What is it about the word suicide that makes you want to whisper? Is it a feeling of shame, guilt, or isolation? Listen, as your host Eric and his guest Dr. Lindsay Weisner discuss the stigma around the word suicide and how important it is for people to have the conversation. They also share that talking to someone about your feelings lets you know that you are not alone, and it might help you find happiness in your life, and much more on this episode of ADHD reWired. 

 Lindsay is a clinical psychologist in Long Island, NY, and graduated from Georgetown University. She was awarded fellowships in child development at the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Lindsay also received her doctorate at CW Post LIU and pursued postdoctoral training at the American Institute of Psychoanalysis. Dr. Weisner is the current host of the Neurotic Nourishment Podcast and the Co-Author of the book Ten Steps to Finding Happy.

Listen, as Lindsay describes being diagnosed with ADHD at forty-two, her son being diagnosed, and the impact that the prescribed medicines have had on them both. Lindsay also speaks about the book she co-authored and her mom's substance abuse and mental health issues. She shares about her mom's multiple suicide attempts, what that did to her family, and why she believes that helping individuals who are thinking about suicide is her calling.

Talking about mental health issues and suicide isn't easy, but if you push the trepidation aside and open up the conversation, you might be surprised at what you can accomplish. Dr. Lindsay Weisner's passion is to help bring light to people who only see darkness. If you resonate with any of this, please listen to this episode and start the conversation.

You'll learn:

• [02:38] Lindsay, welcome to the show!
• [05:10] Lindsay shares about being diagnosed with ADHD eight months ago after she was told she wasn't living up to her full potential as a child.
• [07:16] She speaks about her son being diagnosed with ADHD and depression. 
• [10:11] Lindsay shares how getting him on meds changed him completely.
• [11:11] She chats about being diagnosed with ADHD and what that meant for her.
• [14:00] They discuss her being a psychologist, not a psychiatrist.
• [18:44] Lindsay discusses her book and why she wrote it.
• [19:49] Eric warns that they will be talking about suicide.
• [21:16] Lindsay talks about winning the first-ever Cosmopolitan Fiction in 2014 and meeting the author she wrote the book with.
• [25:24] Lindsay speaks about a slew of teenagers in her small town killing themselves. 
• [28:04] She talks about growing up knowing her mom had some substance abuse issues and finding out her mom had attempted suicide.
• [30:03] Lindsay chats about being in graduate school and her mom's other suicide attempts.
• [36:50] Lindsay shares what made her want to work with the suicidal population.
• [38:48] She discusses the Marchman Act, which allows someone to be put on a 72 hours hold against their will.
• [43:15] Lindsay chats about setting up an event to raise awareness of suicide.
• [45:33] Lindsay speaks about all the celebrities she got to back the event.
• [47:54] How are you coping with this and taking care of yourself?
• [50:26] Lindsay gives her insight into why people are afraid to bring up suicide.
• [54:25] Lindsay shares her favorite one of the ten steps, which is 'find your passion, find your purpose.'
• [57:41] Thank you so much for sharing with us on the podcast today.
• [59:17] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

Find Lindsay: 

• Dr. Lindsay Weisner
• @psychshrinkmom
• Instagram | Twitter
• Neurotic Nourishment Podcast
• Ten Steps to Finding Happy.

Does humor help you get through insane moments in your life? Eric and Jessica wanted to do this special episode to give you the listeners some ideas on what you can do to stay sane during this uncertain time in the world, and humor is at the top of the list along with exercise and staying in touch with the ADHD community.

They share the alternatives they found for exercise when the gym is too risky, why going to the store can bring on anxiety, and what they plan to do if they run out of toilet paper. Jessica speaks about what the media is reporting and how, at times like this, reporters need to be very careful about what they share.

Eric and Jessica chat about the paper product shortage, the hope that mindsets will change once this is over, and the good that can come from all of this uncertainty. They discuss why social distancing is so essential and how this would be a good time for a futuristic technology like doors that don't have a doorknob.

Since laughter is always the best medicine, they share jokes, Facebook posts, comments, and other nonsensical things to lighten the mood because you can only take so much of this new reality. Eric and Jessica also chat about being kind to your significant other if you are both stuck working from home. Try not to fight.

Have you heard that meditation exercises are a great way to cope with stress and anxiety? Listen as Eric and Jessica give some tips and ideas on ways to use this technique. They also share how grateful they are for their ADHD communities and the hope that this episode will ease some issues that can come from the craziness in this beautiful world we live in.

