ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse

By Ruth and RachaelHealth & Fitness Mental Health

ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse episodes

July 17, 2024Discovering Your ADHD Strength: Caitlyn Bates Found Hers
We dive deep into the inspiring journey of Caitlyn Bates, a remarkable horticulturalist, gardener, philosopher, and solopreneur. This is an interview not to be missed.
Caitlyn's story is full of twists and turns, each enriched with incredible wisdom far beyond her years.
Early Recognition and Late Diagnosis: Despite having teachers recognize her ADHD in childhood, her family was not engaged with the situation, leading her to leave school early, frustrated, unsupported, and undiagnosed.

Transformation Post-Diagnosis: Caitlyn battled the health system in Australia to get a formal diagnosis of AuDHD (Autism and ADHD) in adulthood. She has since transformed her life and progressed her chosen profession in quantum leaps and bounds.

Tools and Support for Managing ADHD: Caitlyn shares her tools and the support she accessed to manage ADHD, the change in her work choices which have allowed her body to work with her ADHD, not against it (for her, movement and nature are part of her therapy), and the ongoing challenges she faces.

Work Choices and ADHD: The importance of choosing work that aligns with her ADHD needs, integrating movement and nature as part of her therapy.

Challenges and Sacrifices: The ongoing challenges she faces, including the sacrifices needed to kick addictions and the importance of supportive friendships.
Wisdom on Life and ADHD: Caitlyn drops pearls of wisdom throughout the conversation, emphasizing the importance of connecting with your purpose and loving your body.
Chunking Techniques: Caitlyn explains the benefits of "chunking" tasks to manage ADHD.

Kicking Addictions: The pain and gain of kicking addictions and the importance of making supportive life choices.

Purpose and Passion: The paramount importance of connecting with your purpose and respecting your body.
Caitlyn exudes a positive and energized attitude towards all she is and does. Her journey is a testament to her strength and resilience. And an inspiration for overcoming the challenges of neurodiversity.

🎧 Join us for this enlightening conversation with Caitlyn Bates as we explore the power of embracing your strengths, managing ADHD, and finding purpose in every aspect of life.
📌 Rate and Subscribe: If you find this podcast helpful, please rate and subscribe. Help us reach more ADHD women explore and support each other in the Neuroverse!
👉 Join Our Community: Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ if you are looking for support and community. Are you also a woman who recently discovered her ADHD? Want to share your story? Email ⁠⁠⁠Leonie "Ruth"⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠ or DM us on IG. We would love to hear about your journey!
1 hr
July 10, 2024Adult ADHD Diagnosis: The Magic of The Missing Piece with Julie Legg
Hey there listeners and sorry for the delay!

In this exciting episode, we are thrilled to chat with the incredible Julie Legg. She is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Living with ADHD. Released earlier this year, Julie’s book is about to make its paperback debut in the UK. It’s already available as an e-book, audiobook, and even in braille!
🐝Julie’s journey to an adult ADHD diagnosis inspired her to write this powerful book, which has become a beacon of hope and insight for many women navigating life with ADHD. We dive deep into the "how" and "why" behind her writing, and Julie shares profound insights on the importance of personal growth post-diagnosis.
In this episode, we cover:
Strategies for harnessing ADHD and turning challenges into strengths.

Personal anecdotes from Julie on dealing with ADHD-related obstacles, including social anxiety.

Effective "harnessing" strategies that work for Julie in her daily life.

🐝About Julie Legg:
Julie is a passionate advocate for ADHD, sharing her journey and insights through various platforms. She, along with her husband Jel Legg, runs the vlog ADHDifference, where they explore the many facets of living with ADHD. Julie was also recently interviewed on the Flourishing Education podcast with Fabienne Vailes, where she delved into her experiences and advocacy work.
Join us as we explore Julie’s fascinating journey and the magic of The Missing Piece. This episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice for anyone impacted by ADHD. Don’t miss out!
Links and Resources:
Julie Legg’s Book: The Missing Piece: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Living with ADHD
Julie’s Vlog: ADHDifference
Flourishing Education Podcast Interview: Listen Here
📌 Rate and Subscribe: If you find this podcast helpful, please rate and subscribe. Help us reach more ADHD women explore and support each other in the Neuroverse!
👉 Join Our Community: Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ if you are looking for support and community. Are you also a woman who recently discovered her ADHD? Want to share your story? Email ⁠⁠Leonie "Ruth"⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠ or DM us on IG. We would love to hear about your journey!
1 hr 6 min
July 02, 2024ADHD Energy Management and Self-Compassion
So sorry we missed you last week!

