Have you ever asked yourself, 'what's wrong with me?' Listen, as your host Eric and his guest Stacey Machelle discuss the challenges she faced in her career and personal life. Stacey talks about her diagnosis with ADD many years ago, and how her prayers and Ted Bundy led her to help.

Stacey is a journalist by training and profession turned actor and stand up comedian. She works as a warm-up comic on A Little Late With Lilly Singh, the late-night talk show on NBC, and she has about a dozen other side hustles. Stacey wanted to come on the show to talk about educating black women who are undiagnosed and untreated.

Listen as Stacey shares her story and how she was diagnosed with ADD over twenty years ago and prescribed Ritalin. Still, since she saw no difference, and decided she didn't have it and forgot about it. Years later, when she was watching a Ted Bundy documentary, she heard what people said about him and thought hmmm. 

Stacey discusses what happened when she disclosed her ADHD to her family and how it has gone a long way to healing the relationship she has with her mother. With her diagnosis, her mother and brother are looking at the possibility of also having ADHD, being very supportive, and learning all they can learn about ADHD.

Listen as Stacy shares, wanting to get the message of ADHD out to the African American community because they will usually suffer in silence, put their head down and not tell anyone. Her message is you don't have to be silent any longer, talk about your mental health, and get help. She is using her platform as a comedian to raise awareness and put a face to ADHD.

You'll learn:

• [03:02] Stacey, glad you are here!
• [03:12] Stacey shares her background and when she found that she was having challenges that others were not.
• [05:59] Stacey speaks about a therapist asking her if she thought she may have ADD.
• [08:55] Stacey shares that when she was working at the news stations she was fired and almost fired from many jobs.
• [10:48] What did you tell yourself when you had so many challenges in your careers?
• [12:58] Stacey talks about her therapist not knowing anything about ADHD.
• [16:43] Stacey shares a story of how she prayed for tools and the way her prayer was answered.
• [19:27] Stacey discusses Ted Bundy and how she googled her symptoms because she thought she might be a psychopath.
• [26:30] What was the response when you shared your ADHD with your family?
• [27:51] Stacey shares what happened when she disclosed her condition to a friend of many years.
• [30:47] Eric shares one of his favorite quotes from Brené Brown.
• [32:33] Stacey shares that her grandparents raised her.
• [33:49] Stacey discusses what happened when she told her mother.
• [37:23] Has your family been supportive of you and your diagnosis?
• [41:30] Stacey speaks about getting information to African American women and showing them the face of ADHD.
• [43:42] Stacey feels like nobody in the African American community will discuss mental health issues.
• [46:02] Stacey shares that her grandparents' generation didn't talk about their problems, but she is sure her grandfather had ADHD.
• [47:58] Stacey discusses going through a divorce and how her mother reacted when she set up a go fund me page.
• [51:30] She chats about being unmedicated for the last few days because she ran out of her medication.
• [53:04] Would you consider reaching out to your church to see if you could talk to the congregation about ADHD?
• [53:18] Stacey speaks about starting a YouTube channel and using sketch comedy to address symptoms.
• [54:55] What advice do you want to leave the listeners? 
• [57:42] When you are doing something that is purpose-driven and for others and changing people's lives, you get taken care of. 
• [59:10] Stacey, thank you so much for coming on and sharing your story!
• [1:00:26] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

Are you finding it hard to be productive while working from home? Listen, as Eric and his guest Thanh discuss easy ideas and tips for working more productively from home. Thanh is the founder of Asian Efficiency, where he helps people become more productive at work and in life. He's also the co-host of the top productivity podcast The Productivity Show, on which Eric enjoyed being a guest not too long ago.

Listen as Thanh shares why he decided to, and his struggle to be productive in a different atmosphere. Having a home office is the number one thing he believes you need. It can be anywhere, but it needs to be a dedicated place for you to work. Thanh also tells us what three things he feels are most important to have for that office.

Do you set yourself a schedule while working from home? Listen, as Thanh discusses how important having a schedule is for productivity. He says to make your schedule is based on the time of day that you are most focused, whether that be the morning or afternoon. Eric and Thanh discuss the different calendar and to-do apps they like and what they recommend.

Listen as Thanh speaks about finding the triggers you used at the office to make you productive and implement them at home. Block websites that distract you and put your phone in a different room or drawer so you can stay focused on the job at hand. Thanh says to set one goal a day and follow through on that but also get yourself into a routine.

