One Saturday morning, I ended up in the ER saying, “I think I’m having a heart attack.”

Two weeks later, I had a diagnosis I’d barely heard of: POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

In this episode, I’m sharing what happened, what POTS actually is & the interesting overlap researchers are seeing between POTS, ADHD & other neurodivergent conditions.

We’ll talk about:

• The weird symptoms that finally made me realise something wasn’t right
• What POTS actually does to your body
• The connection between POTS and neurodivergence
• Common symptoms, triggers and co-occurring conditions
• What diagnosis & management can look like
• Why understanding what your body is doing can change everything

If you’ve ever thought, “Why does my body do this weird sh*t?” this one is worth a listen.

RESOURCE MENTIONED: https://www.dysautonomianz.co.nz/

Important: POTS symptoms can overlap with other medical conditions, so please don’t diagnose yourself from a podcast or smartwatch. If something here sounds familiar, speak with your doctor.

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM XENA:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Your brain does some weird shit. The good news? A lot of it makes more sense once you understand what’s actually going on behind the scenes.

In this episode, I’m sharing 15 fascinating brain facts, psychology quirks & simple hacks that explain why we think, feel & behave the way we do.

We cover:

• Why asking someone for a small favour can actually make them like you more
• Why embarrassing memories seem to stick around forever
• The spotlight effect & why people notice you far less than you think
• How naming an emotion can help turn down its intensity
• Why walking can boost creativity & help you get unstuck
• A few surprisingly simple ways to support focus, memory & learning (including chewing gum!)

Basically, your brain is doing weird sh*t for surprisingly logical reasons.

And once you know what it’s up to, you can start working with it.

WANT MORE?

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

I named my ADHD brain Kevin.

Why? Because when Kevin tells me I’m a failure, catastrophises over one tiny mistake or starts replaying something embarrassing I said three days ago, it’s much easier to go, “Yep, Kevin’s being dramatic again”… And create some separation.

In this episode, I’m sharing why naming your brain can be such a powerful way to create distance from your inner critic, reduce rumination & stop treating yourself like an asshole.

We cover:

• Why that mean voice in your head can slowly erode your self-esteem
• The science & psychology behind naming your brain
• How naming your brain helps you separate you from the mental noise
• The 3 simple steps to name your own brain, notice its patterns & talk back to it

Because your brain is a storyteller, not a fortune teller. And sometimes Kevin needs to sit the f*ck down.

WANT TO WORK WITH XENA?

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

When both partners have ADHD, relationships can be full of fun, spontaneity, creativity & a deep sense of “you just get me.” 

But two ADHD brains can also mean double the executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, RSD, impulsivity & forgotten life admin.

In this episode, I’m exploring what happens when ADHD meets ADHD in a relationship & why having the same diagnosis doesn’t mean having the same brain.

We’ll talk about:

• Why RSD + RSD can turn a conversation about dirty dishes into a full-blown relationship argument
• What happens when two emotionally dysregulated brains trigger each other
• Executive dysfunction, unequal mental loads and the dreaded “I thought YOU were doing it”
• How completely different ADHD profiles can clash
• Money, impulsivity, sex & intimacy 
• The genuinely GOOD parts of being with someone whose brain works a little like yours
• 8 practical tools to help you communicate, regulate, stay connected & build systems that actually work for both of you

FOR MORE GOOD SH*T FROM US - CHECK OUT: 

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

When we talk about ADHD, we spend a lot of time talking about dopamine... but what if we've been overlooking another brain chemical that could make a real difference?

In this episode, we're exploring oxytocin. Often called the connection chemical or the love drug,  oxytocin plays an important role in helping us feel safe & connected. It also works closely alongside dopamine, making it especially relevant for ADHD brains.

