Advertise on podcast: ADHD Chatter

This episode has been paid for by Focused. It contains an advert for their ADHD assessments. Almost one year on, Danielle Mulligan, Focused Clinical Lead and ADHD Nurse Practitioner, returns to the podcast to discuss how assessment and support for ADHD is changing. Get a discount on your ADHD assessment at Focused -- use the code 'CHATTER' at checkout   https://uk.focused.clinic/ Chapters: 00:00 The Heartbreaking Reality of ADHD 02:33 Why ADHD Makes You Feel Broken 06:47 The Scary Pattern After 1,000s of ADHD Assessments 10:35 Why Being Misunderstood Turns Into Shame 12:48 Why an ADHD Diagnosis Can Make Things Feel Worse 15:18 The #1 Thing ADHD People Blame Themselves For 17:03 The Hidden Grief After an ADHD Diagnosis 19:31 How ADHD People Learn to Hide It 22:50 Why So Many ADHD Adults Were Missed for Decades 24:57 The Pattern Before an ADHD Breaking Point 25:57 Why Focused Was Created  26:57 What Actually Happens During an ADHD Assessment 28:45 What an ADHD Assessor Is Really Looking For 29:47 How to Make ADHD Assessments Feel Safe 31:06 The Growing NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment Gap 33:30 The Biggest Misconception About ADHD 34:56 A Heartbreaking Letter to My Younger Self Take the ADHD and Education survey at Focused = Enter their £150 prize draw  https://uk.focused.clinic/adhd-education-survey/quiz Explore Focused:  https://uk.focused.clinic/ Focused on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusedclinic Focused on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/focused.clinic/ Focused on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcrewyWYFprbMiObNA1Jgow Focused on X  https://x.com/Focusedclinic Focused on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusedclinic/ Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clinical psychologist, therapist and ADHD expert Dr Jacob Ambrose returns to explore what a dysregulated nervous system really looks like, why anxiety and hypervigilance can become your normal, and what happens when you finally begin to feel safe. We discuss why rest can initially feel uncomfortable, the difference between being perceptive and hypervigilant, why rejection can feel so personal, and a difficult question: if fear has powered you for most of your life, what replaces it when you begin to heal? Chapters: 01:14 What does ‘healing your nervous system’ actually mean 02:17 What does a dysregulated nervous system actually look like 04:50 Why healing makes you feel worse to start with 06:21 The first rule of healing 08:06 The big emotions that come with healing 12:23 How healing reduces anxiety and makes you less productive 17:42 If your life has been powered by fear, what replaces it 19:31 How can you feel exhausted but not realise 21:10 Restorative solitude vs unhealthy isolation 23:55 Tiimo advert 25:30 The early warning signs of a dysregulated nervous system 29:22 Why reason leaves you when you’re triggered 32:51 When rejection stops feeling so personal 37:23 The difference between being perceptive and hypervigilant 38:51 Are you healing when things that bothered you no longer do 41:42 Healing from narcissistic abuse 47:37 Advice for anyone who’s trying to heal 48:49 A letter to my younger self Find Dr Jacob on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dr.jacob.ambrose/?hl=en Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Gina Rippon is a revolutionary Autism specialist . Having written multiple books on the topic, Gina Rippon PHD shares the ultimate guide to spotting autism in high masking autistic women. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:19 How Autism Can Be Hidden — Even From Yourself 03:25 Are You Socialising… or Performing? 05:10 Masking Can Start Earlier Than You Think 07:20 Why Making Friends Can Feel So Hard 09:53 The “Contradictory” Personality Nobody Understands 11:35 What Are Autistic Girls Trying to Hide? 15:25 How Masking Affects Romantic Relationships 20:58 What Happens When You Can’t Mask Anymore 22:25 The Hidden Cost of Masking for Years 24:19 How Much Are You Actually Masking? 27:58 Tiimo advert 29:17 How ADHD Can Hide Autism in Women 34:25 Can You Accidentally Mask During an Autism Assessment? 