Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

In this episode, we welcome James Ochoa, a counselor, coach, mentor, and intuitionist who has been helping adults with ADHD for over thirty years. James shares his insights on the importance of community in our ADHD journey and updates us on his upcoming book, "When the Shiny Wears Off: Navigating the Lifetime Storms of Adult ADHD."

We discuss the value of being part of a community and what it means to belong to a group of people who understand what you experience every day. We also explore the benefits of joining a community, such as personal growth, a sense of belonging, new friendships, learning new things, and practicing interpersonal skills.

James emphasizes the importance of recognizing that our motives for joining a new group or community are not always altruistic and that we only have so much extra time to share. Most importantly, he walks us through the power of developing your internal support group, using creative visualization to create your community in times of need.

In conclusion, James reminds us that being part of a community is crucial in our ADHD journey. It can provide us with a sense of belonging and help us grow personally. Thank you for joining us in this episode, and we hope you find it insightful and helpful in your own ADHD journey.

Links & Notes

• James Ochoa, LPC
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast

The esteemed Hall of Fame ADHD Podcast Guest and dear friend Dr. Sharon Saline graces the show once again! This week: why is it hard for ADHDers to be authentic joiners? Sharon offers her wisdom on the value of community in managing ADHD, addressing the fears and hesitations that can often prevent individuals from seeking out communal ties.

One of the main topics we discuss is avoidance behaviors towards community engagement. There are myriad reasons why a person might be reluctant to participate in group settings, such as social anxiety, previous negative experiences, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), fear of the unknown, and confusion about how to navigate new situations. Dr. Saline emphasizes the potential impacts of such isolating behaviors on a person's physical, mental, and social well-being. She also highlights the importance of fostering relationships, regardless of their novelty, and addresses the common misconception that having a few friends who may not fully understand an individual's experiences is sufficient.

How do we approach overcoming the avoidance of community engagement? Dr. Saline provides practical advice for those who seek the connection a community offers but are held back by their fears. She discusses the potential benefits of therapy or professional healthcare consultations to better understand and manage these fears. She also provides strategies to combat the paralysis often brought on by the fear of RSD and the "what if" scenarios that can hinder one from entering new group situations. Her advice to those who've had negative group interactions in the past is particularly powerful, urging them not to let past experiences define their future opportunities.

Links & Notes

• Learn more about Dr. Saline on her site, https://drsharonsaline.com, and make sure to pick up a copy of her fantastic book, "What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life”— it’s fantastic!
• Get Sharon's Free Handout Right Here!

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

We come to you with a pivot today and a follow-up discussion to last week's conversation on ADHD stigma. What is normal? Why is it such a charged word? And what can we do to reprogram the world around normal to represent any point on the vast neurodiversity spectrum?

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

Kody Lukens has been an entrepreneur since the age of 15, when he filed his first LLC. Now, he is the creator behind Stimagz - a successful magnetic fidget toy that was funded on Kickstarter. 

When Kody was first diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, he was frustrated by the lack of resources tailored for adults dealing with ADHD. He started searching online for recommendations and communities that could provide support but found very little that resonated with his needs and experience as an adult with ADHD. This inspired Kody to start creating his own ADHD-focused content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The response was overwhelmingly positive, indicating a real need for content created by and for adults with ADHD. 

 
While creating content proved draining at times, Kody persevered because he knew first-hand how valuable resources and community can be for someone newly diagnosed with ADHD. He continues to fill his own need for community by engaging with the people who interact with his content. Through this experience, Kody has gained significant insight into the need for accessible education, support systems, and community for adults with ADHD.

This passion led him to create Stimara, a company dedicated to building tools and products designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals. Stimagz, their magnetic fidget toy, has already sold over 10,000 units. Kody and the Stimara team are constantly working on new innovations to support the ADHD community.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

This week, we delve into the complex issue of emotional dysregulation, a common but often misunderstood symptom of ADHD. Emotional dysregulation refers to an impairment or inability to regulate feelings, which can lead to an overreaction to minor setbacks or challenges. This issue is deeply rooted in the science of emotion regulation.

And it's central to the sabotage we use on ourselves when we use "I don't wanna" as a strategy for productivity.

To better understand this, we reference an article from ADDitude magazine which discusses the role of the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for emotional reaction and decision-making. Typically, a surge of emotion such as anger or worry triggers the amygdala to send a signal to the cerebral cortex, which can then restrain the emotional response, allowing for a moment of pause and assessment before action. However, in those with ADHD, this amygdala-cortex signaling is significantly weakened, often leading to impulsive reactions to strong emotions.

We also discuss "The Resistance," a concept from Steven Pressfield, one of Pete's favorite writers on creativity and motivation. Pressfield describes "The Resistance" as a negative force that aims to distract and prevent us from doing our work, a concept that can be frustratingly familiar to those grappling with ADHD.

Emotional dysregulation can have profound impacts on our lives. When faced with a setback or perceived failure, the resultant flood of intense emotions can inhibit our willingness to try again, fueling limiting beliefs and often leading us to use our emotions as an excuse for inaction. However, it's crucial to remember that feelings are fluid and fleeting. They should not be allowed to dictate our actions.

Links & Notes

• How ADHD Amplifies Emotions
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

We had something of a scheduling snafu this week and our guests didn’t show! Don’t worry, they’ll be back. Bun in the mean time, Nikki and Pete carried on an impromptu AMA-QA show with members in the live chat and we decided to share a piece of it with you. 