We'll unpack what oxytocin is, why it matters & simple, practical ways you can increase it in everyday life. From hugs & pets to voice notes, nature walks & meaningful conversations, you'll discover why connection isn't just a nice idea... it may actually help support your ADHD brain.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How oxytocin and dopamine work together in the ADHD brain
• Why connection can support emotional regulation, relationships, motivation & impulse control
• The surprising difference between texting & hearing someone's voice
• Why walking with a friend might be one of the best things you can do for your brain
• Simple, ADHD-friendly ways to increase oxytocin every day

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM US:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Why is it that we can be calm, focused & capable in a crisis, but feel completely paralysed by a simple phone call?

In this episode, I share the story of breaking down alone on a pitch-black country road & how I handled it like a f*cking boss. 

In this episode, we cover:

• Why ADHD brains can work better in a crisis
• The role of dopamine, norepinephrine & stimulation
• Why clear, urgent problems can feel easier than vague everyday tasks
• How relying on panic & last-minute pressure can lead to burnout
• Why coping well in the moment does not mean your body is not stressed
• How to borrow from “crisis mode” without creating an actual crisis

HERE'S MORE GOOD SH*T FROM NAVIGATING ADULT ADHD:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

ADHD is often described as a problem with focus, organisation & hyperactivity, but that leaves out a huge part of the picture.

In this episode, we are exploring five things doctors can still get wrong about adult ADHD, including:

• Why emotional dysregulation is a major part of ADHD
• Why success does not rule out a diagnosis
• How ADHD in women can hide behind anxiety, depression & competence
• The impact hormones can have on symptoms & medication
• Why ADHD is not an inability to pay attention

We also look at why lived experience matters, how outdated assumptions can lead to people being dismissed & what a fuller understanding of ADHD can look like.

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM US:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Where’s the line between being authentically yourself and oversharing because… Hi we have ADHD!

In this episode, I’m unpacking why so many ADHDers share deeply, quickly & sometimes before we’ve checked whether we actually want to. 

We’ll explore:

• Why ADHD can make us crave fast connection
• How impulsivity, dysregulation, shame & masking can fuel oversharing
• The difference between authenticity & urgency
• Why privacy & boundaries do not mean you’re being fake or inauthentic
• Questions to help reflect on what you choose to share

You can be open, honest and completely yourself without giving everyone immediate access to every part of you.

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM NAVIGATING ADULT ADHD:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

ADHD can show up in the bedroom in ways we don’t always talk about.

For some ADHDers, it might look like a high sex drive, chasing novelty, impulsive decisions, risky behaviour, or seeking dopamine through sex and attention.

For others, it might look like low libido, getting bored, feeling disconnected, sensory overwhelm, distraction, or struggling to stay present.

In this episode, we’re unpacking:

• Hypersexuality and hyposexuality
• Why novelty, dopamine and “the chase” can feel so powerful
• How impulsivity can show up around all things sex
• Distraction, sensory needs & struggling to stay present
• Low libido, pressure, resentment & emotional disconnection
• Why intimacy is about so much more than sex
• How awareness, communication & support can help us create more choice

This is a shame-free, vulnerable conversation about understanding the ADHD patterns that can show up in the bedroom. 

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM US:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Anxiety is incredibly common for adults with ADHD & in this episode we are unpacking the messy, layered relationship between ADHD & anxiety.

We cover:

• Why ADHD can create the perfect conditions for anxiety to thrive
• How ADHD symptoms & anxiety symptoms can look almost identical
• Why anxiety may be a coping mechanism your brain developed to keep you safe
• The difference between ADHD-driven anxiety & a separate anxiety disorder
• Why so many women are diagnosed with anxiety before ADHD
• What can actually help, from brain dumps to emotional regulation tools & ADHD-informed support

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they’re constantly bracing for something to go wrong, overthinking everything or swimming against a current they couldn’t explain.

FOR MORE SUPPORT & OTHER GOOD SH*T:

*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain

*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)

*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD

*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List

*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena

*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 

*Come hang out with me on Instagram!