We take a bit of a break but want to check in with each other and all of you.
Rachael's Big Move:
Rachael is moving from California to Washington, a 27-hour drive (actually 21ish).

The movers came yesterday, and today involved a lot of physical tasks and errands. Despite the exhaustion, Rachael is excited about the move to Washington, which has been a goal for five years.
Energy Management During Big Tasks:
Rachael discusses the importance of creating strategies for managing ADHD energy when your schedule requires you to keep pushing. Sometimes we can't give our body what it needs but we can make it better.

Communicating energy levels, taking breaks, and eating something every couple hours made all the difference.
Ruth's Recent Travels:
Ruth shares her experiences with traveling and how she managed her energy and anxiety.
She gives some travel tips that have worked for her.
Compassion and Self-Care:
Ruth emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and planning for potential disruptions.
Closing Thoughts:
Acknowledging the challenges and triumphs of managing ADHD while navigating big life events and travel.

Emphasizing the importance of flexibility, planning, and self-compassion in handling unexpected situations.

🤗Thank you for your support and patience over the last couple weeks. We will be back to our normal schedule next week with an exciting interview with Julie Legg. She is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD.

🙋‍♀️What strategies have you found to manage your ADHD during big events and travel? Comment on the episode, on Instagram or email Ruth or Rachael directly.

👋Enjoying our show? Help us reach more ADHD women by subscribing to the podcast and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. And/or sharing the podcast with friends/family who might benefit from these discussions.
29 min
June 17, 2024ADHD and Transitions: Embracing Change Despite the Overwhelm
In this episode, we dive into the beautiful mess that is ADHD and transitions. Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating change, sharing personal stories, coping strategies, and a good dose of humor. Whether you're dealing with ADHD overwhelm or striving for self-compassion, we've got insights and tips to help you through.
Topics Covered:
The impact of ADHD on transitions and how it affects planning and emotions.

Strategies for managing ADHD overwhelm and finding self-compassion during change.

Personal experiences with ADHD sensory overload and how to cope.

The importance of ADHD forgiveness and extending grace to ourselves and others.

How body doubling can help in managing ADHD tasks and transitions.

Techniques for ADHD emotional regulation and dealing with hyperfocus.
Key Takeaways:
Communicate: Share feelings of overwhelm or anxiety with others to get support and strengthen relationships.

Self-compassion: Learn the importance of extending grace and understanding to yourself.

Coping Strategies: Discover the benefits of making lists and writing by hand.

Routine and Novelty: Balance the pull between needing routine and craving novelty.

Forgiveness: Understand the place and benefits of forgiveness for yourself and others.
Links from this episode:
ADHD and Transitions: Change Is Tough; How to Deal with It
Why is change difficult for people with ADHD?
How to Make Transitions Easier with ADHD
⁠10 Minute Leaves on a Stream Mindfulness Exercise

💡 Connect with us: If you’re an ADHD solopreneur, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to ⁠Ruth⁠ or ⁠Rachael⁠ for a virtual coffee chat to share experiences and support each other.
📌 Rate and Subscribe: If you find this podcast helpful, please rate and subscribe. Help us reach more ADHD women explore and support each other in the Neuroverse!
👉 Join Our Community: Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ if you are looking for support and community. Are you also a woman who recently discovered her ADHD? Want to share your story? Email ⁠Leonie "Ruth"⁠ or ⁠Rachael⁠ or DM us on IG. We would love to hear about your journey!
1 hr 1 min
June 10, 2024ADHD Tools with Lindsey Lobin: Your Best Neurospicy Life
In this lively and insightful episode, we chat with Lindsey Lobin, a passionate advocate for the neurospicy community.

Lindsey brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to our discussion, shedding light on various ADHD tools and strategies that have improved her life. Her vibrant personality and openness make this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating the complexities of ADHD.
Lindsey's ADHD Journey:
Lindsey shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She talks about the profound impact that medication has had on her ability to focus and succeed, particularly in her academic and professional life.
She touches on Object Permanence in ADHD,
Rejection Sensitivity, and Auditory Processing Disorder. These are all common issues for ADHD women.
Lindsey's story is a testament to the power of finding the right tools and support.
ADHD Tools and Strategies:
Lindsey generously shares a variety of tips, tricks, and tools that she uses to manage her ADHD effectively:
The ADHD Meal: A unique approach to structuring tasks, starting with easy, dopamine-rewarding activities, and building up to more challenging tasks.

Monthly Evaluation Wheel: A tool for self-assessment and goal setting in various areas of life, helping to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Loop Ear Plugs: Lindsey highlights the benefits of using Loop earplugs to manage sensory overload in noisy environments.