With so many people working from home, these tips and tricks that Thanh is sharing will keep us all productive even when we don't have the office structure to fall back on. If you are struggling with your work from home routine, this is an episode that you need to hear.

You'll learn:

• [02:00] Thanh, welcome to the podcast!
• [03:25] Thanh shares a little about his background and how hard his commute to work was.
• [06:00] Thanh talks about why he needed to work from home and how his boss responded to his request.
• [08:45] Thanh discusses the three things people need to work productively from home.
• [11:09] How do you guide people to get their homes set up?
• [12:26] Thanh says you need a lovely backdrop behind you when working from home.
• [14:26] Don't use a wrinkled bed sheet; it looks very unprofessional.
• [15:19] A desk lamp is another thing that Thanh thinks is very essential.
• [17:26] Thanh says that a standing desk is also a great addition to your home office.
• [22:02] Eric believes that having the things you want and need easily accessible is beneficial.
• [28:05] Thanh discusses how important it is to have a schedule when working from home.
• [29:59] Create your plan for when you are the most focused.
• [31:51] Using a calendar when you have ADHD it is almost like learning a foreign language. Experiment and find what works for you.
• [33:54] Do you have trouble sticking to what you put on your calendar?
• [35:47] Thanh believes that having a schedule allows you to coordinate some time with other people.
• [37:07] Thanh shares what he believes are the best calendar apps.
• [40:01] Eric speaks about the apps he likes and uses.
• [44:01] Eric shares what he teaches in his coaching groups around to-do lists.
• [49:04] Thanh discusses how to be productive and execute now that you have your office and schedule set up.
• [50:12] You need to be aware of the differences between working from home and going to the office like the dress code and the extra time you have because you don't have to drive.
• [51:51] He says to think about the triggers you have at the office that make you productive and recreate that at home.
• [53:01] Eric says to experiment with what works for you. He feels that he is more productive when he dresses casually.
• [55:12] Thanh believes that blocking websites that distract you is essential.
• [56:16] The number one distraction is your phone, so try putting it away in another room or a drawer.
• [58:24] Thanh speaks about setting one goal for yourself a day so you can get work done.
• [59:34] Eric says to make your one goal ridiculously simple if you have ADHD.
• [1:00:12] The last thing that Thanh suggests is to get yourself into a routine.
• [1:02:27] Thanh, do you have any final thoughts for the listeners?
• [1:04:51] Thank you so much for being on the show!
• [1:06:02] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

Find Thanh:

Asian Efficiency

The Productivity Show Podcast

Do you have an issue getting out of the house early that you are not late? 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 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. 

Mary has the first question today about how to get out of the house early enough to be on time because she is always late, Karen needs some advice on how to get her fourteen-year-old daughter to speed things up, and Gail wants to know if she has ADHD or if her challenges could stem from being OCD. Listen as Eric, Brenan, and Will give their insight and advice to each of these listeners.

Ella would like to know how to close loops and finish projects, Alison is always late and is looking for ways to leave the house without having to finish something and Blake asks about how he can figure out if he is getting close to burnout at his job. Listen to what the panel tells these listeners and see if there is something that you can learn from the answers they give.

The monthly Q&A is for you the listeners; it's an easy way to get answers to questions you don't want to ask anyone else. Eric, Brendan, and Will usually have had experience or have heard any question you can ask, so you can be sure that they will always give you their perspective and insight. 

Your Resources:

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

You'll Learn:

