I Have ADHD Podcast

I’m going to be very honest. This episode is a dedicated “b**** fest” on how hard it is to get the medication prescribed for ADHD. If any of you adults out there have been through this, sometimes it’s therapeutic just to let out all the frustration and feel seen and heard and commiserated with, and that’s what this episode is for.You all should know by now that I take ADHD medication, but you may not know that I have two kiddos who take medication for ADHD as well. We each are unique and need different things to help us function at our best, and thankfully we have had access to insurance and medical professionals to diagnose us and prescribe appropriate medication. But even with all this support, I have encountered more obstacles with getting one of our prescriptions filled than anyone should ever have to endure in a lifetime! Unfortunately, I’m not the only one. In this episode, I discuss the various obstacles keeping many of us from receiving ADHD medication and how there seems to be nothing but finger-pointing and petty excuses offered instead of real solutions to solve these issues. I encourage you to read some of the articles I mention, listed below, use tools like GoodRX to get coupons when possible, and communicate early and often with your doctor and pharmacy. At this point in time, no one else is going to advocate for your needs more than you can. It may put all of our impaired executive functions to the test, but darn it, we’ve struggled for far too long to not get the support we need and deserve.While it in no way can take the place of medication and adequate trauma-informed therapy, I want you to know that my group coaching program FOCUSED can be another source of support for those of you looking for additional tools to address your ADHD. We see you, we hear you and we validate you. Resources:NPR, “Adderall shortage forces some people to scramble, ration or go without”NewYorkMag.com, “Where's the urgency on the Adderall shortage?” FDA.gov, “FDA approves multiple generics of ADHD and BED treatment”Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE!AG1 Athletic Greens

My colleague and friend, Annahid Dashtgard, really elevates the podcast this week with a specialized look at racialization within the mental health space. I love that we’re able to broach this topic together as Annahid is so well-versed in creating safe places for people to have hard conversations. Annahid is the CEO and Co-Founder of Anima Leadership, a consulting firm that helps organizations with everything EDI from diversity basics to advanced belonging.Annahid has a special and unique perspective as an immigrant who’s been on the receiving end of racism throughout her life and also as someone with ADHD, having only recently been diagnosed in her 40s. Listeners can expect to learn a lot about the overlap of racial identity, trauma, and ADHD that many communities experience with very little understanding from medical and therapeutic professionals. The truth is, many racialized groups are largely underserved, underrepresented, and underdiagnosed. It’s not always intentional, but it is happening. I especially appreciate Annahid sharing her thoughts on how clinicians can do better to support these communities, understanding the stigma of mental health among racialized groups, and how the average white person can open themselves up to learning and honoring others without fear of making mistakes.To glean more brilliant insights from Annahid, check out her two books:Breaking the Ocean: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion, and ReconciliationBones of BelongingNo matter your racial identity, I want to encourage any listeners struggling with accepting or living with their ADHD to check out my group coaching program FOCUSED. I think you’ll find that we are open, honest, and honoring as we all work hard to overcome our neurodivergent struggles and unlock our unlimited potential.  Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

Most of Ellen's life was spent feeling like a whirling dervish without direction. Everything was a struggle, from school to maintaining a job to arriving anywhere on time. She learned how to use her big, bold personality to fake it and make it through, even though she regularly battled feelings of inadequacy, shame, and judgment. Life, as it often does, hit Ellen hard with challenges through her young adulthood, and she found herself battling depression for decades. In hindsight, she now wonders if much of that heaviness came from being neurodivergent, misunderstood, and undiagnosed. Ellen’s story is so inspirational to me because it’s a testament that it’s never too late to get an ADHD diagnosis and seek help understanding yourself better. Age and past failures will only limit you if you let them. Surround yourself with a diverse community that will cheer you on, validate your feelings, and support you in the good times and the bad. If you’re looking for a group like this, I encourage you to come join FOCUSED.Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

