ADHD Aha!

Kids and adults with ADHD can have a hard time keeping things tidy. That’s true of Jeannie Ferguson, a plus model in Brooklyn who describes herself as “messy.” Jeannie was diagnosed with ADHD in college — and her wife, Tash, also has ADHD.  

Jeannie gives Laura a detailed walk through what goes on in her brain when she tries to clean. She also shares what led to her ADHD diagnosis, why as a Black woman she hesitated to get evaluated, and what it’s like when two people with ADHD are married. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

• ADHD and messiness
• What is executive function?
• Tools and tips to get organized

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Peach (they/them) is a recovering alcoholic and addict who has ADHD. The first time Peach got sober, they figured that being sober would “fix” their trouble performing at work. But when Peach continued to struggle with focus, they decided to get evaluated for ADHD. The path to ADHD diagnosis wasn’t easy. Peach feared that doctors thought they were drug-seeking and wondered, “How can I explain to you how debilitating this is?” 

Also in this episode: ADHD and oversharing, and being “the life of the party” to cope with ADHD-related difficulties. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• Substance abuse resources at SAMHSA
• Study on ADHD medication decreasing the risk of substance abuse (PDF)
• ADHD medication misuse, sharing, and abuse
• ADHD and oversharing

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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Yasmeen (they/them) was a perpetual procrastinator. They would always wait until the last minute to write a paper or start an assignment. But then came a tough college course and an equally tough professor. Yasmeen’s old methods were no longer working, which set them on the path to an ADHD diagnosis. 

Yasmeen reflects on growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, specifically their struggle with homework. Yasmeen, who’s a user researcher, also shares what they’ve learned about the over- and underdiagnosis of ADHD in the Black community.

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• Why kids with ADHD rush through homework
• Child procrastinating? Why kids struggle with time management
• ADHD in black children: In It with Dr. Tumaini Coker

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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Emily’s challenges with executive function and sensory processing sounded very similar to those of their mental health clients with ADHD. Emily, who lives in Australia, does peer work, and their interactions with other young people with ADHD ultimately led to their own ADHD diagnosis. 

Emily talks about masking their ADHD symptoms and feeling like a failure not just to their family, but to Asian people in general. And they share how they finally felt seen and “broke the mask” when they got diagnosed with ADHD. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• Emily’s article: How culture shaped my ADHD diagnosis
• The difference between ADHD and sensory processing challenges
• What is executive function?

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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Kevin Lam’s parents never told him he was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. And they might never have told him, if it weren’t for something Kevin, now 23, noticed at a recent family gathering. 

Kevin is just starting to learn about ADHD and his symptoms: Hyperactivity, fidgeting, and trouble focusing. And he has some “aha” moments throughout the interview: Why was he always the class clown? Does his ADHD really create challenges for him? He also talks about ADHD stigma in his Mexican family, and how it contributed to his diagnosis being hidden from him. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• Understanding hyperactivity
• 6 types of fidgets for ADHD
• Is ADHD a mental illness?

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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After losing her mom at 23 and having kids starting at 27, writer Jen Barton, now 39 with four kids, was in a strange place. For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t feeling overly anxious or depressed. She felt creative and was bonding with her kids. But still, something “wasn’t right.” She started looking under every rock for an answer to her disorganization, “ditziness,” and chaos. What she found was ADHD. 

Hear from Jen, who wrote the British Vogue article “Why Does No One Believe My ADHD Diagnosis?” She talks about ADHD in women, parenting with ADHD, and how her perspective has changed now that she’s been diagnosed with ADHD. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Related resources

• Jen’s British Vogue article: Why does no one believe my ADHD diagnosis?
• ADHD in women and girls
• ADHD and anxiety

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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College student Chris Lozano seems calm on the outside. But on the inside, he feels “like a volcano.” He has trouble sleeping, sitting still, and stopping his mind from wandering. And often his only relief is going to the gym — to the point of obsession — or riding motorcycles. Hear how Chris came to get diagnosed with ADHD at 26 and why he went back to college to seek a career helping people like himself. 

Also in this episode: Chris shares how he’s coped with substance abuse and other risky behaviors. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Related resources

• Risky behavior in teens with ADHD: How to help
• How ADHD affects sleep
• Study finds that ADHD medication reduces risk of drug abuse for people with ADHD

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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Like many parents, Michelle Lassiter started to notice her own ADHD symptoms during her son’s evaluation for ADHD. In this episode, Michelle, whose mom is from the Dominican Republic, looks back on how ADHD impacted her growing up in Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. And she connects this to her son’s experience with ADHD — confusing signs, feeling “stupid,” and the strengths they share. 

Michelle also talks about parenting a child with ADHD when you have ADHD yourself: “When you’re also lacking those skills, it is very tough.” 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• Is ADHD hereditary?
• 8 things that go into an ADHD evaluation for a child
• What to do when your child says “I’m dumb”

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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James Tai didn’t notice his son’s ADHD symptoms in preschool. But teachers did. They approached James and his then wife, which led to his son getting diagnosed with ADHD at age 4. Since then, James has faced an internal struggle that many parents of kids with ADHD face: where to draw the line between discipline and letting go. 

James also talks about how being Asian American impacts his parenting approach. And an incident on an airplane that awakened his deep empathy for his son. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• 4 signs of ADHD in preschool
• Understanding ADHD in your child
• Moving past the guilt of “giving” my son ADHD

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

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As a kid, Olivia Chavez got disciplined a lot in school for her “disruptive” behavior. She would often seek out ways to move around and channel her hyperactivity. One incident led to an awkward conversation between her teacher and her mom — and ultimately set Olivia on the path to an ADHD diagnosis. 

Olivia also talks about ADHD and depression, and mentions a time when she had thoughts of suicide. This is discussed in a context of hope and strength. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available today at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

Related resources

• Understanding hyperactivity
• The difference between ADHD and ADD
• ADHD and depression

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/podcast-donate.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.