The question that sparks the answer is, “how do you help others with transitions when you suck at them yourself?” Great question, and that gets us talking all about Bandura’s thoughts on self-efficacy, how pride can help you learn hard things, and more! 

If you want to hear the whole conversation, head over to https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast and sign up to get your very own member-edition podcast feed! Thanks everyone!

Links & Notes

• Archive.org • Bandura’s Original Publication
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

Buckle up for an episode packed with laughter, real talk, and maybe just a dash of existential dread. We've roped in our buddy and partner-in-podcasting-crime, Tommy Metz III, who you might recognize from that other awesome show, "What's That Smell Presents: All The Feelings". 

Kick back as Tommy spills some tea about himself, the mysteries of his life, and why on Earth he's hanging out with us today. He also drops the mic about the 8th season of "What's That Smell?" and its shiny new transformation into "All The Feelings". And, speaking of feelings and changes, our chat today is inspired by that very first episode of "All The Feelings" that talks about -- you guessed it -- Change. Tommy's got some wisdom nuggets about big transitions that he's itching to share with us.

We then dive headfirst into the deep end of the pool labeled "Big Transitions". You know the ones we're talking about - like that cold shock of returning to work after a lazy vacation, or trying to remember what "normal" felt like after being sick for a while. Oh, and let's not forget the Herculean task of changing daily routines or dealing with the horror of a new commute route. We mull over why these transitions feel like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, touching on fun concepts like the Hedonic Treadmill (spoiler: it's not a new fitness trend), our good old friends Fear of The Unknown and Fear of Failure, and that stubborn mule we call Resistance to Change.

But hey, it's not all doom and gloom! Sure, change can seem as appealing as a root canal, but often, the reality isn't nearly as terrifying as our overactive imaginations make it out to be. If you're wrestling with big transitions, we've got some top-shelf advice: ask for help (it's not a crime, we promise), blab about your feelings to someone who'll listen, and try to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes to get curious about what's new.

And if you're still feeling like a cat on a hot tin roof, let's play a game of "What if". What's the absolute worst thing that could happen? Once we break it down, you'll see that most of our "worst case scenarios" are about as likely as being struck by a meteor while winning the lottery. 

So come join us for this rollercoaster ride as we laugh, learn, and maybe cry a little about transitions, fears, and just all the feelings. Together, we'll navigate this crazy maze of change and come out the other side with a few more laugh lines and a whole lot more wisdom.

Links & Notes

• WTS Presents: All The Feelings
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

In this episode, we're shifting gears from our prior focus on games to delve into the world of transitions, particularly from the perspective of individuals with ADHD. The first area we explore is the concept of micro transitions. These are small changes that occur throughout our day, whether it's switching tasks, moving from one conversation topic to another, or even everyday activities like waking up or moving to a different location. Despite their seemingly minor nature, these transitions can pose substantial challenges for those with ADHD.

One of the central discussions in this episode centers on why transitions are often so hard for people with ADHD. The difficulties stem from the fact that ADHD can negatively affect executive functions. This can manifest as time blindness, difficulty in starting and stopping tasks, hyperfocus, and poor working memory. On a practical level, this might mean an individual with ADHD struggles with moving from a fun, dopamine-producing task to a boring or avoided task, remembering the reason for moving from one room to another, or leaving for work on time due to difficulty transitioning from waking up to getting ready.

Our conversation takes an intriguing turn as we propose a novel way to think about transitions: not as a change in contexts, but in rewards. This perspective encourages us to be aware of the hidden rewards of our current activity while also reminding ourselves of the potential rewards of the upcoming task. Poor transition management can lead to chronic lateness, which can impact jobs or relationships, and even a decline in health and wellness due to inadequate sleep.

Links & Notes

• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

This week we're diving into the Paradox of Failure. It's something game designer Jesper Juul came up with, and it's all about how gamers are weirdly drawn to the very thing we're trying to avoid: failure. Even when a game is exasperating, we just keep going back for more. It's all part of this cycle Juul talks about, where we set a goal, totally flub it, and then scramble to find a solution. It's a crazy ride, but it helps us grow and keeps us from throwing in the towel.

Dr. Carol Dweck taught us about the "growth mindset." It's all about loving a good challenge and not letting failure get you down. Instead, we use it as a springboard to get better and smarter. We'll also share some tips and tricks to help you embrace this kind of mindset, so you can tackle failures head-on, whether you're battling a boss in a game or facing challenges in the real world.

Links & Notes

• Fear of Failing? The Many Meanings of Difficulty in Video Games
• Video games and the paradox of failure
• The Learning Game — Ana Lorena Fabrega
• What Is A Growth Mindset? 8 Steps To Develop One.
• Carol Dweck: A Summary of The Two Mindsets
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

We’re continuing our series on gaming and ADHD this week. So far, we’ve explored how gaming ignites creativity and can expand perspectives and horizons. But what if we told you there was a game that is designed and build expressly to aid in treatment of attention disorders? 

That’s EndeavorOTC, the latest release from Akili Interactive. This is a company that cut its teeth on the FDA-Authorized pediatric game, EndeavorRx, the first and only prescription treatment delivered through a video game. With EndeavorOTC, they’re looking to help adults. 

Eddie Martucci is CEO of Akili and joins us today to talk about the game, how it works, and what it just might be able to do for you. 

Links & Notes

• Learn more about EndeavorOTC
• Dig into the podcast Shownotes Database

• (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast