‘Don’t label her,’ they said.
Now she cries herself to sleep, wondering why she’s too much. 💔

That’s what happens when kids grow up different but unsupported.
The world never calls it ADHD — it calls it bossy, weird, difficult.
And children believe it.

In this Quick Reset, Jane McFadden unpacks the real cost of avoiding diagnosis. Parents often fear labels, but silence does more harm. Kids who don’t get language and support end up creating their own labels: dumb, lazy, unloveable.

💬 In This Episode:

• Why silence teaches children they’re the problem
• How kids self-label when their struggles go unseen
• The hidden pain of quiet, internalising ADHD kids
• Why early diagnosis isn’t limiting — it’s liberating
• How support changes outcomes for neurodivergent kids and families
  
  

💭 This episode is for you if:
– You’ve been told ‘don’t label your child’
– You worry a diagnosis will box them in
– You’re raising a quiet ADHD or autistic child who ‘never causes trouble’

References and Related Resources:

• ADHD Mums Facebook Group – Join here 
• Research on Identity Formation– Studies highlight how early diagnosis supports stronger self-identity in neurodivergent children
• Kristin Neff’s Research on Self-Compassion – Self-Compassion resources
• Research on Early Identification of ADHD – Evidence shows early identification improves long-term mental health and resilience
  
  
• Related Episodes:
  
• S2E54 How to Talk to Your Child About ADHD – practical language and scripts for conversations

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

🧠 Topics covered: ADHD diagnosis stigma, internalising ADHD kids, ADHD self-esteem, ADHD parenting support, quiet ADHD, early interventio

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You keep the house running. You hold the emotions. You never say no. And still, part of you wonders if you’re doing enough.

This solo episode isn’t just about perfectionism or people pleasing — it’s about the deeper pattern so many ADHD mums live inside without realising it: good girl conditioning. Jane peels back the layers of expectation, guilt, trauma, and survival-mode coping that lead neurodivergent women to break down quietly behind closed doors.

From childhood masking to motherhood martyrdom, this one hits deep — and offers five strategies to start peeling off the pressure without losing yourself in the process.

💡 What We Cover:

• What ‘good girl conditioning’ actually is (it’s not just a personality quirk)
• Why ADHD + perfectionism = emotional burnout on steroids
• The five signs you’ve internalised good girl roles — and how they sabotage you daily
• Why neurodivergent women are more vulnerable to this dynamic (even if they’re high achieving)
• The invisible ways this shows up in parenting, partnership, and school settings
• The conditioning phrases we grew up hearing — and how they shaped our self-worth
• How to start unlearning without upending your whole life (yet)
• Five daily strategies to gently shift from martyrdom to self-worth (without adding more to your to-do list)

🔗 Resources & Links:

• 🧠 Research cited:
  
  • Sanders & Munford (2008) – ‘Good Girl Identity as a Social Strategy’
• 🧰 Tools & kits mentioned:
  
  • Mental Load Reset Kit 
  • ADHD Planner & Personal Values Workbook
• ✍️ Submit feedback, questions or stories via the listener jotform: 
• • https://form.jotform.com/251238118486864

🎧 Listen Now

If your nervous system feels like it’s fraying — but you can’t stop making lists, saying yes, or “just getting on with it” — this episode is for you.
Listen in, let it crack something open, and start building a life that includes you in the equation.

📲 Hit play. Send to a friend. Save it for the next moment you wonder if it’s just you (it’s not).

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

Topics Covered In This Episode:

ADHD and perfectionism, people pleasing ADHD mums, masking in girls, emotional labour of motherhood, internalised ableism ADHD, ADHD and good girl syndrome, rejection sensitivity and burnout, parenting while neurodivergent, perfectionism trauma response, motherhood martyrdom, ADHD mum fatigue, boundaries and ADHD, late-diagnosed ADHD women, masking exhaustion, Sanders and Munford 2008 study, neurodivergent self-worth, ADHD social conditioning, ADHD mums mental health, ADHD emotional suppression, ADHD values planner

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can’t ‘train’ a brain to enjoy being flooded with noise, light, smells, and chaos. You can only push it until it shuts down — or shuts you out. Yet families are told every day that ‘exposure therapy’ will fix sensory overwhelm. In this episode, we talk about why that’s not just wrong — it’s dangerous.

You’ll learn:

• How to tell the difference between fear-based and processing-based struggles.
• Why getting the label right matters for getting the support right.
• The long-term impact on trust and resilience when supports are mismatched.
• What meltdowns in public spaces really mean (hint: it’s not bad behaviour).
• Practical ways to adapt environments so kids can thrive without being pushed past breaking point.
  
  

If you’ve ever dragged your child through a noisy, bright, overwhelming place and watched them unravel, this episode will make you feel seen — and give you the language to advocate for real change.

💛 Listen now:

• Spotify:
• Apple Podcasts:
• Website: adhdmums.com.au

References & Related Resources

• Amanda Moses Psychology – Upcoming Event: Understanding Masked Autism
• Amanda Moses on Instagram: @amandamosespsychology
• Related ADHD Mums Episodes:
• S2E82 ADHD or PTSD? Why So Many Women Are Misdiagnosed (with Amanda Moses) – one of the most downloaded episodes referenced in this discussion
• S2E20 The Worst Assessment Process Ever (with Dina Robertson) – story of a 10-year fight for a diagnosis


• ADHD Mums Free Resource: ADHD & Autism Assessment Tool – check under the Free Resources section

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

Topics Covered

sensory overwhelm autism ADHD and sensory processing exposure therapy for autistic child fear-based vs processing-based anxiety sensory overload in children autism and public meltdowns trauma from exposure therapy supporting sensory sensitive kids

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes parenting feels like being pecked to death by tiny, unstable chickens. We love our kids fiercely — but that doesn’t mean we have to love every single moment of raising them.

In this unfiltered Quick Reset, Jane says the thing so many ADHD mums are scared to admit out loud: I don’t always like being a parent. And no — that doesn’t make you a bad mum. It makes you human.

From the endless to-do lists and medical appointments to the sensory overload and invisible labour, parenting as a neurodivergent mum is a full-body, full-time emotional marathon. And when you’re doing it without enough support, it’s no wonder your nervous system is running in the red.

Jane breaks down the science of parental burnout, the myths that make mums feel guilty for struggling, and the quiet ways we can reclaim honesty, capacity, and space — without toxic positivity or pretending everything’s fine.

💬 In this episode, we cover:

• Why it’s normal to feel touched-out, overstimulated, and over it
• The clinical research on parental burnout — especially for ADHD mums
• How gratitude and burnout can coexist (and why ‘but you chose this’ is unhelpful)
• Scripts for asking for space — with or without telling the truth
• Why emotional honesty helps our kids more than pretending to be happy

💭 This episode is for you if:
– You’ve ever thought, I can’t do this for one more second — and then kept going anyway
– You’re tired of feeling guilty for not loving every moment of motherhood
– You want permission to name the hard stuff without fear of judgment

📥 Add your own anonymous confession:
👉 https://form.jotform.com/251238072679867

🔗  References

Parental Burnout (2021 Study)  - A clinical study found that 12.9% of parents met clinical levels of parental burnout, with symptoms most common in mothers—especially those with perfectionism, neurodivergence, or low social support.

Regret in Parenthood (2015 Study, British Parents) - Research revealed that 8% of British parents regret having children, highlighting how unprepared many were for the realities of parenting.

Torn in Two: The Experience of Maternal Ambivalence by Rozsika Parker - This book explores how it is completely normal to love your child while disliking aspects of motherhood, offering a compassionate look at maternal ambivalence.

Unequal Care Work (2022 Study on Heterosexual Households) - A recent study showed that women in heterosexual households do 2.5x more unpaid care work than men, often paired with feelings of guilt for not fully enjoying it.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

Topics covered in this episode:
ADHD mums, parental burnout, parenting shame, invisible load, executive dysfunction, emotional honesty, sensory overwhelm, overstimulation, parental regret, perfectionism, trauma triggers, motherhood myths, parenting capacity, neurodivergent parenting, chronic stress, guilt cycles, self-compassion, scripts for space, toxic positivity.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your child comes home from school withdrawn, teary, or exploding in rage — and you’re expected to stay calm. Every cell in your body wants to burn the system down, but the school says ‘We’re handling it’. You can see your child’s spark dimming, and you’re being told to keep your emotions in check so you’re not labelled ‘the emotional mum’.

