Dr. Abigail “Abi” Weissman joins me on this week’s episode. Abi is a clinical psychologist who calls herself an Empowering Supporter and a Self-Love Affirmer. Abi helps people who wish they could fulfill their queer, transgender, religious, liberal, polyamorous, and/or kink selves, but hold themselves back because they are scared they will be unloved, unemployed, and rejected by their loved ones and communities.  

In this conversation, you will hear Abi explain the LGBTQIQA acronym and why it is so important to individuals that identify with those classifications.  Abi tells her personal stories about coming out in both her sexuality and with ADHD. She explains why coming out as having ADHD was more difficult.  There is a high overlap with ADHD and people that identify as LGBTQIQA and Abi discusses this intersection.

Connect with Dr. Abigail Weissman:

Website: www.doctorabi.com

Phone: 619-403-5578

Email: info@doctorabi.com

You’ll Learn:

• [07:33] - We start this conversation by Abi defining “LGBTQIQA” and some of the other terms people use to identify themselves.
• [09:13] - Abi shares how she identifies herself. She explains these classifications.
• [11:46] - Abi explains how people can decide how to identify.
• [13:35] - Abi shares some terms of classification that are used and some of the difficulty in using these terms.  
• [18:21] - We talk about the series, “Transparent.”
• [19:17] - Abi shares her experience with coming out and how her family has handled this news.
• [22:01] - Abi explains what it’s like to come out every day.
• [26:17] - Abi is visiting this podcast today to come out of another closet.  
• [27:36] - Abi shares why she finds coming out as having ADHD more difficult than coming out as queer. She goes on to share how she discovered that she has ADHD.
• [30:03] - Abi talks about medication.
• [32:32] - Abi describes how much about herself she shares with her clients.
• [38:17] - Abi is going to a conference on conversion therapy and talks about this situation.
• [44:29] - We talk about the intersection of ADHD and LGBTQIQA.
• [56:28] - Abi explains why it is important to many people that each letter is in the acronym.
• [59:08] - Abi shares some safer sex practices for people with ADHD.
• [1:03:26] - We talk about organization and what we’d like to work on in the future.

Your Resources:

Zynnyme.com

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http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

The 10th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability group starts on August 21st.  Registration will be open July 19th through 25th.   Go to CoachingReWired.com to learn more and schedule your registration interview.

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to ADHDreWired.com and click “Community” and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

If you missed the ADHD Women’s Palooza, you can purchase all 36 sessions (including mine) for only $197! Check it out here: http://www.erictivers.com/palooza

Want to be a guest?

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Chris Nealy earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chris’ research focused on Autism and the family. Chris currently provides office-based, nature-based, and in-home psychotherapeutic services for individuals, families, couples, and groups affected by Autism and ADHD.  Chris co-owns Halcyon Mental Health in North Carolina.

In this conversation, you will hear Chris, and I discuss some of the similarities of ADHD and Autism.  We also consider techniques that are used with people with Autism and how those strategies can work with others.  Chris talks about the strength and challenge that comes with microexpressions.  At the end of the conversation, Chris shares information on equine therapy.  If you would like to hear the bonus content from this conversation, visit our Patreon page.

Connect with Chris Nealy:

Website - CreateYourCalm.com

Email - chris@createyourcalm.com

You’ll Learn:

• [05:23] - Chris shares how he fell into his career.
• [09:11] - Chris shares his experience when he first took medication for his ADHD.
• [10:50] - Chris talks about the similarities between Autism and ADHD. This leads to a conversation on how these techniques and strategies can work for different people.
• [15:15] - Chris explains TEACH. Chris talks about this approach and why it makes sense to him.
• [20:57] - Chris is currently reading Neurotribes. He talks about the idea of the reframing of diagnoses.
• [23:24] - We discuss a study of individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD and have traits of Autism. This leads to us talking about the fidget spinner popularity.  
• [28:22] - Chris shares a personal story about not knowing how to do the appropriate thing in public.  
• [37:00] - People with Autism like predictable situations.  Chris and I talk about communication in social situations.  
• [43:41] - We talk about the rare cases that a person with ADHD can qualify for disability.  Chris explains how his diagnosis caused his life insurance policy to double in cost.
• [52:19] - Chris shares that the strength and challenges come with microexpressions. We discuss our struggles with remembering names and conducting phone calls. I share how not having to masquerade as “normal” has helped me be more normal.
• [1:06:37] - Tony Attwood talks about a large population of Americans with Asperger’s and Autism in China.  We share some thoughts on the reasons for this and talk more about social context and the necessary complex neurological processes.
• [1:10:05] - Chris explains why “just” is a four-letter word.
• [1:10:56] - Chris talks about equine therapy for individuals with Autism.   