Today's episode is all about how to be PROactive not REactive. ADHDers spend so much time putting out fires and reacting to everything happening around us. But if we're going to truly make forward progress on our own dreams and goals, we're going to need to put down the fire hose and start making some purposeful decisions. BUT HOW? Tune in how to find out:How to create a vision even if you can't picture things in your mind's eye How to make a plan, even if it's only for the next hourHow to drop the drama around the timeframe (spoiler, it doesn't all have to happen today)This is the perfect episode for you if just don't feel like you're moving forward the way you wish you could. And if you love this class, check out my ADHD coaching program FOCUSED for even more support. Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE

Danica @theempoweredtherapist specializes in healing from attachment wounds, sexual assault, emotional neglect, vicarious trauma, intergenerational and identity-based trauma, and work or academic trauma. In this DEEP convo, Kristen and Danica discuss the following topics: Complex TraumaIs it ADHD or CPTSD?AttunementAttachmentSomatic ExperiencingHow to Identify a TriggerThe Complexity of HealingDanica is a therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) in Dallas, TX. She co-owns Empowered Healing Dallas, a group practice where she provides trauma-informed therapy using somatic, relational, attachment, and parts work approaches to treatment.Danica is passionate about support for therapists and provides counseling services, mentorship, supervision, and consultation to mental health providers looking for trauma-informed support. She is deeply invested in equity, social justice efforts, and destigmatizing mental health treatment, and utilizes her Instagram platform, @theempoweredtherapist to provide education and support to the broader community.AG1 Athletic Greens 

I’m really enjoying these episodes with my FOCUSED community, and I hope you are too! Today, Sue Peters is with me, and we dive into the difficult world of chronic pain through an ADHD lens.When Sue was finally diagnosed with ADHD in her mid-twenties, she had already identified that there was something different about her and had even tried reaching out for help. But ignorant and insensitive “experts” failed to give her the guidance and support she needed, which left her with a lot of rejection, shame, and emotional pain from childhood through young adulthood. Everything compounded when her family went through a scary surgery situation with her child, and one day she woke up with immobility and excruciating pain that changed the course of her life.Sue and I discuss how things like trauma and emotional wounds can eventually weaken the immune system to the point of breaking down physical health, and how important it is to receive therapy and coaching in a way that’s sensitive to ADHD. Listen in to hear her incredible story of resilience with ADHD and chronic pain, and how she’s working through it all at her own pace, finding her path, surrounded by community.Are you being treated for ADHD but still aren’t quite achieving your potential? Try my group coaching program FOCUSED and experience the difference. Be sure to hang out with me on Instagram HERE.Shout-outs:@kamden_adhd 

Christine Hargrove is a a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Georgia whose primary focus is on exploring financial therapy and ADHD relationships - an important and rare combination! We very quickly realized one episode was not enough, so stay tuned for part two with practical tips.Before we dive into money talk, Christine shares her own story about how she came to receive her own ADHD diagnosis. It was missed for years because people told her she was “too smart” to have ADHD. I especially love this part of the episode because I think it will click with a lot of people regarding the fear and feelings of defeat that can come with receiving or not receiving a diagnosis due to ignorant stigmas and misconceptions that have followed ADHD for years.When it comes to finances, mental health experts often avoid the topic, deeming it too controversial or because they’re simply not money experts. And money managers are nowhere near equipped to support clients through the emotions, trauma and complicated feelings surrounding finances that many people have. As we’ve discussed throughout this podcast, so much of the work with ADHDers is in encouraging them to trust their own authority and ability to make decisions. This is one of Christine’s main focus areas in financial therapy - equipping adults to get comfortable with calculated risk and understanding that you don’t have to wait to make a decision until it’s perfect.To follow Christine’s incredible research and work, visit her website at ChristineHargrove.com. And if you’d like to gain some confidence in decision-making with other ADHD adults, come join my group coaching program FOCUSED. Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

In this episode, I’m joined by my FOCUSED client Michael Johnson, who shares his ADHD journey that led him to being coached and now becoming a coach himself.I love our conversation because Michael is so open and honest about his weaknesses and the self-discovery that led to him evolving into a much more self-aware and balanced person today. If you've struggled with horrible self-talk, disordered eating, and difficult relationships, this episode is going to be right up your alley. In case you haven’t had enough of ME talking about emotional regulation, Michael discusses from a client perspective why he truly believes it is the number one skill for adults with ADHD to learn. Do you ever feel that your ADHD symptoms aren’t actually the biggest problem, but instead it’s the layers of self-judgment and blame that you pile on top of yourself after noticing the symptom holding you back?Have your lack of emotional regulation skills led to you self-soothing in unhealthy ways that keep you in a bad cycle?Listen, share with friends and look into being coached by Michael at onethoughtcoach.com. You can find Michael on Instagram @michaelgarrettjohnsonCome hang out with me on Instagram HERE.