• [01:20] Welcome to our monthly Q & A with Will Curb and Brendan Mahan.
• [02:07] Mary is asking what she can do to keep from being late to everything.
• [03:58] Will shares how he was able to get into the habit of being on time.
• [04:52] Eric speaks about the impulse to do just one more thing.
• [07:24] Do you pay attention to how long you take to get out of the house?
• [10:16] Eric believes you should make predictions and then track time.
• [11:09] Karen's question is about her daughter with ADHD, who is slow in all aspects of life and is asking for advice.
• [12:52] Brendan says to make things easier as much as possible, using music to set the pace.
• [14:29] They all believe that it's ok not to give your all in all things, sometimes it's ok to be good enough.
• [17:18] Redefine your best because it can change daily.
• [19:01] Gail asks how do I know if my challenges are ADHD or could I be OCD?
• [20:56] Executive functioning is any goal-oriented behavior that is sent out to the world with a feedback loop that comes back to ourselves.
• [23:09] Eric speaks about rewiring the brain by increasing anxiety and then alleviating it, and your mind will be happy that it has helped you out.
• [24:46] Brendan chats about one area that ADHD and OCD can hang out together.
• [27:11] How much is your OCD affecting other people?
• [27:50] Gail shares some specific things she wants advice about.
• [30:33] Eric believes that Gail should practice leaving her house the way she should so that her brain knows what that means.
• [33:27] Is it possible to layout your day and put the value you place on each item?
• [39:11] Ella has a question about closing loops and unfinished projects.
• [41:07] Eric shares his ideas to help Ella get things done.
• [43:47] Shrink the scope; you can organize a shelf by taking out just one object; you don't need to clear the whole rack.
• [45:44] They share the difference between a maximizer versus a satisfier.
• [48:03] Brendan says that you are allowed to have things in more than one place.
• [49:33] Alison shares that she is always late and would like to know what she should do.
• [53:35] Blake wants to know what he can do during his workday to find out the pace he is working at.
• [53:51] Will gives his insight into this question with examples.
• [55:18] What have you done to prevent burnout before it's too late?
• [58:12] Eric says to take your vacations, and figure out if there is a time of year you feel burned out.
• [59:16] Brendan speaks about planning a break when you want to take one, so he doesn't just go on Facebook.
• [1:03:02] Check out Brendan and Will's podcasts and coaching groups.
• [1:04:04] Thank you, everyone, for listening.
• [1:04:52] If you're a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com

Hey there, ADHD reWired listeners, this is not a typical episode. This is a bonus episode that I am dropping in your feed. It is audio from a webinar with Dr. Diana Hager that we recorded on April 1, 2020. Diana is a medical doctor and a member of the ADHD reWired community, and I am just really grateful that she could spend an hour with us answering questions from a lot of you.

Diana answered questions from the ADHD community on a variety of things like, how to keep yourself safe if you have asthma if you have kept yourself at home for two weeks can you be reasonably sure you don't have the virus and her thoughts on working from home. She also addressed how to keep people six feet away from you when they don't understand the meaning of social distancing and where to find your states updated information on the number of infected people and deaths from the coronavirus.

They discuss throwing away the bags you bring your groceries home in, taking off your shoes when you walk in the door, and washing down your fruits and vegetables. Diana believes that you can use soap instead of disinfectants and that if you rinse with hot salty water, you can reduce your risk by forty to fifty percent. 

Diana also debunks some myths around the virus and believes that it will not go away; we are all going to become immune to it. The virus doesn't seem to mutate as fast as the flu virus, so she believes that it will take about two years for a new strain to hit, and by then we should have a decent vaccination. 

Diana shares that dealing with this virus while also having ADHD has enhanced all of her symptoms and made everything more intense. Have you noticed the same thing? Do you have any questions? This is the episode you need to listen to, so sit back and hit play.

You'll learn:

• [03:14] Enjoy this special bonus episode with Dr. Diana Hager.
• [03:20] Diana starts out by giving us a little of her background and qualifications.
• [03:55] How has COVID19 impacted your work?
• [04:40] Diana answers Tara's question about how to keep safe when you have asthma.
• [07:11] Can we be reasonably confident that we don't have the virus if we have been quarantined for over two weeks?
• [09:22] Diana believes that if you work from home, you don't have to worry about touching your face at your desk.
• [10:58] How do you suggest we keep people six feet away from us when they don't seem to understand why.
• [13:31] Diana shares the world map that is updated with total infected and total deaths.
• [16:00] Check your state's health department for the most accurate totals.
• [18:00] Eric speaks about how he handled the sack he got his prescriptions in.
• [19:07] How can my partner, who is installing air conditioning units, protect himself when he goes to people's homes?
• [21:40] Diana doesn't think regular cloth masks are effective when working in the medical field.
• [24:35] Diana believes that sleep is very important, sleep when you can get your full amount of sleep will help your immune system the most.
• [26:01] Covering your hair and rinsing off your groceries are things that you should do when bringing your groceries home.
• [28:03] How can we keep ourselves from being bored to death?
• [30:05] Diana says that when our percent per day comes down below ten percent, the curve is flattening.
• [33:59] Can I use soap instead of disinfectants?
• [34:49] Diana shares that gargling with hot salty water can help forty to fifty percent.
• [36:51] How can you tell looking at a death rate of say 10% whether that is due to insufficient testing or the overwhelmed medical system?
• [38:18] Diana speaks that it could be another month before they do widespread testing.
• [41:06] What should someone do if they have an urgent medical need and they live in a hot spot?
• [44:16] Diana addresses a question about being exposed from walking on our dog's paws or the road.
• [45:37] Diana says that the virus is nothing more than a strand of genes inside of a protein capsule.
• [47:18] How do we handle mail and Amazon deliveries?
• [48:10] As a doctor with ADHD, how is ADHD showing up for you with all of this? Has it become more intense?
• [49:49] Diana debunks some myths around the virus.
• [51:12] Are we going to have to deal with this in the fall?
• [52:56] Are babies safe? Are children? Expectant mothers?
• [55:05] Is there anything else you want to share with the listeners?
• [55:29] Thank you so much for coming on the show and answering questions.

