I Have ADHD Podcast

In today’s episode, we’re talking about ADHD that looks like overwhelmed and under-functioning: when your brain gets so flooded that it can’t prioritize, and instead of choosing a next step… it shuts down.

You’ll learn what overwhelm really is in the context of ADHD (total cognitive, emotional, and/or sensory flooding), why “freeze” can be a very real nervous system response, and how this pattern often develops especially for those who grew up criticized, emotionally unsafe, unsupported, or chronically overwhelmed. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not hyper—I’m stuck,” this episode is for you.

We’ll break down the common pattern: Overwhelm → Freeze → Underfunctioning

Not because you don’t care, but because your system can’t handle the load.

Then we move into gentle, practical ways to “thaw” without bullying yourself:

1. Name it and accept it (without shame)
2. Use safe, doable movement to activate your system
3. Shrink the cognitive load (two essentials, tiny timers, one-minute starts)
4. Borrow someone else’s brain (ask for help, then obey)
5. Reduce decisions wherever possible
6. Practice deep self-compassion as the pathway to change

Finally, we talk about when to get extra support—especially trauma-informed therapy and nervous-system-based approaches like EMDR or somatic work.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!

Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #332: Stop Adding to the Planner Graveyard: One Tool to Improve ADHD Time Blindness NOW

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is part two of our series on dysfunctional families and ADHD.

If last week’s episode felt heavy, emotional, or disorienting, that makes sense. Episode one was about naming reality—and naming reality can stir grief, anger, relief, or all three. But we can’t change what we’re not willing to name.

Today, we answer the next (and crucial) question:

If that’s dysfunction… what does health actually look like?

Because knowing what you don’t want isn’t enough. You also need a clear picture of what you’re moving toward.

In this episode, I walk you through 10 signs of a healthy, functional family—not perfect families, not calm-all-the-time families, but regulated-enough, repair-focused, emotionally safe-enough families. Yes, even with ADHD.

We talk about:

1. Why repair—not perfection—is the real difference between healthy and dysfunctional families
2. What direct communication, emotional attunement, boundaries, and accountability actually look like in real life
3. How to end parentification and create age-appropriate roles
4. Why unconditional love, safety, and reliable care matter more than appearances
5. Small, realistic shifts you can make without shame or perfectionism

This isn’t a pass/fail checklist. It’s about direction, not perfection.

If you’re pausing, noticing, repairing, and setting boundaries—you are already changing the pattern. And that’s how generational cycles end.

Your family can be marked by safety, honesty, connection, and repair. Even with ADHD. Especially with ADHD.

Resources mentioned:

@codependencykate

@timfletcherco

@sitwithwhit

@benvbennett

Watch this episode on YouTube

Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!

Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #331: ADHD Medications: What’s Fact, What’s Fiction, and Why They’re Not “Basically Meth”

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s episode is part one of a two-part series on dysfunctional families and ADHD.

I’m sharing this from a very real place. The last few weeks have been heavy with extended family drama, and when things feel overwhelming, I name it and bring it into the light. As someone writing a book on healthy relationships for adults with ADHD, I want you to know I come by this work honestly.

When I look at my own family tree, I see generations shaped by abuse, addiction, emotional neglect, and unaddressed mental health struggles. I refuse to despise my lineage—but I also refuse to continue these patterns. It stops with me.

If you have ADHD, there’s a strong chance your family system shaped how safe it feels to have needs, set boundaries, and regulate emotions. This episode isn’t about blame or shame—it’s about clarity.

You’ll learn:

1. Why dysfunction can exist even when there was love
2. How emotional neglect often goes unnoticed
3. Why guilt shows up when you set boundaries
4. 10 common signs of a dysfunctional family system

Awareness is how cycles are interrupted. In Part Two, we’ll explore what healthy families actually look like and how to move toward that—without burning it all down.

Episode Resources:

Toxic Family Test

Patrick Teahan YouTube

Watch this episode on YouTube

Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!

Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #330: ADHD-Proof Your Life: Real Tips from Real ADHD Brains

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is one of the most downloaded episodes of the I Have ADHD Podcast—and for good reason.

In this powerful conversation, Kristen sits down with Dr. Patricia Quinn, a leading expert on ADHD in women and girls, to unpack the missing link so many of us were never taught about: estrogen and the ADHD brain.

If you’ve ever felt like your ADHD symptoms fluctuate wildly throughout the month, worsened during pregnancy or postpartum, or suddenly became unmanageable in your late 30s or 40s—this episode explains why. Dr. Quinn breaks down how hormonal changes directly impact neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and what that means for focus, mood, emotional regulation, and medication effectiveness.

Even though this episode was recorded a few years ago, the information is timeless—and still deeply validating for women navigating ADHD across different life stages.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!

Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #329: ADHD 101 For Neurotypicals: Why Your Loved Once Struggles With The 'Easy Stuff.'

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My guest today is Dr. Lindsay Gibson, author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents and Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents.

You probably saw Dr. Gibson everywhere in 2025...even on Oprah...but LET THE RECORD SHOW: you heard her here first!

This interview originally aired in March 2023, and I’m bringing it back because her work continues to resonate deeply with adults with ADHD.

In this episode, we explore why so many ADHD adults grew up feeling physically cared for—but emotionally alone. This is not a parent-shaming conversation. It’s about clarity, compassion, and naming invisible dynamics so you can stop blaming yourself for struggles that were never yours to fix.

What You’ll Learn

1. Why emotional loneliness is a defining experience for many adult children
2. What “emotional immaturity” actually looks like in parents
3. How people-pleasing, caretaking, and guilt develop as survival strategies
4. Why setting boundaries often triggers backlash—and how to respond
5. How guilt can be a sign of emotional coercion, not wrongdoing
6. What it means to emotionally disengage and reclaim space for yourself

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the problem in your family, struggled with guilt around boundaries, or exhausted yourself managing other people’s emotions—this episode is for you.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents — Dr. Lindsay Gibson

Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents — Dr. Lindsay Gibson

drlindsaygibson.com

Watch this episode on YouTube

Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!

Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #332: Stop Adding to the Planner Graveyard: One Tool to Improve ADHD Time Blindness NOW

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.