37:01 The Dangerous Side of People-Pleasing 38:28 The Questions Autism Assessments SHOULD Ask 39:42 What I Wish Every Autistic Woman Knew 41:17 Why Autism Can Look Like OCD 43:07 A Letter to My Younger Self 46:00 Focused survey read Find Gina on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gina-rippon-33287819 Buy ‘The Lost Girls Of Autism’ 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Girls-Autism-Autistic-Research-ebook/dp/B0CX7G2BZW Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Focused are running a new survey and a prize draw giveaway, where you can win £150 in Amazon vouchers just for taking part. It's just 5 simple questions about how ADHD affected you (or affects you now) at college and university. Take the survey here. 👉 https://uk.focused.clinic/adhd-education-survey/quiz It's open to anyone living with ADHD aged 18 or over. (The results from their previous survey about ADHD & health are in too -- results here 👉 https://uk.focused.clinic/myhub/adhd-health-survey-results ) Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does something as simple as replying to an email, doing the washing or starting a task feel almost impossible with ADHD? In this episode, leading ADHD advocate Hester Grainger reveals what’s really happening inside the ADHD brain when we procrastinate, and shares 4 practical, brain-based ways to finally get started. We also explore dopamine, motivation, shame, and what happens when years of struggling begin to change the way you see yourself. If you’ve ever called yourself lazy because you knew what you needed to do but still couldn’t do it, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:57 Why Your ADHD Brain Just Can’t Start 07:06 Dopamine Explained Simply 10:14 The First ADHD Hack That Gets You Moving 13:57 The Second Hack: Make Your Brain Care 17:13 The Brutal Things ADHD Makes You Believe About Yourself 20:18 When ADHD Turns Into Shame 21:43 When Procrastination Becomes Your Identity 24:01 Tiimo advert 25:20 The Third Hack: Why Pressure Actually Works 30:34 The Fourth Hack: The ADHD Motivation Switch 33:38 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Hester’s website 👉 https://www.perfectlyautistic.co.uk Find Hester on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hestersvibe/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Judith Mohring is an award winning Cambridge-educated psychiatrist and psychotherapist specialising in ADHD, autism and mental health. In this episode, she explores why understanding yourself doesn’t always lead to healing, how overthinking can become a form of emotional avoidance, and what it really takes to reconnect with yourself after years of masking. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:13 “I don’t know who I really am” 03:54 Why understanding yourself doesn’t always lead to healing 08:09 Why you can understand your brain and still feel trapped 10:15 When analysing yourself stops you feeling 12:06 Analysing emotions vs processing them 16:34 Why ADHD can make therapy harder 19:26 Why ADHD brains analyse themselves so deeply 23:07 When hyperfocus turns inward 24:32 How masking disconnects you from yourself 28:21 Tiimo advert  29:49 Why years of therapy can leave you feeling the same 31:17 When therapy becomes another intellectual exercise 35:41 Where does healing actually begin? 36:33 Interoception: learning to feel what’s happening inside 38:59 How a therapist helps you feel safe 40:25 How ADHD and autistic people begin to heal 46:01 How to stop analysing and start feeling 47:18 How do you know if you’re healing? 49:09 The Washing Machine of Woes 49:52 Finding yourself after decades of masking 51:02 Do you find your true self — or create it? 53:00 Is overthinking a form of emotional avoidance? 54:05 A letter to my younger self Visit Judith’s website 👉 https://www.thenaturalpsychiatrist.com Find Judith on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/adhded.with.drjudith/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning psychiatrist Dr Asif Bachlani to explore what it really feels like to live with both ADHD and autism. We uncover 5 hidden signs of masking AuDHD, the contradictions that can make life feel exhausting, the loneliness of feeling different, and the emotional impact of receiving a diagnosis later in life. Dr Asif also shares the assessment he’ll never forget, and the true cost of spending years hiding who you really are. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:56 Why Dr Asif Bachlani Dedicated His Life to ADHD & Autism 04:22 The Patient Who Changed Everything for Dr Asif 07:02 What Neurodivergent People Can Teach Us About Being Human 08:39 The Sentence Dr Asif Hears After Almost Every Diagnosis 12:58 The Hidden Grief of a Late ADHD or Autism Diagnosis 16:47 The Contradictions of Living With AuDHD 21:04 What People With AuDHD Fear Being Judged For 24:52 Is Masking a Choice — or Does It Happen Automatically? 27:05 The AuDHD Assessment Dr Asif Will Never Forget 36:43 Why AuDHD Can Feel So Incredibly Lonely 41:21 Tiimo advert 43:05 Sign #1 You’re Masking AuDHD 45:40 Sign #2 You’re Masking AuDHD 48:19 Sign #3 You’re Masking AuDHD 50:25 Sign #4 You’re Masking AuDHD 53:29 The True Cost of Never Unmasking 01:02:11 Sign #5 You’re Masking AuDHD 01:02:54 Washing Machine of Woes: Your Questions Answered 01:05:24 A Letter to My Younger Self Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Martin Brunet has 25 years experience as a NHS GP. He has a special interest in Autism and ADHD and is the author of the best selling book entitled ‘Make Your Worry Make Sense’. In this episode, Dr Martin Brunet explores the hidden reality of autistic masking, why it starts, what it feels like, and the long-term impact it can have on identity, relationships and wellbeing. We discuss the subtle signs of masking, why so many autistic people go undiagnosed, and what it can look like to safely rediscover who you are beneath the mask. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:08 What Masking Actually Feels Like 06:32 How Early Does Masking Start? 07:48 What Teaches a Child to Start Masking? 09:26 Can One Cruel Comment Change You for Decades? 11:22 What Are Autistic People Protecting Themselves From? 14:03 Is Masking a Choice — or Completely Automatic? 16:29 The Autistic Mirror 19:54 When Masking Becomes a Survival Mechanism 21:43 The Subtle Signs Someone Is Masking 24:38 Inside the Mind of an Autistic Person Who’s Masking 26:19 The Aeroplane Analogy That Explains Masking 28:57 What Years of Masking Does to a Person 31:08 Tiimo 32:38 The Biggest Cost of Masking: Losing Who You Are 34:39 Why Masking Can Make Autistic People So Lonely 36:18 Why So Many Autistic Women Are Missed 38:58 Can You Look Successful While Falling Apart Privately? 41:21 Code-Switching: What It Is and Why Autistic People Do It 43:39 Why an Autism Diagnosis Can Be So Emotional 46:24 How Do You Find Yourself After Years of Masking? 49:05 Why Unmasking Isn’t Right for Everyone 52:42 How to Start Unmasking Safely 54:30 The “Washing Machine of Woes” 59:16 What I’d Tell My Younger Autistic Self Visit Dr Brunet’s website 👉 https://www.martinbrunet.com Find Dr Brunet on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/doc_martin_gp/?hl=en Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Luke Beardon is a leading autism researcher, author and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who has spent more than 30 years working alongside autistic people and their families. In this episode, Luke reveals what autism can actually feel like from the inside, from masking and rehearsing conversations to sensory overwhelm, burnout and the exhaustion of constantly trying to fit in. He explores why so many people go decades without realising they’re autistic, what happens when you mask for so long that you lose sight of who you really are, and why the parts of yourself you spent a lifetime hiding may never have needed fixing in the first place. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:23 Why Luke dedicated his life to understanding autism 02:46 How can someone be autistic for decades without knowing? 05:38 What high-masking autism actually looks like 08:06 How early does autistic masking begin? 10:21 The biggest misconception about autism in adults 16:10 The biggest signs you’re masking autism 17:37 Why autistic people rehearse conversations 23:50 Why small talk can be so exhausting 29:59 What sensory overwhelm actually feels like 36:40 Why autistic people stim 40:04 Tiimo advert 41:31 The autistic behaviours people are made to feel ashamed of 43:33 The hidden cost of masking autism 46:39 What autistic burnout actually feels like 49:58 Can you mask for so long that you lose yourself? 51:27 When the mask becomes your personality 57:54 Are you really an introvert, or could you be autistic? 