Do you know anyone who has been diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD? Listen, as Eric and his guest Becca discuss her diagnosis, how ADHD shows up differently in women, why she is interested in studying conscientiousness in this realm and much more on this episode of ADHD reWired.

Becca is earning her master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and hopes to use her knowledge in individual differences, such as ADHD in personality and training in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, to help organizations create inclusive work environments for employees. 

Becca challenges the statement that people with Autism and ADHD are not high in conscientiousness. She shares her understanding of Autism and how it shows up for her, and how she has been told that she can't be on the spectrum because she is so smart. Eric discusses the difference between Autism and Aspergers and the arguments around both.

Listen, as Becca speaks about how gender and conscientiousness change the manifestation of ADHD, withdrawing from people because of her daily struggles and what led her to seek a diagnosis for ADHD. She shares her sensory challenges, and the never-ending battle to be on time.

Did you know that social communication is an executive social function? Eric and Becca discuss the fact that women are socially wired to mirror their environment and how she works through social interaction. Eric asks a hypothetical question about a red pill and a blue pill if one of them would cure ADHD. Would you take it?

Becca shares her struggles with Autism and ADHD; some of them are embarrassing, while others are frustrating. Her goal is to help others by telling her story and let people who have the same issues know they are not alone. This is one of those conversations that will make you look at yourself and say, hmmm.

You'll learn:

• [02:32] Becca, welcome to the podcast!
• [03:01] Becca shares her diagnoses of Autism and ADHD.
• [06:46] She challenges the statement that people with Autism are not high in conscientiousness.
• [09:03] Eric shares the definition of conscientiousness.
• [10:03] Becca questions whether people with ADHD are low in conscientiousness.
• [12:00] Have you been told you can't be on the spectrum because you are so smart?
• [13:14] Eric says that it is essential to understand that we are all different in the way we show up.
• [13:37] What got you interested in studying consciousness in this realm?
• [15:34] Becca shares her understanding of Autism and how it shows up for her.
• [18:02] Becca speaks about having a case manager come to talk to her and her mom and ask if she could use a spoon and fork.
• [19:45] Eric chats about the difference between Autism and Aspergers and the argument around both.
• [26:02] Becca speaks about how gender and conscientiousness change the manifestation of ADHD.
• [28:44] Have you felt shame or guilt because you forgot to go to the store or didn't have dinner?
• [30:18] Becca speaks about withdrawing from others because she struggles to manage her everyday life.
• [32:00] Becca shares a story about what led to her diagnosis of ADHD.
• [33:03] Becca chats about the struggle to be on time when she goes somewhere.
• [34:37] What is the hardest part for you of having ADHD?
• [36:34] Becca speaks about having sensory challenges and what it is like for her.
• [38:38] Did you know that social communication is an executive social function?
• [40:20] Eric speaks about some studies that show women are more socially wired to mirror their environment.
• [47:32] Becca shares how she works through social interaction in her brain.
• [49:30] Do you show empathy differently from people around you?
• [51:18] Becca speaks about smiling and laughing at funerals when everyone else is crying. Not because she is happy, but because she can't control it.
• [53:32] Eric chats about teaching micro-expressions and training.
• [56:02] Are you different but not less? Do you know your strengths and challenges?
• [58:16] Eric speaks about the hypothetical question about if you could take a pill to make your ADHD go away would you take it?
• [1:00:52] Is there anything you want to say to the listeners?
• [1:01:03] Becca, thank you so much for sharing your story!
• [1:01:18] If you are wondering if you have Autism or ADHD, find a specialist.
• [1:02:36] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com