Psychologist Mona Delahooke reminds us that children’s behaviour is a direct reflection of their nervous system regulation. If your child shuts down, lashes out, avoids, cries, or seems ‘off’, it’s often their nervous system saying: I’m not safe. And safety isn’t about compliance — a child can ‘behave’ all day and still be in distress.

Dr Gabor Maté talks about how children’s experiences can activate a parent’s own unresolved trauma — especially for mothers. If you grew up feeling unprotected or disbelieved, protecting your child may feel like your number one mission. But when you’re operating from that deep trigger, the intensity can sometimes lead to mistakes — not because you’re wrong to protect them, but because the system forces you to fight while dysregulated yourself.

This episode is for every parent sitting in that impossible gap between fury and strategy. Jane unpacks the nervous system science, the emotional triggers, and the practical advocacy steps that actually protect your child — without burning yourself out in the process.

You’ll learn:

• How to recognise when your child’s behaviour is a nervous system ‘distress signal’
• Why staying calm isn’t about ignoring your emotions — it’s about using them effectively
• What to do before approaching the school, so you’re heard instead of dismissed
• How to document incidents and escalate without losing trust or credibility
• The fine line between resilience-building and retraumatising
• Scripts and safety plans that support both you and your child

Because protecting your child and staying grounded aren’t opposites — they’re both part of getting results that last.

🔗 ADHD Mums Resource

The 4 F's FREE Resource & the Bullying Response Kit – A step-by-step guide to navigating school bullying, with scripts, documentation templates, and emotional regulation tools for both you and your child. Get the Kit here

Making School Work - Your go-to advocacy guide for when your neurodivergent child isn’t coping — and the school says they’re fine. Packed with scripts, templates, and clarity for IEPs, school refusal, and shutdowns, it helps you hold your ground in the rooms that matter. Get it here

A Kit for Making the Mental Load Visible - This kit gives you practical, ADHD-friendly ways to offload invisible tasks and delegate in a way that actually sticks – without micromanaging, nagging, or having it boomerang straight back onto you. Get the Kit here

🎧 Related Episodes

Raising Strong Children: How to Support Without Always Solving Their Problems – Emma Rose

• Spotify: Listen here
• Apple Podcasts: Listen here

QUICK RESET: Advocating for Your Child Shouldn’t Break You — But It Often Does

•  Spotify: Listen here 
•  Apple Podcasts: Listen here

SCHOOL SERIES: When School Stops Feeling Safe

• Spotify: Listen here 
•  Apple Podcasts: Listen here

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

Topics Covered in This Episode

bullying prevention, ADHD parenting, school advocacy, nervous system regulation, fight-flight-freeze-fawn, co-regulation, trauma triggers, Dr Mona Delahooke, Dr Gabor Maté, documenting incidents, resilience vs trauma, protecting trust with teens, emotional safety in schools, trauma-informed parenting, parent nervous system repair

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If school mornings in your house feel like a high-stakes obstacle course — socks missing, bags unpacked, emotions running high — this episode will feel like a deep breath you didn’t know you needed.

Jane is joined by Sharon Collon from The Functional Family to talk about how to survive those brutal pre-school hours without burning every ounce of patience you have before 9am. This isn’t about colour-coded charts or impossible routines — it’s about understanding ADHD brains, setting realistic expectations, and making mornings less about conflict and more about connection.

Sharon shares her game-changing tips for managing transitions, reducing overwhelm, and creating a morning rhythm that actually works for neurodivergent kids (and parents). Expect real-life stories, scripts you can try tomorrow, and the relief of knowing you’re not the only family wrestling with mismatched socks at the worst possible time.