Your Resources:

Neurotribes - Steve Silberman

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

The 10th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability group starts on August 21st.  Registration will be open July 19th through 25th.   Go to CoachingReWired.com to learn more and schedule your registration interview.

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to ADHDreWired.com and click “Community” and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

If you missed the ADHD Women’s Palooza, you can purchase all 36 sessions (including mine) for only $197! Check it out here:  http://www.erictivers.com/palooza

Want to be a guest?

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here. 

This week, we bring you a recorded session of a live ADHD Q&A session.  The recording you will hear on this episode is from the May session.  

If you are listening to this episode the day it is published, Tuesday, June 13th, you can participate in the June ADHD Q&A session!  It starts at 12:30pm Central. Go to EricTivers.com/events to register.  

Ryan McCrae joins me on this Q&A.  In this conversation, you will hear Ryan, and I share our thoughts and tips on the questions that were submitted before and during the recording of this episode.

Connect with Ryan McCrae:

Website - TheADHDNerd.com

You’ll Learn:

• [05:14] - We talk about clutter and clutter control.  Ryan talks about decluttering in a neutral state.  I am preparing for a move with my family and having a decluttered space has simplified decisions for me.  
• [12:07] - We talk about the 5-minute rule and a 60-second clutter clearing exercise.
• [13:07] - A listener asks a question about academia, graduate school, and self-employment.
• [19:24] - Ryan talks about decision fatigue after a listener asks about switching between tasks.  
• [24:11] - A live viewer asks about keeping track of all of your ideas and avoiding forgetting them.
• [32:08] - Dennis asks about forming boundaries.  We talk about the need to say, “no.”
• [42:34] - A listener asks a question about shortening conversations and streamlining discussions. I have experienced this issue and share some of the strategies I have implemented. Ryan shares some techniques, as well.
• [47:10] - Jessica asks for tips on staying positive rather than focusing on past mistakes in work environments that focus on the bad ADHD traits.
• [55:07] - We talk about using an accountability partner.

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

The 10th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability group starts on August 21st.  The “Still Kinda Early” early registration drive is now open.  If you register during one of the four early registration days, you can save $200! Registration interviews will be held June 15th.  Go to CoachingReWired.com to learn more and schedule your registration interview.

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to ADHDreWired.com and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

If you missed the ADHD Women’s Palooza, you can purchase all 36 sessions (including mine) for only $197! Check it out here: http://www.erictivers.com/palooza

Want to be a guest?

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Gabriel Villareal is a resident in counseling, soon to be a licensed practicing counselor in Virginia. He works part-time with a community agency that serves children and adolescents in crisis. He also runs his own part-time practice, specializing in ADHD.  Gabriel is the host of Informed Consent, a weekly podcast for incoming clinicians.  

In this conversation, you will hear Gabriel talk about how he helps the people he works with find their strengths.  Gabriel believes that ADHD is a gift and if he were given the opportunity “return” his ADHD, he wouldn’t.  Gabriel talks about resiliency, experimenting, and finding the balance of routine. You will also hear how Gabriel stays organized with his busy schedule.  

Connect with Gabriel Villareal:

Informed Consent Podcast

Website - Roanoke ADHD

You’ll Learn:

• [06:39] - Gabriel shares his background and explains how he got to where he is.  
• [10:59] - Gabriel talks about mastery and failure.
• [13:24] - Gabriel explains that there are lots of different skills and strengths that people with ADHD can have, but not all have them all the time.
• [16:27] - Gabriel talks about resiliency. He talks about the resiliency he was born with and what he has worked to develop.
• [17:39] - Gabriel shares how he helps the people he works with find their strengths.
• [19:08] - We talk about the idea of being able to “return” ADHD.  
• [25:11] - Gabriel addresses the idea that viewing ADHD as a “gift” is a mechanism to make ourselves feel less bad about this thing we have.
• [38:30] - Gabriel talks about experimenting in different areas.
• [41:13] - Gabriel shares how he does with relaxing.
• [45:46] - Gabriel talks about finding the balance of routine.
• [47:28] - Gabriel is involved in many endeavors and shares how he keeps his schedule organized. This leads to a discussion on managing a calendar.
• [52:28] - Gabriel talks about his podcast, Informed Consent.

Your Resources:

All Dogs Have ADHD

All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

The 10th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability group starts on August 21st.  The “Still Kinda Early” early registration drive is now open.  If you register during one of the four early registration days, you can save $200!  Registration interviews will be held June 6th, 8th, and 15th.  Go to CoachingReWired.com to learn more and schedule your registration interview.

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to ADHDreWired.com and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

If you missed the ADHD Women’s Palooza, you can purchase all 36 sessions (including mine) for only $197! Check it out here:  http://www.erictivers.com/palooza

Want to be a guest?

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.