'To Do' and 'Ta Da' Lists: The importance of acknowledging completed tasks and celebrating small wins to maintain motivation and positivity.

Worksheets from Pinterest: Lindsey recommends using worksheets from Pinterest to help organize thoughts and tasks.

Overcoming Burnout Journal from Best Self: A journal designed to help manage burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Key Takeaways:
Progress is Success: Recognizing that every step forward is an achievement, no matter how small.

Individual Trial and Error: Understanding that finding what works is a personal journey and requires patience and experimentation.

Redefining Standards: Embracing a different standard from the dominant paradigm, one that is kinder and more supportive of our neurodiverse traits.
Lindsey's insights and practical advice offer valuable support for anyone dealing with ADHD. Her approach emphasizes self-compassion, creativity, and the importance of finding personalized strategies to thrive.
Subscribe and Follow:
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue bringing valuable content to our neurodiverse community.
Connect with Us:
If you’re navigating ADHD or supporting someone who is, we'd love to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram, join our community, share your experiences, and discover more tips and tools for thriving in the neurospicy world. Email Ruth or Rachael if you would like to share your story!
46 min
June 03, 2024ADHD and Solopreneurship: Embracing the Beautiful Mess
Once again, we managed to have a rich conversation that not only touches on the main topic but also roams widely yet strategically. 🌟
🐝Support as a Solopreneur: Being a Solopreneur doesn't mean being isolated. We reflect on the importance of having a support system and reaching out to other solopreneurs who:
Understand the challenges we face.

Share the mental load.
🐝LinkedIn for Solopreneurs: We explore LinkedIn as a valuable platform for solopreneurs to connect with like-minded individuals, network with a community, and gain energy and inspiration. The platform offers:
A professional yet compassionate community.

Opportunities for meaningful connections and social weaving.
🐝Redefining Consistency: We delve into the conundrum of consistency and decide that we need to rewrite its definition to prioritize our well-being. Our new definition of consistency includes:
Not living up to other people’s expectations.

Focusing on intention.

Allowing space for grace, understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance.
🐝Personal Insights:
Rachael: Shares her struggle with distinguishing between excitement and anxiety, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness.

Ruth: Reflects on how her anxiety manifests through controlling behaviors and how responsibilities have shifted her dynamics.
🐝Challenges and Strategies:
Rachael: Discusses the pressure of daily posting as a solopreneur and how she balances it with self-compassion and realistic expectations.

Ruth: Shares her experiences with tech challenges and the importance of self-forgiveness and recognizing systemic issues.
🐝Encouragement and Community Building: We hope this episode provides encouragement, insight, and inspires you to laugh and love life in the Neuroverse. If you're a solopreneur with ADHD, we encourage you to reach out and build your community, whether it's on LinkedIn or elsewhere.

💡 Connect with us: If you’re an ADHD solopreneur, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ruth or Rachael for a virtual coffee chat to share experiences and support each other.
📌 Rate and Subscribe: If you find this podcast helpful, please rate and subscribe. Help us reach more ADHD women explore and support each other in the Neuroverse!
👉 Join Our Community: Follow us on Instagram if you are looking for support and community. Are you also a woman who recently discovered her ADHD? Want to share your story? Email Leonie "Ruth" or Rachael or DM us on IG. We would love to hear about your journey!
55 min
May 27, 2024 ADHD Coach Ange Nennie: Her story & personalized ADHD Coaching
Lots to dig into this episode with the fascinating and friendly ADHD coach Ange Nennie.
🐝 Ange shares some of her personal ADHD journey including her diagnosis, how she has adjusted to medication, and when she uses it. She has a great reframe on diagnosis which is “diagnoses can change the question from what is wrong with me to how do I cope with this?”
We spend some time discussing ADHD in general, ADHD and peri-menopause, and transition times when there is often a diagnosis.
🐝 Ange brings clarity to the differences between regular coaching vs. ADHD coaching, and ADHD coaching vs. therapy.
We go deep into ADHD coaching with Ange. It is person-based—the aim is to craft a solution that works for the individual. It is also practical and future-focused, with an emphasis on planning the actions a client has decided to take to support success. She also mentions the four pillars of success and her strengths-based approach to coaching.
🐝 In addition, Ange is part of a local ADHD Professional Group which meets quarterly with speakers, panels, and case studies to keep professionals up to date with what is happening in the ADHD space.
We also discuss how important it is to find your tribe. Ange highlights the value of connecting with others who share similar experiences, bringing validation and acceptance into our lives.