Maggie Patterson is a vocal advocate for humane business practices rooted in respect, empathy and trust. She’s the host of the BS-Free Service Business podcast, and the co-host of Duped: The Dark Side of Online Business.In this episode we are SPILLING ALL THE TEA. Maggie and I talk about: Self help, cults, and MLMSScammy online business practicesMystery offers"If I can do it you can do it"Steven Hassan's BITE model of culty practicesHow to avoid getting scammedHow to be ethical (what does it even mean)Maggie is the editorial director at Scoop Studios and the creator of BS-Free Business. With two decades of experience, Maggie has spent her entire career in client services and has been a successful entrepreneur for over 15 years. Maggie works with service business and agency owners to build bs-free businesses that put trust first in everything they do. To get in touch with Maggie, you can check out the following links: BS-Free BusinessBS-Free Service Business ShowDuped: the Dark Side of Online Business PodcastAG1 Athletic Greens

I’m very pleased to be joined by Kimberley Quinlan in this episode. Kimberley is a licensed marriage and family therapist, specializing in anxiety, OCD and related disorders. Some of you with ADHD can identify with having additional neurodivergent diagnoses, such as OCD, and you may have experienced some confusion in differentiating between the two.As children, it was hard enough being diagnosed with ADHD and having a full understanding of what it meant for ourselves and for our parents. Now add in other disorders, and you can imagine how difficult and frustrating it can be for those who have been misdiagnosed, misunderstood and overlooked.I myself have a child who’s been diagnosed with OCD and ADHD, with the former likely causing the latter. I’m grateful to Kimberley for allowing me to share a bit of my own regrets as a parent coming to a good place of understanding my child in order to get him the support he needed.There are so many great takeaways from this episode. But the biggest ones I’m walking away with are that validation and reassurance are everything. If you’ve been considering an evaluation for yourself or a loved one, please look into it. It’s a vulnerable process, but intaking the right information can be so powerful.You can find Kimberley at kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com. If you are looking for some support as an adult with ADHD, come join my group coaching program FOCUSED, where we lift each other up and learn from our collective neurodivergent journeys. Resources:International OCD FoundationCBT SchoolPodcast: Your Anxiety Toolkit - Anxiety & OCD Strategies for Everyday The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD: Lean into Your Fear, Manage Difficult Emotions, and Focus On Recovery

This episode is a rare treat as I chat with a current FOCUSED client of mine, Jason Rowlett, @JDouglasRowlett who shares his experience of identifying and leaving a toxic work environment.I decided to do an episode with Jason on this topic as I watched him navigate this situation in real-time and recognized this as something that likely happens to many adults with ADHD.While ADHD can certainly manifest in our work performance and social behavior, we shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells at all times, worried about inconveniencing or frustrating our colleagues. Sometimes our work environments are just bad, and it has nothing to do with us and nothing to do with ADHD. But we often get accustomed to accepting blame and believing we’re the problem if we had a history of being treated this way as children or young people with ADHD. This can cloud our judgment and cause us to stay in toxic situations longer than we should.Jason and I discuss in depth what toxic workplaces look and feel like. Are you receiving misassigned blame and spending significant time analyzing situations to understand where things went wrong and why you were treated negatively? Are you receiving constructive criticism or personal put-downs?Have a listen, share with a friend, and if you’d like to see what Jason’s up to now, you can find his podcast and other content HERE.

Minaa B. is a licensed social worker, writer, and author of Owning Our Struggles. She is also the founder of Minaa B. Consulting, a mental health consulting practice that helps organizations develop psychological safety and promote mental health inclusivity. In this heartfelt episode, Kristen and Minaa discuss:Psychological safety in the workplaceBullyingSystematic traumas that we face daily The nuance of boundaries in relationshipsRecognizing when you ARE the problemHealing through communityMinaa is an expert in her field, serving on the Mental Health Advisory Committee for Wondermind, a mental fitness company co-founded by Selena Gomez. She has been featured in various media outlets, such as Red Table Talk, Peace of Mind With Taraji, BBC, and Essence. Minaa resides in New York City, and you can learn more about her by visiting www.minaab.com.Minaa's book Owning Our Struggles can be Pre-Ordered HERE.

My regular listeners will know that I’ve been talking about my ADHD coaching certification program for the past couple of weeks. But this episode was so much fun because I had the pleasure of interviewing four of my trained coaches from the last term.The roll call includes:Jacoba Lilius - a professor of organizational psychology that plans to pair coaching with academia. Find Jacoba on LinkedIn.Laura Gaynon - a professional musician and teacher with strong intuition and a holistic approach to coaching others to honor who they are. You can find Laura on Instagram.Emily Weinberg - a former teacher turned stay-at-home mom that greatly benefitted from FOCUSED coaching and realized that she had the skills and the time to commit to a new career. Find Emily at ADHDwithemily.comSteev Hodgson - is a software sales professional who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life and is now passionate about helping others. Find Steev at damnhealthydose.com. One thing that all of these new coaches have in common is being diagnosed with ADHD later in life. After receiving support through my adult group coaching program FOCUSED, they answered the call to become coaches themselves and successfully passed my certification training!If you’re considering applying to this program, or are considering joining FOCUSED, this is a great episode to listen to in order to get a clear and honest picture of what both experiences are really like.

Everything and everyone has a limited capacity.The world may try to tell us how much we should be able to handle and accomplish throughout the day. But, friend, no one can determine that except you.If you are more concerned about maintaining your phone’s battery charge than your own, it’s time to focus on accepting the limits of your capacity.If you want to avoid burnout and feel a sense of balanced accomplishment everyday, you won’t get there by pushing yourself to do more. In this week’s episode, I share how under-parenting could have caused those of us with ADHD to ignore our limitations. You’ll learn about the chronic pain “spoon theory” and how to know where to draw the line for yourself. Your capacity level is as unique as your fingerprint, and the sooner we can learn about it, the sooner we can manage our own expectations and channel our limited energy to where it’s needed the most.If you’re a member of my group coaching program FOCUSED and are feeling drawn to become a coach like me to help others, check out and apply to my FOCUSED ADHD Coach Certification training.Come hang out with my on Instagram HERE. 

Kai, a first-generation Chinese-Canadian and visionary Healing Transformation Coach, is the innovative mind behind Boundaries to Freedom, dedicated to empowering codependent adults on their journey towards emotional maturity.In this warm and vulnerable conversation, Kai and I chat about the following topics:Growing up as a Chinese immigrantBoundaries, enmeshment, and codependencyTaking time off to healHow to engage with old relationships in a new wayWhen empowering clients becomes an ethical dilemmaFinishing what you startedMore about Kai...As a digital nomad currently residing in Thailand, Kai harnesses his diverse medical, personal development, and spiritual expertise to create transformative experiences for those raised by emotionally immature parents. His approach, a harmonious blend of holistic and practical methodologies, aims to heal and transform the mind, body, emotions, and spirit.An influential figure with over 500,000 followers across Instagram (@hicoachkai) and TikTok, Kai's impact reaches far and wide, resonating with those seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships. He offers online coaching (both 1:1 and Support Group), engaging courses, and regularly hosts insightful virtual events focused on establishing healthy boundaries, healing, improving interpersonal dynamics, and emotional growth. Through his passion and dedication, Kai continues to be a beacon of light and guidance for individuals on their path to self-discovery, healing, and lasting change that ripples through future generations.For more information, please visit https://beacons.ai/hicoachkaiAG1 by Athletic Greens