01:00:05 The Washing Machine of Woes 01:03:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Buy Dr Luke’s books 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Luke-Beardon/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALuke%2BBeardon Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the things you've criticised yourself for your entire life... weren't flaws at all? What if struggling to make simple decisions, feeling overwhelmed by change, or caring so deeply about fairness weren't personality quirks, but signs your brain has been working differently all along? Today I'm joined by Dr Fareeha Amber Sadiq (known as Dr Amber), Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director at Eleos Clinic. She has assessed hundreds of autistic individuals and has helped countless people finally understand why they've always felt different. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:54 Why Every Decision Feels So Overwhelming 06:24 Why Autistic People Need Predictability 09:04 Why Injustice Feels Physically Painful 19:19 When You Can't Start... But Can't Stop Either 23:17 The Secret to Switching Between Tasks 25:43 The Autism Trait Everyone Calls Laziness 27:33 The Shutdown Nobody Sees 32:57 Tiimo Advert 34:17 The Hidden Reason Some People Can Mask for Decades 36:08 Why So Many People Don't Realise They're Autistic 41:14 How Masking Slowly Erases Your Identity 43:13 The Most Emotional Part of an Autism Assessment 45:15 The Moment People Realise They've Been Masking Their Entire Life 50:56 The One Sentence That Makes Psychiatrists Think "Autism" 54:15 The Autism Assessment Reactions I'll Never Forget 57:22 Washing Machine of Woes (Audience Questions) 01:03:02 A Letter to My Younger Self Download Dr. Sadiq’s free guide, Could This Be Me?, which explains why so many autistic adults were missed for decades, and what clarity could look like for you 👉 https://www.eleosclinic.com/wondering Find Dr Sadiq on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/eleos_clinic/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to know what autistic masking actually feels like from the inside? Dr Carly Jones MBE is one of the world’s leading autistic advocates. Diagnosed as autistic in adulthood after both of her daughters were diagnosed, she has spent nearly two decades improving the lives of autistic people through policy, education and lived experience. In this episode, Carly explains what masking actually feels like from the inside, why so many autistic people learn to hide who they are from childhood, and the emotional cost of spending years pretending to be someone else. Together, we explore people pleasing, self-abandonment, loneliness, burnout, and the difficult journey of discovering who you really are after decades of masking. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:56 The Mask You Didn't Know You Were Wearing 09:31 Is Your Brain Protecting You Without You Knowing? 11:42 The Childhood Moment You Learn It's Safer Not To Be Yourself 14:50 What Rejection Does To The Autistic Brain 18:23 Mask #1 22:25 The Day You Stopped Showing What You Loved 27:01 Mask #2 30:19 When People Pleasing Stops Being Kindness And Becomes Survival 34:25 The Moment You Start Abandoning Yourself 37:29 Tiimo advert 38:48 Mask #3 41:39 What If You're So Good At Reading People... You Forget Who You Are?43:34 Mask #4 46:43 How People Can Think You're Fine While You're Falling Apart 48:28 The Loneliness Nobody Talks About In Autism 51:07 The Warning Signs Your Mask Is About To Break 57:49 How To Start Taking The Mask Off (Without Losing Yourself) 01:01:19 Why Letting Go Of The Mask Feels So Terrifying 01:08:37 How To Know What's Really You... And What's Just Survival 01:11:47 The Lie Neurodivergent People Blame Themselves For 01:16:27 "I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore." 01:18:50 A Letter To My Younger Self Visit Carly’s website 👉 https://drcarlyjonesmbe.uk Find Carly on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/drcarlyjonesmbe/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's Sunday Times Best-selling book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Buy Alex's No.1 Sunday Times Best-selling book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Burnout doesn't always look like a breakdown. Sometimes it looks like pushing through, feeling numb, forgetting