaching or if you need a speaker with a difference at your event then please get in touch via www.suzipayton.com