Have you been considering a career change? Thinking about becoming an ADHD coach like me? Well, this episode is for you!What this is not: a perfect fantasy with puppies, rainbows and unicorns.What this is: my raw and honest truth about the pros and cons of the business.It seems like having ADHD and/or becoming a life coach is very “trendy” right now. While it’s exciting to see growth and societal acceptance in these areas, this can also bring in some shady characters who see an opportunity to “get rich quick” with little to no accreditation or accountability.The reality is that this industry is largely unregulated, held accountable only by consumers who are quickly learning who to trust and who to #unfollow. Maybe you have been feeling for a while that this is something you're passionate about and want to consider as a profession. If so, then may I encourage you to seek out a credible, certified, ethical program that’s trauma-informed and specifically geared toward people with ADHD? I’m proud to say I’ve worked very hard to develop a training program for prospective ADHD coaches with a strong emotional regulation focus and an emphasis on positive thinking. There are no pre-recorded videos here. This is a high-touch, high-accountability training, exclusively reserved for members of FOCUSED only. That’s how serious I am about investing in the most dedicated people. Come take a look at ihaveadhd.com/coach and reach out if you’re interested in applying. 

Sleep makes the world go round. So why can’t we ever seem to get enough of it? This week, I’m re-releasing an older episode with a bit more introductory commentary on how ADHD interrupts regular sleep patterns.This is such an important topic to not only chat about but do research on. Did you know there is a surprisingly decent amount of research on Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) in people with ADHD?In this episode, I share everything I’ve learned about DSPS, circadian rhythm, and what feels like a normal sleep pattern when you have ADHD. I’ve recently been experiencing old feelings of stress and hypervigilance at bedtime, and it’s made me realize that this is something we should all be cognizant of. Near the end of the episode, I share my own simple tips and tricks I’ve used to adhere to a neurotypical sleep schedule, and I encourage you to talk to your doctor about what might help you out too!Don’t let yourself feel ashamed about going to sleep late and rising later. In my group coaching program FOCUSED, you’ll learn that you’re in good company and definitely not alone! Research References:StanfordHealthCare.org - DSPSThe Sleep Foundation’s definition of Circadian RhythmAPSARD - Sandra KooijSage Medical Journal online - ADHD connection to DSPS

Whitney Goodman, LMFT, is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, author, and the owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center, a virtual therapy practice in Florida. In this beautiful conversation, Whitney and I discuss the following topics:How to define "trauma" (spoiler, it's hard)Living in fantasy vs. realityToxic positivityHealing across generationsWhy some people are more open to being held accountable than othersSelf trustCreating a strong family narrativeMore about Whitney Goodman...Whitney's debut book (released February 2022), TOXIC POSITIVITY: KEEPING IT REAL IN A WORLD OBSESSED WITH BEING HAPPY, shows readers how to shift the goal from being happy to being authentic in order to live fully. Whitney has her own column in Psychology Today and has been featured in dozens of domestic and international publications, including The New York Times, Teen Vogue, NY Magazine, and Good Morning America. For more information, please visit www.sitwithwhit.com.AG1 by Athletic Greens

Maybe I’m Not The Problem is a new series of the I Have ADHD Podcast where I interview therapists, trauma-informed coaches, and psychologists about how our past informs our present and how maybe WE (ADHDers) are not the problem. People with ADHD are ripe for the picking when it comes to abuse because we are programmed from birth to believe that there’s something wrong with us…that we are flawed…and we must fix ourselves to fit into society’s and our family’s box. On Maybe I’m Not the Problem, my guests and I will discuss how our upbringing impacts us, how trauma impacts us, how covert abuse impacts us, how being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world impacts us, and that maybe…just maybe…WE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE PROBLEM.

Tackling big milestones like attending university, moving out on your own or writing a book can be both exhilarating and intimidating. For those of us with ADHD, we can feel frozen in indecision as to how to begin such an endeavor.In this week’s episode, I offer crucial steps to guide you through these ventures, and then you can listen in on one of my coaching sessions as I do this process with someone contemplating graduate school.As part of the process, I emphasize the importance of being kind to yourself, setting realistic time parameters to not feel overwhelmed, and how celebrating every little win along the way!Speaking of big milestones, I can’t wait to celebrate the launch of a new podcast series, which comes out on July 6! Stay tuned for the announcement, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.Came hang out with me on Instagram HERE!