In This Episode

• Why “just get ready” doesn’t work for ADHD kids — and what to say instead
• How to identify and remove the hidden triggers that derail mornings
• The one small change that can stop meltdowns before they start
• Why your own regulation matters more than your schedule
• How to use connection as a tool (without adding to your mental load)
• Rethinking reward charts, punishments, and morning “discipline”

This Episode Is For You If

– You dread the school run before you’ve even opened your eyes
– Your mornings are a mix of tears, yelling, and frantic searches for missing shoes
– You want calmer starts without sacrificing your sanity

About Sharon Collon

Sharon is the founder of The Functional Family, helping families with ADHD create systems that work in the real world.
🌐 Website: thefunctionalfamily.com

 📸 Instagram: @thefunctionalfamily

Related Episodes

• S1 E34: Being Neurotypical in a Relationship with an ADHD Person
  🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts
• S1 E42: ADHD and Parenting
  🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE

ADHD school mornings, parenting burnout, neurodivergent routines, emotional regulation, school run stress, ADHD parenting tips, transitions for ADHD kids, low-demand mornings, connection before compliance, realistic family systems, executive function support, parenting scripts, reducing morning meltdowns, ADHD-friendly routines, self-regulation strategies, school preparation tips, functional family systems, neuroaffirming parenting, behaviour without punishment, practical ADHD strategies.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve already heard MY UPDATE: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive, you know Part 1 ended on the decision to have lipedema surgery after years of chronic pain, medical dismissal, and the sudden loss of ADHD medication.

This is what happened next.

In this follow-up episode, Jane takes you behind the curtain of the surgery itself — the reality of navigating a system that still sidelines women’s pain, the complications that no one warns you about, and the rare heart condition that made recovery far more complex than expected. From confronting family history to managing without ADHD meds during the most physically demanding season of her life, Jane shares the messy truth of advocating for your health when the system isn’t built for you.

It’s raw, unfiltered, and painfully familiar for anyone who’s ever been left to fight for care they shouldn’t have to beg for.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

• What surgery for lipedema is actually like — and what recovery demands of your body
• The rare heart finding that changed everything mid-recovery
• The emotional toll of being unsupported in hospital
• The overlap between lipedema, neurodivergence, and chronic illness
• How losing ADHD medication in the middle of recovery amplified every challenge
• Why women’s health advocacy has to start with telling the full, unvarnished story

💭 This episode is for you if:
– You listened to Part 1 and want to know the full story
– You’ve experienced surgery or medical treatment without adequate support
– You’re living with invisible illness and fighting to be believed
– You’ve faced the grief of losing tools that helped you function

Listen to Part 1: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive

Check out IG posts here.

📚 Resources & References

Related Episodes:

Connection Between ADHD, EDS and POTS

Listen here on Spotify

Listen here on Apple

Lipedema surgery information

• ADHD Mums blog post  — Photos, personal journey, and practical tips for navigating the lipedema surgery system.
• Check your symptoms – Lipedema Foundation — Clear, accessible checklist to help identify potential signs of lipedema and start informed conversations with health providers.

💓 SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)

• Heart Foundation – Heart Arrhythmia & SVT — Evidence-based info on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for heart rhythm conditions including SVT.

🦓 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

•  Ehlers-Danlos Society Australia — Advocacy, support, and medical resources for people with EDS.
• Episode 41: ADHD + EDS and POTS – Spotify | Apple Podcast — How these conditions overlap, with expert and lived-experience insight.
• Episode 62: Burnout, Pain & Weird Symptoms? The ADHD Link No One Told Us About – Spotify | Apple Podcast — The hidden ADHD links to chronic pain, fatigue, and “mystery” symptoms.

🧬 RYR2 rare heart gene

• MedlinePlus – RYR2 Gene Information — Plain-language explanation of this rare genetic variant linked to heart rhythm issues.

💬 Community

•  ADHD Mums Facebook Group — A safe, neuro-affirming space to connect with other ADHD mums, share resources, and get support.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
lipedema surgery, invisible illness, women’s health gaslighting, rare heart conditions, SVT, RYR2 gene, ADHD medication access, stimulant withdrawal, chronic illness grief, hypermobility, ARFID, anorexia history, medical trauma, neurodivergent women’s health, hospital recovery, emotional regulation, executive dysfunction, parenting with chronic illness, survival mode, neuroaffirming support.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This isn’t just about medication. It’s about the pattern so many ADHD mums find themselves in — chasing answers, finding partial relief, and then hitting a wall you never saw coming.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jane shares the deeply personal story of what happened when her body could no longer tolerate ADHD medication — and how a lifetime of overlapping diagnoses, chronic conditions, and medical gaslighting shaped the road to that moment.