who you are, or wondering why everything suddenly feels so much harder. I'm joined by Dr Jo Perkins, an eminent Chartered Psychologist who supports senior business professionals and organisations to develop effective strategies to optimise psychological performance. Dr Jo explains how burnout develops, why so many people miss the warning signs, and why it can hit people with ADHD especially hard.Together, we explore the difference between being tired and having a nervous system that can no longer recover, the hidden role of masking, and what real recovery actually looks like. If you've ever thought, "I'm just exhausted," but suspect it's something more, this conversation could change the way you understand burnout. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:10 The Biggest Lie About Burnout 03:51 Burnout Before You Realise It’s Happening 05:17 Does Burnout Hit Suddenly or Build Up? 06:23 Why People Miss the Warning Signs 09:33 How Bad Burnout Can Really Get 16:16 Do We All Have a Breaking Point? 17:20 When Your Body Stops Recovering 19:00 Tired vs Burnt Out (Big Difference) 21:24 When You Stop Feeling Like Yourself 24:38 Why Burnout Makes ADHD Worse 29:43 Tiimo Advert 31:43 Can Masking Cause Burnout? 36:46 When to Seek Professional Help 38:44 The #1 Warning Sign of Burnout 40:26 Can You Fully Recover from Burnout? 41:47 The Biggest Recovery Mistake 43:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Jo’s website 👉 https://drjoperkins.com Find Jo on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-perkins-46b943 Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do so many people with ADHD spend their lives trying to earn their worth? How do you know if you're masking? And why do even the most successful ADHD adults still feel like they're failing? In this episode, ADHD coach and former British Army soldier Rich Forbes explains the hidden emotional burden of ADHD, how to spot masking, practical strategies for managing rejection sensitivity, and why the right environment can change everything. Before becoming an ADHD coach, Rich served for eight years in the British Army, bringing a unique perspective on resilience, identity, and what it really takes to thrive with ADHD. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer  03:33 Why ADHD Makes You Feel You Have to Earn Your Worth  05:00 The Hidden Cost of Constantly Proving Yourself  07:53 The Moment Everything Finally Made Sense  09:10 The Saddest Thing People With ADHD Tell Themselves  10:16 The Grief Nobody Warns You About After ADHD Diagnosis  11:01 Why ADHD Diagnosis Hurts Differently at Every Age  17:00 How to Tell If You've Been Masking Your Entire Life  18:54 Maybe You're Not the Problem, Maybe It's Your Environment 21:04 Is Masking ADHD's Biggest Challenge?  25:06 What Years of Masking Really Costs You  28:22 The Emotional Weight ADHD Adults Carry Every Day  31:37 Tiimo Advert  32:56 How to Calm Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 34:52 A New ADHD Hack That Changes Everything  38:52 Why Success Never Feels Like Enough With ADHD  40:16 The Advice Every ADHD Adult Needs to Hear  42:33 The One Thing ADHD Adults Need to Stop Blaming Themselves For  48:03 Why Successful Women With ADHD Still Feel Like Failures  54:46 The Biggest Myth About ADHD in Women  58:18 A Letter to My Younger Self Find Rich on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/richforbes_adhdcoach Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Khurram is a world-renowned, award-winning psychiatrist and the author of Explaining AuDHD. In this episode, he explains what AuDHD (Autism + ADHD) really feels like beyond the diagnostic labels, why so many people spend years masking their traits, and the emotional cost of living without understanding themselves. We explore the hidden signs of AuDHD, why so many people feel broken, misunderstood, and lonely, how an AuDHD diagnosis can transform relationships and identity, and what it truly takes to stop masking and start thriving. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:43 The AuDHD contradiction nobody talks about 04:14 What people with AuDHD are terrified of being judged for 06:29 The AuDHD assessment Dr Khurram will never forget 07:37 What almost every AuDHD adult blames themselves for 08:32 Why so many people with AuDHD think they're a bad friend 10:01 The hidden danger of never finding your AuDHD tribe 10:34 Why masking AuDHD is so exhausting 13:43 The most heartbreaking part of living with AuDHD 16:22 Why loneliness feels different with AuDHD 19:10 Why partners often misunderstand AuDHD 22:07 Tiimo advert 23:59 5 hidden signs you're masking AuDHD 25:03 How an AuDHD diagnosis changes relationships 30:13 The moment you realise your whole life was masking 34:45 What AuDHD burnout really feels like 36:45 The true cost of never unmasking AuDHD 39:08 Stop fighting your AuDHD brain 40:56 Why so many people with AuDHD believe they're broken 45:07 If you were diagnosed late, you need to hear this 45:42 The hardest part of living with AuDHD 47:10 A letter to my younger self Dr Khurram on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-khurram-sadiq Dr Khurram’s book 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Explaining-AuDHD-Guide-Autism-ADHD/dp/1804369489 Dr Khurram on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fomosapien666/?hl=en Book to see Dr Khurram in clinic for an ADHD assessment 👉 https://adhdhealthclinic.co.uk/adhd-treatment-options/in-person-adhd-assessment/ For an Autism assessment 👉 https://adhdhealthclinic.co.uk/autism/in-person-autism-assessment/ For a combined ADHD and autism assessment 👉 https://adhdhealthclinic.co.uk/autism/in-person-combined-autism-adhd-assessment/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s latest book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ella McCrystal is a psychotherapist and trauma specialist who helps people understand how early life experiences shape the nervous system, self-worth, relationships, and the way we move through the world. Together we explore the hidden link between ADHD, trauma, masking, rejection sensitivity (RSD), and why so many people with ADHD feel like they have to become someone else just to be accepted. We also discuss how trauma can make ADHD symptoms feel even more overwhelming, why masking is often a survival response, and what healing can actually look like. If you've ever wondered who you really are beneath the mask, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:16 How do you separate who you are from who you've had to become to survive? 04:02 The childhood experiences that teach people to mask 13:18 Why ADHD can make you more vulnerable to abuse 17:10 How trauma can intensify rejection sensitivity (RSD) 21:29 Why rejection hurts people with ADHD so deeply 23:49 How to calm your nervous system when RSD is triggered 30:07 Tiimo advert 31:26 Is masking actually a survival response? 36:01 What happens when you finally stop masking 37:55 Why masking leaves so many people feeling lonely 40:42 How to find your people and stop feeling alone 44:32 The one thing people with ADHD need to stop apologising for 47:53 The biggest lie people with ADHD have been taught about themselves 52:11 The message every person with ADHD needs to hear 54:05 A letter to my younger self Visit Ella’s website 👉 https://ellamccrystal.com Find Ella on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ellamccrystal/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s latest book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Sarah Warley is an Oxford-educated psychologist who discusses evidence-based ways to manage ADHD. By examining the scientific literature, she suggests 3 ways to supercharge your ADHD. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer  01:19 How zinc and copper affect ADHD 04:11 Specific foods that help with zinc and copper deficiency 05:45 What it really feels like to live with ADHD 07:36 What actually helps a ADHD brain become regulated 09:21 How The Moro Reflex Helps ADHD Brains 14:32 What parts of ADHD cause the most shame 17:28 How RSD can be improved with supplementation 19:09 The unique ADHD experience of loneliness 21:06 Tiimo advert 23:52 Why masking feels safer than showing your true self 26:21 What are the long term consequences of masking 32:22 Audience question: diet tips for ADHD brain 33:57 Any tips to manage the challenging traits of autism 35:33 Any diet tips for someone with ADHD going through menopause 37:10 A letter to my younger self Visit The Key Clinic 👉 https://www.thekeyclinic.co.uk Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s latest book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices