Translating ADHD

In this part one of two episodes, Ash and Cam discuss the idea of repurposing negative emotions. People with ADHD are often told that they don’t manage their emotions and they need to learn to regulate their emotions. That’s like trying to hold back a rising tide with a sand castle wall! We can do more than just manage emotions. Emotions are responses to our environment, and when redirected or repurposed they can be amazing resources, especially when it comes to figuring out what matters to someone.

Cam shares a recent personal experience to illustrate repurposing negative emotions - how his aggravation from, of all things, a split poopy bag, a gourmet polenta that fails to set up and a cooking class where you don’t get to cook can be converted into a reminder of what matters at Cam’s core. Ash deftly steers the conversation to further explore the significance of “things doing their basic function” and how the learning from the cooking class example is the thread to pull on. The conversation explores the awareness of negative emotions, recognizing their impact, and the potential for repurposing them to inform and reacquaint one with core values. The discussion touches on ADHD implications, the importance of basic functioning, and the frustration that individuals with ADHD may face. The episode concludes with a promise to continue the conversation in the next part, delving into repurposing negative emotions further.

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Ash and Cam sampled challenges from their Patreon community to provide inspiration and content for today’s episode. They chose to focus on one post about the challenges of modern living, and how to engage and be productive when one is maxed out with all of the demands for one’s attention. The hosts explore the dilemma of managing modern living, unpredictable childcare, and ever changing workplace demands.

They relay how the listener articulates the dilemma of prioritizing, scheduling and identifying a starting place in any task, and how to get a meaningful completion in the face of too many inputs and demands. The episode emphasizes the importance of articulating challenges, finding meaningful completion, and distinguishing between the "here and now" and the "not here, not now" aspects in managing tasks and priorities and how this elicits specific neural network activation.

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Asher and Cam were invited to present at the Annual International Conference on ADHD in Maryland. In this mini-episode of the podcast, they offered their ADHD coaching perspectives to discuss how nuance, distinction and curiosity can help us live more authentically.

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In this podcast episode, hosts Ash and Cam discuss the process of developing a scope of work in ADHD coaching, emphasizing the importance of co-creating the scope with clients. They explore the balance between addressing clients' urgent needs and detaching from predefined outcomes.

The conversation delves into perspective work, awareness-building, and the gradual nature of coaching, using examples from their coaching experiences. Cam introduces the concept of dedicating 2.5 hours per week to self-care and reflective practice, emphasizing the value of nuanced thinking and curiosity in personal growth.

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In this podcast episode, hosts Ash and Cam continue to discuss the coaching process with an ADHD client - this time one of Cam’s clients. They illustrate the significance of exploring the client's challenges, assumptions, and initial expectations at the beginning of a coaching engagement to clearly determine the scope or goals of the coaching. The client, a music teacher, initially felt overwhelmed with administrative tasks and the pressure to fill seats in her elective program. She believed the goal would be to address everything that was on her plate. ADHD puts too many things on our plates. The coaching helped her shift her goals to focus more on prioritizing and developing efficient and creative ways to have a better work day. Through experimentation the client realized she could prioritize her classroom experience, connecting with her love for music and education. This shift not only improved her daily experiences but also led to creative solutions, like involving older students to promote the program through engaging activities like Guitar Hero.

The discussion explores the coaching skills and processes used to educate listeners about the change process in coaching. The hosts emphasize the importance of reconnecting with personal values and finding creative approaches to navigate challenges living with ADHD and that good coaches will use the coaching process to help clients define the scope of the coaching work.

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In Season 2, Episode 12 of Translating ADHD, hosts Ash and Cam discuss their coaching approach, focusing on one of Asher’s clients and their journey through the coaching process, self-discovery and change. They emphasize the importance of addressing barriers to change, such as awareness, action, and new learning.

Asher shares a specific example involving work-related challenges and how coaching helped his client shift from black-and-white thinking and big signal distraction to embracing nuance and curiosity. The client's journey led to increased self-awareness, questioning limiting beliefs, and ultimately making positive career changes aligned with strengths and unique values. The episode highlights the power of coaching in cultivating understanding, self-discovery, and creating a life that fits for individuals with ADHD.

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In this episode the hosts, Ash and Cam venture into the topic of readiness for coaching. Coaching is best utilized when clients are in a position to maximize the benefits. Ash and Cam discuss that timing is key to a successful run at coaching and that challenges with coaching can be mitigated by some level of work prior to coaching. They emphasize key elements of readiness for coaching, exploring topics like vulnerability, shame, and the transformative power of partnership. The hosts highlight the evolving nature of coaching relationships and the importance of building a practice of curiosity and reflection. They also share how coaches can help clients understand this process.

The episode also delves into their recent experience at the International ADHD Conference, sharing personal stories about navigating barriers and the coaching process. Finally, they introduce a new group coaching offering called Acceptance starting in January. They also discuss the importance of acceptance in dealing with ADHD barriers.

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In this episode of Translating ADHD, hosts Ash and Cam revisit the third barrier of ADHD - the barrier to new learning - and explore common scenarios of being stuck at this barrier. They emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing this often-overlooked barrier. Behavior at the base of this barrier includes the ever frustrating ‘strategy fade’ where a system of strategy fades after a couple weeks. The feeling of ‘clean slate’ or always starting over is another indicator.

The hosts share personal experiences and examples, highlighting the significance of learning from struggles and navigating the challenges of ADHD. They discuss the value of experiential learning, experimenting with different approaches, and the power of modeling as coaches share their own journeys of growth. The episode encourages listeners to design experiments, engage with the coaching process, and seek coaches who embrace the ongoing journey of change.

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In this podcast episode, Ash and Cam discuss the concept of being stuck at the second barrier in ADHD-action, focusing on the three barriers: awareness, action, and new learning. They continue to explore how these barriers overlap with coaching stages. The main discussion centers around three common states of being stuck: overwhelm, fear, and burnout. The hosts share insights into how to navigate each state, emphasizing the importance of self-care, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and addressing fear through developing accurate feedback loops and separating emotions from activities. The overall message is that being stuck is not a personal failing but a part of ADHD, and finding alternative ways to take action is possible . The hosts encourage curiosity and support to open doors to new approaches.

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• Episode Transcripts: visit TranslatingADHD.com and click on the episode