You'll learn:

• [02:38] We wanted to do this episode to share ideas on how to stay sane during this crazy time.
• [03:16] Jessica is here to discuss the importance of humor in this unique situation.
• [05:22] They speak about how things are weird now, especially for those with ADHD.
• [07:12] Have you found an alternative to exercise? What is it?
• [09:50] Eric shares how exercise helps him cope with life, but it isn't worth the risk of going to the gym.
• [12:01] Eric chats about what he found to replace going to the gym.
• [14:34] Jessica speaks about how overwhelming things are right now and how it is affecting her mental health.
• [16:40] Does going to Costco or Sam's right now cause you to have a panic attack?
• [18:51] When watching the news, think about what information you need in your life.
• [21:01] They discuss the shortage of toilet paper and paper towels and alternatives if they run out.
• [22:43] Jessica believes that some good stuff will come from all of this uncertainty.
• [23:42] Eric hopes the mindset changes around the culture of selfishness.
• [25:04] Jessica says that is very important for the media to be careful with what they share.
• [27:37] Eric shares why social distancing is so essential to keep the virus at manageable levels.
• [29:25] They discuss some funny things they have read on Facebook.
• [32:30] Are you working from home with your significant other? Are you fighting?
• [34:15] Eric speaks about posting on his Facebook page asking everyone how they were doing.
• [36:21] Jessica chats about posting on Twitter and the responses she is getting.
• [38:35] Eric and Jessica share jokes that were published in their groups.
• [42:01] Eric shares the audio of a government official forgetting to take their mic off when they went to the bathroom.
• [45:01] Do you think there will be futuristic technology put in place because of the coronavirus?
• [47:16] Jessica shares that Forbes agrees with her that laughing is the best medicine to deal with COVID-19.
• [49:00] Without a routine, do you feel like you don't know what you are doing or get anything done?
• [51:07] If you are new to ADHD and don't have any coping strategies and are quicker to frustration, try meditation practices.
• [53:49] Eric describes how you can use food as a form of meditation.
• [56:10] What do you have to have to keep you sane for the next few weeks? Food? Exercise?
• [59:00] Eric shares how his seasonal affective disorder makes him feel.
• [1:01:23] They feel like this situation is stripping everyone back to the basics.
• [1:03:58] Do gratitude practices make you feel worse? 
• [1:05:21] You can't chase happiness because a lot of things we do to pursue happiness make us unhappy.
• [1:07:26] Eric speaks about being grateful for the community that they have.
• [1:09:36] Jessica, what are you doing this weekend for self-care?
• [1:13:10] Drink water, hold on to an ice cube, or dunking your head in water are ways to ground you during an anxiety attack.
• [1:15:21] Eric discusses family planning during this time of self-quarantine.
• [1:16:45] While we may be dealing with some severe stuff, let's try not to take ourselves so seriously.
• [1:18:42] Stay connected to the community if you need to talk.
• [1:19:54] If you can support Jessica on Patreon at www.patreon.com/howtoadhd, it would be much appreciated.
• [1:25:30] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

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The 16th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability groups are ending soon.  ArC 17 Summer Sessions run July 11th – Sept. 19th. We only have 9 spots remaining. Please visit coachingrewired.com to learn more and sign-up for our Last Scheduled Registration Event on June 11th at 3 PM CT.  You don’t want to miss it!

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Has your ADHD meds made a difference in your life? Listen as Eric and his guest, Jordan Marsh, discuss this and much more in this episode of ADHD reWired. Jordan is a semi self-employed professional tattoo artist and single parent. He was diagnosed with ADHD about two years ago and is just now learning how profoundly his ADHD has affected his life and relationships and is possibly the reason he started doing tattoos as opposed to a more conventional career.

Jordan shares the reason he started doing tattoos, why he enjoys giving and getting them, and the connection for him between pain and expression. He gives his opinion on what people don't understand about tattoos and the challenges he faces with being a single dad and his work schedule. Jordan chats about raising a child who has ADHD, how he reels himself in when his son is disrespectful, and how his meds have helped him in both work and his life at home with his son.

Have you ever wanted to get a tattoo? Jordan talks about some tattoos he wishes he didn't have and why he got them. Take notes as he explains some ways to remove them and why colors sometimes don't look the same when you use them to cover up specific colors of tattoos.

Listen as Jordan discusses how ADHD affected his past relationships, what he has learned about himself and relationships, and what he will look for in his next relationship. Jordan also describes his seasonal depression and the final thoughts he wants to share with the listeners. You won't want to miss Eric's conversation with this fascinating man with a highly misunderstood career.

You'll learn:

• [02:31] Jordan, welcome to the show!
• [03:41] Jordan shares why he started in the tattoo field.
• [05:20] Why do you think tattoos are your passion?
• [07:32] Jordan explains the connection for him between pain and expression.
• [08:56] What do you think people don't understand about tattoos?
• [10:45] Jordan speaks about the tattoo on his face, why he got it there.
• [13:36] Jordan discusses being a single father and the challenges with his schedule.
• [15:08] Jordan shares what it's like being ADHD and raising an ADHD child.
• [16:24] What do you think helps you reel yourself back in when he's disrespectful?
• [23:32] Jordan explains why he said that his job is the most terrible, perfect job.
• [26:44] Jordan shares how being diagnosed with ADHD and taking the meds have affected his work.
• [28:50] Have you ever made a mistake when doing a tattoo? Can you tell us about it?
• [32:45] Jordan chats about constantly diagnosing his clients mentally with ADHD.
• [33:41] Do you have any tattoos you regret getting? Can you tell us why?
• [38:59] Jordan discusses how in hindsight he can see how ADHD affected his past relationships.
• [41:56] They talk about his son's mother and the relationship he had with her before being diagnosed with ADHD.
• [43:17] Jordan shares what pushed him to seek a diagnosis.
• [44:02] Jordan speaks about his last relationship and how it was affected by his ADHD.
• [45:42] What have you learned about yourself as a result of going through relationships now that you have ADHD?
• [47:55] Jordan chats about not wanting to disappoint people and feeling like he was never enough.
• [49:36] Jordan shares what he will watch for and look for in his next relationship and the whiteboard on which he writes everything he needs to remember.
• [51:52] Do you have any final thoughts for your listeners?
• [52:54] Jordan, thank you so much for sharing your story!
• [53:47] If you're a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

Find Jordan:

Jordan Marsh
Email for booking
Facebook | Pickui

Forgiveness and acceptance are critical when learning to manage your ADHD while remembering it is a rollercoaster, and the goal is to make the ups and downs a little less extreme. This is just one of the topics we cover in our monthly Q & A session with guests Brendan Mahan and Will Curb. We are taking questions from you the listener about situations that you want to talk through. It doesn't matter if it's personal or professional, we are here to give you our perspective and see if we can help you find some answers. 

Our first question today is how to revive yourself after a hard task when your tank is empty, and Lauren asks for tips when prioritizing projects. Debra has two topics she wants to discuss: one is about comorbidities like attentive type anxiety and depression, and the second is advice on coping strategies for a nineteen-year-old.

Another listener is requesting tips for scheduling life stuff rather than work stuff, Emma wants some ways to manage her hyperfocus at work, and Princess wants to know what the first thing she should tackle when trying to control her ADHD. A listener asks if it's okay to take her medication only during the week and take the weekends off, and Eric shares that it is recommended to maintain your dosage each day seven days a week.

Listen in as we cover a wide range of topics, and we provide some creative takeaways no matter what stage you're in with your diagnosis. Listen in as we discuss not only your questions but also the struggle we still have dealing with our ADHD.

Please note that when we discuss medications, we can only address personal experience. Anytime you have been prescribed a drug, you should reach out to your provider regarding your and your experiences. Not all medications are useful for all people. There are a variety of options, and you'll need individual help to determine which medicines are right for you.

Your Resources:

• ADHD Essentials Podcast with Brendan Mahan
• Hacking Your ADHD with William Curb

You'll Learn:

• [02:21] Welcome our monthly Q & A with Will Curb and Brendan Mahan.
• [03:23] Erica asks the first question about how to revive after a hard task when your tank is empty.
• [06:01] Erica and Eric speak about coping mechanisms.
• [08:20] Brendan shares his thoughts on Erica's question.
• [09:47] Will suggests scheduling a five to ten-minute walk to give the brain a break.
• [12:01] Lauren wants to know their best tips for prioritizing.
• [14:18] Eric shares a book that he requires his members to read called "The ONE Thing." 
• [16:00] They speak about prioritizing self-care and planning goals in advance.
• [19:26] "You can do anything, but you can't do everything."
• [25:45] Debra has a question about comorbidities like attentive type anxiety and depression.
• [27:10] Eric shares his thoughts on how common anxiety and depression are with late-diagnosed ADHD.
• [28:43] What are some coping strategies for a nineteen-year-old in college?
• [30:11] Eric shares his college experience at nineteen and how hard it was for him to go to morning classes.
• [32:31] Make it Stick the Science of Learning is a book that Eric recommends to any college student.
• [34:02] A listener wants some tips for scheduling life stuff rather than work stuff.
• [36:18] Brendan shares his ideas on this subject and how he handled it.
• [39:51] Will gives his insight on working so much you don't have time for life stuff.
• [43:30] Emma has a question about managing her hyperfocus at work.
• [46:09] Eric speaks about going into hyperfocus in a planned way.
• [49:12] Brendan, do you have anything you want to add?
• [51:22] Will shares his thoughts on hyperfocus and what she could try.
• [52:37] Princess wants to know the first thing they suggest to tackle when trying to manage her ADHD.
• [55:01] They all speak about knowing when ADHD wins and don't beat yourself up; forgiveness and acceptance are so important.
• [57:19] Do you recommend continuing your medication on weekends?
• [58:35] Eric chats about what can happen when you don't take your medicine as prescribed.
• [1:00:52] Will shares his experience with taking his meds.
• [1:03:14] As always, talk to your doctor and make sure they know ADHD.
• [1:04:10] Thank you, Brendan, and Will for being on the show.
• [1:05:24] If you're a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

Do suspect you have ADHD, but you don't know for sure because you have to wait months for your diagnosis? That is precisely what Eric's guest Angela is waiting on. Listen as Eric and Angela discuss the challenges she is facing trying to cope with this while balancing school, work, and family life while also dealing with Migraines and Fibromyalgia.

Angela shares how watching the way her son acted gave her flashbacks to herself at that age and was the catalyst that made her look into ADHD as a cause. She also speaks about having migraines most of her life and how her parents' mistrust of doctors made it challenging to find a medicine that would help. Angela describes what she goes through when she wakes up with a migraine and what steps she has to take to make sure she can function with her busy schedule.

When you went to college, did you know what you wanted to do, or did you change majors multiple times? Listen as Angela shares her journey through college to finally determining that psychology is where her heart is. She also discusses her Fibromyalgia diagnosis, her pregnancies, going back to school to get her graduate degree, and why she won't stop until she achieves it. Angela speaks about how important it is to her to learn all she can about ADHD, so if the diagnosis is definite, she will know what to do and how to help her son.

Angela is a very strong, determined woman and even though she has faced adversity her whole academic career she has never let go of the to finish what she started. Her strength and determination are to be celebrated, and maybe listening to her will push you forward to finishing something you didn't think you could do. 

You'll Learn:

• [02:44] Angela, welcome to the show!
• [03:40] Angela shares that she has been waiting since October for the evaluation to diagnose ADHD.
• [04:27] What triggered the thought that you might have ADHD?
• [07:02] Angels speak about her family not really believing in doctors and dealing with migraines without proper treatment.
• [09:04] Angela chats about her sensor sensitivity and how it can sometimes be overwhelming.
• [11:20] Angela describes how it feels when she wakes up with a migraine.
• [13:09] How do you get up every day knowing that one of these episodes can knock your whole day off-kilter?
• [15:58] Angela shares why she has her drive and grit to succeed and doesn't let anything stop her.
• [18:00] Angela chats about being able to sing opera and what caused her to lose the joy of singing.
• [20:30] She speaks about how hard the decision was to quit singing.
• [22:50] Angela says that singing didn't fulfill her, and she felt like she was preparing to make other people happy when she didn't care about it at all.
• [26:43] Angela describes all the different majors she chose at the University of Oregon.
• [29:15] Angela shares what made her get into psychology.
• [32:44] How long has it taken you to get through the undergrad years in college?
• [35:00] Angela speaks about her grades and having incompletes which kept her from graduating in 2010.
• [36:54] She started taking pre-reqs for nursing in 2014 while pregnant.
• [37:41] How was your pregnancy with all of your sensory sensitivities?
• [40:34] Angela shares that two years after her son was born she went back to the University of Oregon for psychology and has almost finished her degree.
• [43:01] Being a stay at home mom left her feeling unfulfilled because she had things she wanted to do.
• [44:43] Angela shares when she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
• [46:31] Angela describes what having Fibromyalgia feels like.
• [53:00] What was the tipping point that made you want to seek out an ADHD diagnosis?
• [55:14] Angela says that her life has a bunch of pieces like a messy puzzle.
• [57:55] Angela shares her job as a project coordinator for a neuroscience experience, and how much time it takes.
• [59:13] Angela started reading about ADHD and it resonated with her.
• [1:00:19] How has the experience been for you as you learn more about ADHD?
• [1:03:03] Angela speaks about the struggle she faces going back to school for her graduate degree.
• [1:04:52] Angela shares that she let her professor know the issues she was having and her waiting on the ADHD diagnosis and his lack of response.
• [1:07:10] They discuss how nervous she was to come on the podcast and talk about her possible ADHD diagnosis.
• [1:10:10] Eric acknowledges Angela's grit and tenacity to keep going to school even though it has taken many years.
• [1:12:36] Are you someone who appreciates harmony and beauty? Someone who resolves issues?
• [1:13:09] Angela, thank you for sharing so much with us!
• [1:15:20] Eric believes that everyone should make their mess their message.
• [1:16:46] Angela, do you have anything else you want to share with the listeners?
• [1:19:27 ] If you're a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com