Today we are joined by author, mom, and social coach Caroline McGuire. She shares her personal journey with late ADHD diagnosis and how that shaped her work supporting neurodivergent adults.

Caroline discusses her book, Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults, and why direct, specific guidance matters.

Topics include the impact of late ADHD diagnosis for women, practical strategies for making and keeping friends (including “communi-splation” to explain needs), the power of interest‑based connections, troubleshooting friendship pitfalls, and the value of virtual communities. Caroline also addresses stigma, mismatched expectations, and self‑advocacy tips listeners can use right away.

Enjoy!

Resources:

Caroline Maguire: https://carolinemaguireauthor.com/

Book: Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults 

✋ Tired of feeling unsure of yourself? Let's change that! Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute coaching intake call to get started.

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

123 // What to Do When Your Friendships Aren't Working

For those of us with ADHD, what's realistic to expect from our lives?

It can be hard to know what realistic expectations are when you have ADHD, so in today's episode I want to share what I believe some of our expectations should be.

I hope you enjoy today's episode!

Resources:

✋ Want to build a meaningful life? Let me show you how! Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute coaching intake call to get started.

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

155 // This ADHD Habit is Destroying Your Happiness

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140 // What I Wish People Understood About Having ADHD

130 // Letting Go of the ADHD Shame When We Fail

When you feel rejected, how do you respond? Do you remove yourself from the situation? Do you pretend that you don't care?

According to the National Library of Medicine, there are three main responses to Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD:

In today's episode, I will go over these responses to Rejection Sensitivity & RSD in ADHD and give you 7 practical tips for handling rejection.

An encouragement to get us started... according to the book, You're Not the Problem, "99% of the time when a person rejects us, it's more about them than it is about us."

Resources:

✋ Want to feel better about your life? Let me show you how! Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute coaching intake call to get started.

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Sources:

Online: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12822938/ 

Book, You're Not the Problem: The Impact of Narcissism and Emotional Abuse and How to Heal 

Related Episodes:

153 // When Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD Shows up Most

129 // Is Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD Making You Lonely

89 // Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD | How to Stop Spiraling

In today's episode, I am joined by accredited psychotherapist Katie McKenna—co-author of You’re Not the Problem, creator of the C.A.L.M. Parenting Method, and host of the Beyond Survival podcast.

We talk about narcissistic and emotionally abusive parenting, how it shows up as overt and covert behaviors, and the long-term effects on children (golden child, invisible child, scapegoat, enmeshment and parentification).

The conversation also explores the intersection with ADHD, Katie’s own diagnosis and medication journey, and how trauma shapes survival responses like fight/flight/fawn and hyper-dependence or hyper-independence.

Katie and Kelsey walk listeners through practical healing steps: recognizing denial and FOG (fear, obligation, guilt), setting small boundaries, reestablishing self-trust, and parenting differently using the Calm Method to de-escalate fusion and build healthy autonomy in kids. The episode offers concrete tips for immediate self-care, where to start with recovery, and resources to learn more about narcissism, trauma, and reparative parenting.

Hope you enjoy today's episode!

Resources:

📙 Katie McKenna: https://katiecmckenna.com/ , Beyond Survival Podcast, @katiemckennapsychotherapist

✋ Tired of feeling unsure of yourself? Let's change that! Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute coaching intake call to get started.

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

We all want to feel seen, known and understood.

But how do we get that?

Part of it has to do with learning how to foster authentic friendships.

In today's episode, I will talk about:

Resources:

✋ Tired of feeling unsure of yourself? Let's change that! Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute coaching intake call to get started.

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

123 // What to Do When Your Friendships Aren't Working

They are more successful than me... she's prettier than me... they have more money...

Do you ever get caught in comparison?

It seems to suck you in and all of the sudden you are spiraling out of control?

In today's episode, I'll go over:

Remember... when we look at others, we aren't seeing the whole story.

Resources:

✋ Want to feel better about your life? Let me show you how! Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute coaching intake call to get started.

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

145 // The Importance of ADHD Regulation, with Jenna Free

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There is a cost to ADHD masking... what is yours?

In today's episode, we will explore the cost of ADHD masking—when adapting to fit in becomes exhausting and damaging.

We will also discuss when masking is helpful, when it’s harmful, and we will go over a few simple strategies: notice when you mask, assess the cost, interrupt dysregulation, choose your response, and create spaces where you can be authentically yourself.

I hope you find something helpful or encouraging in today's episode. Happy listening!

Resources:

✋ Want to overcome self-doubt? Try 1-on-1 coaching. Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute intake call

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

101 // ADHD Masking | The Negative Effects of Living Inauthentically

Rejection Sensitivity shows up most for me when I'm already scared... when I already feel "unsafe" because my nervous system is dysregulated.

In today's episode, I will walk you through the steps I have found helpful in reducing Rejection Sensitivity and its impact in my life.

I hope you find something helpful or encouraging in today's episode. Happy listening!

Resource: Jenna Free

Resources:

📙 Jenna Free & the Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation: https://www.jennafree.com/ 

✋ Want to overcome self-doubt? Try 1-on-1 coaching. Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute intake call

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

129 // Is Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD Making You Lonely

89 // Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD | How to Stop Spiraling

Have you ever felt defined by what you're going through? As a woman with ADHD, it can sometimes feel like we are defined by the times that we show up late, the times that we forget, or the chaos that we feel.

In today's episode, I want to remind you that you are not defined by your circumstances or your experiences with ADHD.

I hope you find something helpful or encouraging in today's episode. Happy listening!

Resources:

✋ Want to overcome self-doubt? Try 1-on-1 coaching. Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute intake call

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]

Related Episodes:

127 // ADHD, Worth & Identity: Will I Ever Feel Like I'm Enough?

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In today's episode, I had the privilege of interviewing children's author, Lynn Greenberg. She shares about working in collaboration with her son Jonathan, who is dyslexic and has ADHD.

Lynn and Jonathan are working together to bring awareness and advocacy for neurodivergence through children's literature.

Lynn shares about her journey of advocating for a child with ADHD and how her son views his neurodivergence. She also shares parenting strategies, the importance of empathetic education, and how storytelling can empower kids to see their strengths.

Want to learn more about the work Lynn and Jonathan are doing? Head to their website: creativecabcompany.com 

Resources:

✋ Want to live confidently? Try 1-on-1 coaching. Go to https://adhdwithconfidence.com/ and book a Free, 15-minute intake call

Free Daily ADHD Planner: https://adhdwithconfidence.com/free-daily-adhd-planner

📧 Comment or Question? Email me at: [email protected]