Listen as your host, Eric Tivers, and his guest Juliet discuss the intersectionality not just with ADHD but also as a woman and a mom who is on the Autism spectrum and recently diagnosed with PTSD. Juliet is in recovery and participates in various twelve-step programs, and has worked as a drug and alcohol counselor, plus much more on this episode of ADHD reWired.

Listen as Juliet shares her story and what it was like being a young girl on the Autism spectrum. Juliet speaks about being sexually abused as a child and not getting help, so the untreated trauma affected the rest of her life. Juliet talks about her alcoholism, eating disorder, and what sparked her need to go into recovery.

Juliet discusses her experience with twelve-step programs, how addiction is a symptom of circumstance, and how when you deal with stuff, other things can come up, and you have to learn to handle it all. Juliet talks about how she untangles the intersectionality between sensory processing with Autism and the trauma that is being held in her body. Juliet also speaks about her speech inarticulation issues and how when trauma is triggered, the language part of her brain goes offline. 

Juliet shares what she is doing professionally now, the thing she thinks is the coolest about having Autism and ADHD, and she gives some advice for anyone looking for help with ADHD, PTSD, or ASD.

You'll learn:

• [02:51] Welcome to the show, Juliet!
• [03:40] Juliet shares her story and what it was like to be a young girl on the Autism spectrum.
• [07:03] Juliet talks about not wanting to talk about her sexual abuse and how it is left untreated affected her life.
• [08:52] She speaks about her son being diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum.
• [11:19] Juliet says that going through the checklist with her son and how everything sounded familiar.
• [12:16] What sparked you to go into recovery for the eating disorder and alcoholism?
• [15:22] Juliet talks about a twelve-stop program she went into with eating disorders.
• [21:38] Eric discusses addiction and the growing evidence that addiction is a symptom of circumstance.
• [24:34] Juliet says the twelve-step program works if you stick around and do it from her experience.
• [28:27] Eric talks about the efficacy rate for AA and other programs.
• [30:35] Juliet believes that when you put things down, other things come up, so you have to learn to deal with the things that come up.
• [38:33] Juliet explains how she sees the world in colors.
• [41:26] Julie shares how she untangles the intersectionality between sensory processing with Autism and what's being held in the body because of trauma.
• [42:44] When trauma is triggered, the language part of your brain goes offline.
• [44:29] How did you figure out that you have these speech inarticulation issues?
• [46:01] Juliet shares what she is doing professionally.
• [50:16] What is the coolest thing to you about having Autism and ADHD?
• [51:39] Juliet gives some advice to anyone looking for help with ADHD, PTSD, or ASD.
• [53:17] Thank you for being on the show!
• [54:03] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron by clicking on our Patreon tab at www.ADHDreWired.com

Listen as your host, Eric Tivers, and his guest Erika Hopkins discuss her background, why she went to college to find a husband, her history of poor health, being tired and depressed and diagnosed with hypoglycemia, plus much more on this episode of ADHD reWired.

Erika is a professional educator and aspiring author who lives with her husband and three boys in Idaho. She holds a Master of Education degree in secondary science, a Bachelor of Nutrition Science, and a Chemistry minor. Debilitated by chronic fatigue attributed to depression, Erika relinquished her idea that mothers should remain home. She took a job at the local high school, where the process of science and unlikely friendship challenged Erika's views of herself and the world. Ultimately, she discovered she has been living with undiagnosed ADHD. 

Listen, as Erika shares her background, her goal to be a wife and mother, becoming a high school science teacher, and having three sons under three. Erika speaks about the mentor she was assigned as a new teacher, the moment that took her breath away, and going to doctor after doctor trying to find out what was wrong with her.

Erika discusses resigning from her teaching position and getting the ADHD diagnosis. Erika believes that people with ADHD don't have the executive function to make things happen, and she talks about some tools she has learned that have been helpful for her. Erika is excited about the future and feels free and adventurous, and all it took was talking to someone who put two and two together.

You'll Learn:

• [03:39] Welcome to the show, Erika!
• [04:18] What experience led you to the transformation of you questioning everything you know?
• [07:04] Erika shares that her parents helped her come up with an appropriate degree if something happened to her husband and she needed to work.
• [09:38] Her goal was to become a wife and mother.
• [12:21] Erika speaks about her body having trouble managing levels. So the episodes of fatigue continued.
• [14:00] Erika went back to school and became a high school science teacher.
• [17:34] Having three sons under three and all in diapers is so tiring and noisy.
• [22:58] “The pressure on women to be organized, self-controlled, the one that is keeping everyone else organized is a societal expectation that is deeply ingrained.”
• ["5:49] Erika speaks about researching how to write a book.
• [28:52] Because she wasn't taking care of herself, being home with her children wasn't sustainable.
• [30:53] Erika shares about the mentor she was assigned to as a new teacher.
• [33:05] She describes the moment that took her breath away.
• [36:15] Erika went to dozens of doctors, trying to figure out why she is so tired all the time.
• [39:43] The doctor told her she was normal, her blood work came back normal.
• [46:40] Erika speaks about resigning from her teaching position.
• [50:05] People with ADHD don't have the executive function to make things happen.
• [53:16] Erika talks about some things that have been helpful for her.
• [55:47] Erika cautions people not to believe everything someone tells them.
• [57:05] Erika feels free and more adventurous, and she is excited about the future.
• [58:02] Thank you for being on the show!
• [58:50:] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron by clicking on our Patreon tab at www.ADHDreWired.com

Do you take the time to open yourself up to something new? Listen as your host, Eric Tivers, and his guest Michael Docherty discuss why he called his team the island of misfit toys, his entrepreneurship, looking at his strengths from the perspective of an innovator, plus much more on this episode of ADHD reWired.