📌Get to know Ange better and find out how to work with her on her site, Instagram , LinkedIn, or Facebook
🤗If you find this podcast helpful, please rate and subscribe.
You can also follow us on our Instagram. If you have discovered you have ADHD/ADD as an adult woman and want to share your story email ⁠⁠Leonie "Ruth"⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠.

Links for this episode: Mental Health Professionals NetworkThe Neurodivergent Woman Podcast
ADHD Books: Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté, The Missing Piece by Julie Legge, We're All Neurodiverse by Sonny Jane Wise
53 min
May 20, 2024 Self-Care Break - A Necessity for ADHD Women
This week we take a break and are not releasing an episode so we can give our bodies and brains some TLC.
🐝We are putting into practice what we believe ADHD women should do more for themselves...be more aware of their energy level and what they need. We reject the demand that we always do everything consistently...And you can too!
👉 What is your body telling you it needs right now?
📌We hope you will join us if you are looking for support and community. Please email Leonie "Ruth⁠"⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠ if you have discovered you have ADHD/ADD as an adult woman and want to share your story.
Mindfulness and meditation YouTube videos that may be helpful:
5 Minute Guided Breathing Meditation
10 Minute Leaves on a Stream Mindfulness Exercise
9 Minute 5 Senses Mindfulness Exercise
22 Minute Yoga for ADHD Concentration
2 min
May 13, 2024 Body Doubling-an ADHD strategy for task completion
We have a rambling and robust conversation in this episode beginning and ending with Body Doubling. We encourage you to explore the concept and see if it will work for you...To help you beyond task paralysis, or other executive functioning challenges you may face.
🐝In our conversation, the importance of forgiveness comes up. Ruth shares the definition she has
found most helpful ‘Forgiveness is accepting that you can’t have a different past’.
🐝Which leads to a conversion on the importance of accepting ourselves and our past and loving who
we are.
🐝Rachael shares a very personal reflection about forgiving herself.
🐝Ruth attempts to share a pearl of wisdom but gets lost in the context setting, loses her train of
thought, and the pearl forever remains undisclosed…
Another lively and entertaining episode awaits you.

“Body Doubling” for ADHD-ers Articles:
⁠How The Body Doubling Technique Can Help When You Have ADHD⁠
⁠The ADHD Body Double: A Unique Tool For Getting Things Done⁠
⁠What is 'body doubling' for ADHD?
👉We hope you will join us if you are looking for support and community.
lease email ⁠Leonie "Ruth⁠⁠"⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you have discovered you have ADHD/ADD as an adult woman and want to share your story.
40 min
May 06, 2024 Guest Phoebe Anderson-The “Why’s It So Hard” Feelings That Led to ADHD Diagnosis
Today’s episode is honest and heartwarming. Phoebe Anderson has great resilience, intelligence,
determination and a sweetness which the world needs more of.
🐝Phoebe is turning 21 and is at the beginning of her ADHD understanding. She has a referral and is
booked in for her first appointment with a psychiatrist (in what is quite a lengthy diagnosis process
in Australia).
🐝We discuss task paralysis and procrastination. Until recently, her “to start the task is where it ends,” and “will it ever get better?” Self-reflection led to a deeper understanding of herself and her ADHD tendencies. These insights gave her some useful strategies to cope with these two huge productivity disruptors.
🐝She speaks openly about the challenges she faced studying at university and her desire to reach her full
potential and flourish. We discuss how ADHD/ADD women tend to feel like they aren’t “reaching their potential.”
🐝And how “body doubling” helps some ADHD-ers get more done when they have someone else in the room with them.
🐝She also shares thoughts, excitement, and hope around the next steps. She is open to the possibility of medication in conjunction with other support and coping strategies to ease the strain she has been feeling.
💡Phoebe speaks to people who are struggling about the importance of being seen and heard. She gives an example of the joy and relief which came from being in a space which was held for her so that she could express the pain of “it is so hard.”

😊And the positive side of her ADHD brain? The unique perspective she brings to a situation and her
extraordinary attention to detail in emotional intelligence.
We know you will enjoy this episode.

Links:
Online ADHD Assessment

“Body Doubling” for ADHD-ers Articles:
How The Body Doubling Technique Can Help When You Have ADHD
The ADHD Body Double: A Unique Tool For Getting Things Done
What is 'body doubling' for ADHD?

👉We hope you will join us if you are looking for support and community.
lease email ⁠Leonie "Ruth⁠⁠"⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you have discovered you have ADHD/ADD as an adult woman and want to share your story.
38 min