From discovering she had lipedema after years of pain, to navigating a brutal and underfunded surgery system, this is an honest account of resilience, privilege, and the fight to be taken seriously in a medical landscape that often dismisses women’s health. It’s about grief for the tools you lose, hope for the ones you gain, and the messy truth of managing ADHD when your options suddenly shrink.

💬 In this episode, we cover:

• The moment ADHD meds stopped being an option — and what came next
• The hidden connection between neurodivergence and lipedema
• What lipedema actually is (and why it’s so often misdiagnosed)
• The physical and emotional toll of chronic pain
• What it’s like to navigate an inaccessible surgery system in Australia
• Why women’s pain is still minimised, dismissed, and underfunded
• The real cost — financial, physical, emotional — of managing an “invisible” disability
• What needs to change so ADHD mums aren’t left without safe, effective support
  
  

💭 This episode is for you if:
– You’ve ever had to choose between functioning and your health
– You’ve been dismissed or told to “just lose weight” when something was wrong
– You want to understand the overlap between ADHD, autism, chronic pain, and women’s health neglect
– You’re tired of hearing “we can’t help you” from the systems meant to support you

Check out IG posts here.

Listen to Part 2: The Lipedema Op: The Invisible Illness You Weren’t Supposed to Notice

📚 Resources & References

Related Episodes:

Connection Between ADHD, EDS and POTS

Listen here on Spotify

Listen here on Apple

Lipedema surgery information

• ADHD Mums blog post  — Photos, personal journey, and practical tips for navigating the lipedema surgery system.
• Check your symptoms – Lipedema Foundation — Clear, accessible checklist to help identify potential signs of lipedema and start informed conversations with health providers.

💓 SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)

• Heart Foundation – Heart Arrhythmia & SVT — Evidence-based info on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for heart rhythm conditions including SVT.

🦓 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

•  Ehlers-Danlos Society Australia — Advocacy, support, and medical resources for people with EDS.
• Episode 41: ADHD + EDS and POTS – Spotify | Apple Podcast — How these conditions overlap, with expert and lived-experience insight.
• Episode 62: Burnout, Pain & Weird Symptoms? The ADHD Link No One Told Us About – Spotify | Apple Podcast — The hidden ADHD links to chronic pain, fatigue, and “mystery” symptoms.

🧬 RYR2 rare heart gene

• MedlinePlus – RYR2 Gene Information — Plain-language explanation of this rare genetic variant linked to heart rhythm issues.

💬 Community

•  ADHD Mums Facebook Group — A safe, neuro-affirming space to connect with other ADHD mums, share resources, and get support.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
ADHD medication side effects, ADHD mums, stimulant intolerance, lipedema, neurodivergence and chronic illness, women’s health funding, medical gaslighting, ADHD alternatives, chronic pain management, surgery access Australia, disability advocacy, invisible disability, health privilege, neuroaffirming care, ADHD burnout, emotional resilience.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Special Guest: NSW Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson

💬 “It shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars and 12 months on a waitlist just to feel like a functioning parent.”

For years, ADHD families have been begging for change — and this time, someone in government actually listened. In this landmark conversation, Jane is joined by NSW Minister Rose Jackson to talk about what’s finally shifting in ADHD healthcare access — and why it matters for every overwhelmed family, not just those in Sydney.

They cover everything from GP prescribing reforms to the national medication shortage, and what’s really happening behind the scenes on the ADHD policy agenda.

This isn’t just a political update — it’s the emotional and systemic reality check that neurodivergent families deserve.

🔥 WHAT’S INSIDE THIS EPISODE

🧠 Diagnosis Access is Changing
Why NSW is opening up ADHD diagnosis + prescribing to GPs (finally) — and what that means for you.

💊 The ADHD Medication Crisis
Where things stand with the stimulant shortage, and what states are (and aren’t) doing about it.