Michael is a lifelong innovator who has led a successful thirty-five career as a corporate executive, venture investor, entrepreneur, consultant, author, husband, and happy father of three adult children. His goal as a parent was not to screw his kids up, and he thinks he has succeeded. As someone diagnosed with ADHD only five years ago, Mike says he used to think that he stumbled into the right things, but in looking back now sees it as a journey in learning how to play to one's strengths and find creative ways to compensate for the gaps.

Michael shares working at Sunbeam and being a part of a group dubbed the island of misfit toys, how he thrives in a certain amount of chaos and how he keeps a handle on everything he has going on. Michael also talks about his perfectionist tendencies and how he has to remind himself that he is being hired for his brain, not his ability to do reports. 

Michael believes that the game has changed about what innovation is, how he likes to work with people who bring something different to the table and that when it comes to innovation and new product development, you need to work within the tolerances of the organization you work for. He also shares some tactical strategies to push in your organization without being pushed out the door.

Listen, as Michael shares an interesting college career story, what happened that caused him to seek an ADHD diagnosis and how he used the book he wrote as a way to reinvent himself. Michael says that when he was writing the book, he decided about three-quarters of the way to stop and regroup, which caused him to take it in a different direction.

You'll learn:

• [02:54] Welcome to the show, Michael!
• [03:14] Michaels talks about his team at Sunbeam, known as the island of misfit toys.
• [06:20] Michael speaks about being able to thrive in a certain amount of chaos.
• [09:12] How do you keep a handle on everything you have going on?
• [11:03] Michael discusses using other people to get him out of his perfectionist tendencies.
• [15:17] Michael reminds himself that he's being hired for his brain, not for his reports.
• [18:05] He has learned to get away from self-talk and think differently to make things happen.
• [24:00] Michael believes the game has changed about what innovation is.
• [28:06] Michael has always admired and loved working with people who differ from him and bring new things to the table.
• [29:54] How do I find the island of misfit toys?
• [31:34] Michael says that you need to work within the tolerance of the organization you work for when it comes to innovation and new product development.
• [32:38] What are some tactical strategies to push for what you want without getting pushed out the door?
• [35:36] Michael speaks about how to apply the principle of innovation to ADHD life management.
• [44:57] Michael shares an interesting college career story.
• [49:45] What was going on in your life that brought you to an ADHD diagnosis?
• [51:35] Michael talks about the book he released and how he used it to reinvent himself.
• [54:06] When he was about three-quarters through the book, he stopped and regrouped.
• [56:54] Thank you so much for being on the show!
• [57:45] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron by clicking on our Patreon tab at www.ADHDreWired.com

Connect with Michael:

• Next Big
• Email
• Collective Disruption
• Twitter

Listen as Eric Tivers with his guests, Brendan Mahan, Will Curb, Moira Maybin, and MJ Siemens, answer questions from the listeners in our monthly Q & A session of ADHD reWired. 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. 

Ella kicks off our questions today, asking if anyone else gets anxious when faced with something unpleasant. Judith wants to know if anyone has any thoughts on QB Check and online ADHD diagnostic tool, and Stephanie wonders why she always read in high school, but now she has trouble picking up a book and finishing it.

Eileen shares that she was diagnosed with Complex PTSD and asked what the differences are from ADHD. Another question is, what do you think about cannabis use with a patient using stimulants? And the difference between under stimulation with ADHD and depression? Karen wants to know why she is on medication, but she is still losing track of work and life.

Caroline wants advice on prioritizing at work when everything seems urgent, and Vicky wants to know how to get her ADHD under control. The group agrees that your ADHD isn't worse; it's just that once you are diagnosed, you are more aware, so everything is brought more into focus.

Thank you for listening to this month's Q & A session. As usual, 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 your questions and the struggle we still have dealing with our ADHD.

