ADHD Essentials

Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parecalls is a pediatrician based in Texas who is confronting COVID-19 full on in her practice.   She's one of the most intelligent, driven, and determined people I know.  So, I was overjoyed when I found out she wanted to come on the show to talk about the virus and its fallout.

In today’s episode, Dr. Lentzsch-Parecalls gives us an overview of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  We discuss where to get reliable information, why social/physical distancing matters, way to maintain support for your mental health (including medication), maintaining our social relationships, the impact of the virus on our medical infrastructure, and medical community, and a lot more.  It's a fairly quick episode, but it's packed with ideas and information.

• Learn more about Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parecalls and her work at http://www.gtw-health.com. 

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What's Up Team!?!

There are a lot of different ideas in my head.  Lots of topics to address.  My skill set, professional experience, and educational background make me uniquely qualified to handle some of the problems we’re facing right now in the shadow of COVID-19.  Obviously, I’m not a doctor, but the challenges around maintaining our mental health, homeschooling, working from home and parenting during this time?  Those I can handle.

• Watch an extra episode of your favorite TV show together.

Also, set healthy boundaries around your social media and news consumption.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the information available to us.  Especially because we’re at home, with easy access to it, and little pressure to avoid the rabbit holes. 

• Limit how much time you spend on social media

And speaking of boundaries, set some for you expectations of yourself and your kids, too.  Your kids are just as anxious as you are, if not more so.  That means they’re going to make mistakes, and get frustrated and sad, and angry.  Don’t take it personally, but help them bounce back.  And frame social distancing so they know it’s not a time to be scared.  Social distancing right now is like looking both ways before you cross the street.  We don’t do it because we’re scared, we do it because it’s a strategy to keep us safe. 

If I’m honest, this is a lesson I’ve had to learn over the last few days.  Because I know ways to navigate this situation, I feel very much like I should be helping everyone else.  And because it feels urgent, I want to help everyone RIGHT NOW!  I want to post a podcast episode every day, and start a YouTube channel to share tips and strategies that I know will help.  But to do that, I would have to ignore my own family.  I just can’t drop the ball on my kids to help everyone else with theirs, and then claim I know how to be a good parent.  I have to prioritize the important over the urgent. 

 That said, this is going to pass.  Things will be okay.  Take care of yourselves, and each other.  And give yourselves and each other the grace to make mistakes, feel uncertain, and be not-quite-good enough.  That’s where ADHD lives, after all.  Our comfort in that space might just help us navigate this uncertain time more effectively than others.

Today's episode starts with my thoughts about COVID-19, and how to respond to it.  (Like ordering a bidet!)  I hope you find them useful, and maybe even a little reassuring.

In today’s episode, Sharon and I are talking about what to do when your kids are cooped up at home.  We did the interview through the lens of a snow day, but it works for quarantine and social distancing, too!  There’s a lot of really good information and ideas in here.  I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you’re able to navigate the current pandemic with as much ease and grace as possible.

• Connect with Dr. Saline at https://www.drsharonsaline.com

• ADHD reWired

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization

Today, we’re talking to Brittany Smith of Devise and Conquer!  Brittany is a cognitive neuroscientist, coach, and computer enthusiast. She specializes in helping people get their work done: better, more efficiently, and more enjoyably.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the pitfalls and benefits of smartphones for people with ADHD.  We look at ways to determine what your goals are for your smartphone, managing notifications to increase our available willpower, the importance of turning off autoplay, the affect social media can have on our mood, and best practices for setting up your phone.

• Connect with Brittany Smith at https://conquer.consulting

• ADHD reWired

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization

Today, we’re talking to Megan Vandersluys.  Megan is a therapist with over a decade of experience, who specializes in play therapy services for children, as well as providing support for their parents.  

In today’s episode, we’re talking about Play Therapy, and how to more effectively play with our kids. Megan discusses how video games factor into play therapy, the importance of “getting back into our bodies”, co-regulation and modeling through verbal awareness, and how to enter the child’s world.

• Learn more about Megan and her work at https://blossomtreecounselling.com

• ADHD reWired

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization

In today's episode, I share an exercise called "Two Good Things, One Thing You'd Change if You Could" that can be used for debriefing family adventures, events, and vacations.  

During the episode, I share some reflections on my family's recent once-in-a-lifetime Disney vacation, as well as the tale of my stolen $200.

• ADHD reWired

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Today, we’re talking to Dr. Don Cole.  Dr. Cole is the Clinical Director for The Gottman Institute, a Certified Gottman Method Couples’ Therapist and a Master Trainer for the Gottman Institute. He is also a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapists.

In today’s episode, Dr. Cole talks to us about how we can improve the quality of our relationships by responding effectively to bids for connection, and turning towards the people we care about.

• To learn more about Dr. Cole and his work visit https://centerforrelationshipwellness.com.

• ADHD reWired

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization

Today, we’re talking to René Brooks of Black Girl Lost Keys.

Diagnosed with ADHD on three separate occasions, René is a friend of the pod, and a friend of mine, who has made it her mission to uplift others with ADHD. 

In today’s episode, René shares with us her new mantra (and her new workbook), “Guard Your Yes”.  We talk about the interplay between values and boundaries, the roles people pleasing and ADHD play in causing us to overtax ourselves, why would should expect both push back and a new sense of self-respect when we start guarding our yes.

• To learn more about René at blackgirllostkeys.com

• ADHD reWired

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization

Like so many of my recent guests, I met Mike, a former Marine and recently diagnosed single dad with ADHD, at the International Conference on ADHD last November.  It was great to reconnect with him during the course of this interview, and get to know him a little better.

In today’s episode, Mike talks about how his military training has reframed his perspective on accomplishments, giving ourselves more credit, why we should let our kids make small mistakes, and the importance of self-care, and self-compassion.

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization

• ADHD reWired

Today, we’re talking to Michelle.  Michelle is an ADHD mom, as well as a school librarian.  She’s also an alumn of the ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups.

In today’s episode, Michelle talks about how learning about her son’s ADHD helped her better understand the kids in her library (and vice versa), the tips and tricks she's learned for helping her son navigate his day (locker included!), and the power of under-reacting.  She also talks about her experience as part of the ADHD Essentials Parent Groups - why she was hesitant to sign-up for a summer session, and why is was worth all the time and money she spent on it!

• Check Out Michelle's two of favorite resources (besides this show):

• The Child Mind Institute - https://childmind.org

• ADHD reWired

• Contact Brendan about booking a workshop for your organization