📍 Rural + Regional Families
How these reforms are finally recognising the postcode penalty for ADHD care.

📉 Breaking the Specialist Bottleneck
Why removing repeat script requirements from psychiatrists could free up the whole system.

🧾 The Cost of Getting Help
The quiet injustice of being forced to ‘start from scratch’ (and pay for it) every time you change providers.

🏫 Support in Schools
Why we can’t keep waiting for kids to ‘fail badly enough’ before they get help — and what’s changing in NSW classrooms.

💭 FOR YOU IF:
– You’ve been stuck on a 12-month waitlist and wondering if anyone in power actually understands
– You’ve had to choose between groceries and an ADHD consult
– You want policy change that’s built on lived experience — not more red tape

📢 WE NEED YOUR VOICE
Jane and Rose talk openly about how real change doesn’t start in Parliament — it starts in platforms like this. If this episode fired you up, share it with someone who needs to know they’re not alone in the fight for accessible ADHD care.

📢 Advocacy + Petitions
• 🏫 Schools in Crisis Petition – Sign here

• ⚖️ NDIS Cuts Petition – Sign here

👊 Because families shouldn’t have to burn out just to access basic care.

🧰 RELATED RESOURCES

• ADHD Medication Advocacy Guide
• ADHD Planner & Personal Values Workbook
• Find an ADHD-affirming paediatrician or psychiatrist
• TGA Medication Shortage Portal
• Blog Version

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

ADHD medication access, stimulant shortage Australia, ADHD mums, GP prescribing reforms, ADHD diagnosis barriers, rural healthcare inequality, mental health policy, Rose Jackson, neurodivergent families, ADHD advocacy, government reform, school support for ADHD, medication equity, ADHD specialist bottleneck, parenting burnout, invisible disability, ADHD and cost of living, PBS restrictions, TGA stimulant updates, accessible diagnosis, ADHD health crisis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode isn’t polished. It’s not another “mum guilt” talk with a tidy little bow. It’s a confession — 10 brutally honest fears that live under the surface of parenting with ADHD. The kind you lie awake thinking about. The kind you’re scared to say out loud.

From burnout to school calls, masking to medical forms — this Quick Reset is for the mums who are terrified of missing something important. Who love their kids fiercely, but carry a quiet dread that they’re not doing enough. Jane gets real about what it feels like to parent while managing executive dysfunction, health issues, shame spirals, and a system that was never built for us.

This isn’t weakness. It’s truth. And you’re not the only one thinking it.

🧠 What’s Inside:
• The panic of forgetting library day… again
• School calls that make your stomach drop
• The invisible mental load of paperwork, NDIS, permission slips, admin
• Fears you’ll burn out — and not bounce back this time
• Wondering if teachers think you’re the problem
• The heartbreak of feeling like chaos will outshine your love
• Masking with friends and fearing rejection if you're fully yourself
• Medical neglect, chronic fatigue, and fearing you're running out of time

💬 This isn’t just a list. It’s a reckoning.
Each fear is unpacked through the lens of ADHD neurology, emotional time travel, rejection sensitivity, and the legacy of being told to ‘just try harder’. Jane also tackles four common myths ADHD mums are told — and gives you the actual research to push back.

💥 This episode is for you if:
– You live with a constant, low-level fear of forgetting something vital
– You feel like your brain is fighting a system built against you
– You want to know that someone else gets it — fully, honestly, no fluff

📥 Share your own:
This episode is part of the CONFESSIONS series. If you’d like to add your own anonymous confession (or be featured in a future episode), submit it here:
👉 https://form.jotform.com/251238072679867

📚 Mentioned in this episode:
• ADHD Planner & Personal Values Workbook — a practical, non-performative way to anchor your week when everything feels like a blur. https://adhdmums.com.au/product/adhd-planner-and-values/

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TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
ADHD mums, parenting fear, school anxiety, rejection sensitivity, executive dysfunction, school trauma, mental load, invisible labour, masking, burnout, internalised shame, school admin stress, permission slip guilt, hypervigilance, chronic fatigue, parenting overwhelm, ADHD parenting truths, self-worth, vulnerability, real motherhood, emotional honesty.

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