Your Resources:

• ADHD Essentials Podcast with Brendan Mahan
• Hacking Your ADHD with William Curb
• ADHD Friendly Lifestyle with Moira Maybin
• ADHD Diversified with MJ Siemens

You'll learn:

• [02:08] Welcome to the show, everyone!
• [03:12] Ella wants to know if anyone gets anxious when faced with something unpleasant.
• [05:48] Eric shares that ADHD is a performance disorder, and in the evening, their executive functions are at the lowest.
• [06:21] Brendan says the sometimes dithering is a less focused effort or attempt to get some dopamine flowing.
• [08:43] Judith is asking the group for their thoughts on QB Check.
• [10:27] Stephanie says that she is terrible now at reading books, and she wants to know if this is an ADHD thing?
• [11:10] Will says that reading is a muscle, and if you don't use it, you will lose it.
• [12:03] Moira talks about reading books you like.
• [15:00] MJ speaks about listening to audible books as a great way to learn.
• [19:45] Eileen has been diagnosed with complex PTSD and asks for insight into the difference between ADHD and complex PTSD.
• [20:40] Eric says that trauma is just about what happened to you; it's about how you handled and processed what happened to you.
• [21:22] Living life with ADHD without being diagnosed with ADHD is traumatic.
• [22:56] Eric shares that trauma lives in the body, and so most therapies done for PTSD are focused on the body.
• [32:02] What do you think about cannabis use with a patient that is using stimulants?
• [32:11] Eric does not believe that marijuana is not a treatment for ADHD.
• [32:58] The chronic long-term use of marijuana is impairing.
• [33:39] Brendan shares where he is landing on this question.
• [35:44] What is the difference between under stimulation with ADHD and depression?
• [35:57] Eric shares what he believes are the differences.
• [38:25] Brendan believes that depression is situational.
• [40:08] Brenda has a question about executive function coaching.
• [42:24] MJ likes to have a coach that has ADHD.
• [49:45] Karen says that she is on medication but still losing track of life and work.
• [50:05] Pills don't teach skills.
• [50:46] Caroline wants advice on the best strategies for prioritizing at work when everything feels urgent.
• [50:58] Eric says to read the book The ONE Thing. 
• [52:27] Identify that thing that is most important to you, and everything else is a distraction.
• [53:18] Brendan says to be strategic about who you share with.
• [55:32] MJ believes she should talk to her boss.
• [57:01] Moira shares that she changes her schedule every week because she prioritizes what is most important.
• [1:00:05] Do you have a to-done list? 
• [1:02:56] Vicky wants to know how to get her ADHD under control.
• [1:03:23] Identify what you want to work on and work on those things and learn as much as you can.
• [1:04:25] Don't take yourself so seriously.
• [1:05:25] It's not that your ADHD is worse, it's that you are more aware after your diagnosis.
• [1:06:39] Thank you for listening!
• [1:08:06] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron by clicking on our Patreon tab at www.ADHDreWired.com

"Pills don't teach skills," Listen as your host, Eric Tivers, and his guest Jay Bushman discuss his ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder diagnosis, the craziness that last two years have brought, the death of his father from COVID, his new book, plus much more on this episode of ADHD reWired.

Jay is a writer working at the intersection of traditional and emerging formats. He won an Emmy for his work as a writer and trans-media producer on the ground-breaking series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, an interactive adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. His first book, Novel Advice: Practical Wisdom for Your Favorite Literary Characters, a collection of advice column letters written by famous characters from literature, is now available. 

Jay shares his research on APD, and when he realized he might have ADHD, his therapists said he was a perfectionist and what perfectionism feels like on the inside above and beyond the actual definition. Jay had a rough year and spoke about how he could finish his book after his father passed away from the coronavirus. 

Listen as Jay discusses his next project and the trouble he is having getting it started. Jay believes that once the world calms down, he will be able to start, but Eric asks if there is some way for him to forget about what is going on in the world and proceed. To finish up, Jay shares his journey with perfectionism and some things that might help you push through and come out on the other side.

You'll learn:

• [03:04] Welcome to the show, Jay!
• [05:46] Jay shares how he handled working on his book while his father passed away from COVID.
• [07:41] Jay believes that having a good therapist has helped him get through.
• [08:31] Jay discusses the process of being diagnosed with ADHD and APD.
• [11:04] Jay speaks about having Semantic Therapy.
• [13:40] Listen as Jay talks about having chronic pain.
• [16:39] Jay shares his research on APD and realizing he probably had ADHD as well.
• [26:23] Jay's therapist talked to him about perfectionism.
• [27:09] Jay speaks about what perfectionism feels like on the inside.
• [29:54] Jay describes his book and how it's written.
• [33:01] Jay shares how he got his book done and his thoughts about what he wanted to do next.
• [34:00] There is a PowerPoint presentation available to help people write a TV show pilot.
• [43:41] Jay speaks about what his next book is about.
• [46:51] Eric shares his divorce and his work on himself to heal.
• [48:52] Should you maybe put your project on hold for a few months and see where you are on it then?
• [50:52] Jay discusses the pandemic and not leaving his apartment until things get better.
• [53:23] What can you do that doesn't depend on the world settling down to proceed with your project?
• [56:09] Jay shares some advice for anyone struggling with perfectionism.
• [59:20] Thank you so much for being on the show!
• [1:01:01] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron by clicking on our Patreon tab at www.ADHDreWired.com

Connect with Jay:

Jay Bushman

Novel Advice: Practical Wisdom for Your Favorite Literary Characters

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter