Chaotic and Twirly: Understanding Adult ADHD

Sip of the Week: Today we deep into the complex world of adult ADHD diagnosis, particularly for women who may have slipped through the cracks of childhood screening. Meg's story illustrates how ADHD can manifest differently across life stages and why traditional diagnostic criteria may not capture the female experience. Through honest discussion about masking, self-talk, and the daily challenges of executive functioning, listeners learn practical strategies for managing ADHD symptoms while building self-compassion. Meg emphasizes that ADHD isn't about being broken - it's about trying to function in systems designed for neurotypical brains, and there are ways to work with your brain rather than against it.- Listen Now!

Let It Brew: She wasn't broken. She wasn't failing at life. Her ADHD brain was trying to function in a neurotypical world without the right support, and that struggle was showing up as anxiety symptoms. This revelation reframes so much for women who've been told they have anxiety when what they really have is an attention difference trying to navigate systems that weren't built for them. From elementary school classrooms to modern motherhood, we're often forcing square pegs into round holes and then wondering why we feel "chaotic and twirly."

Meg's journey reminds us that sometimes the problem isn't us - it's that we're trying to function in spaces that weren't designed with our brains in mind. And once we understand that, we can start working with our brains instead of against them.

Post-Tea Pursuits: PRACTICE COMPASSIONATE SELF-TALK this week.

Following Meg's wisdom about self-talk being the foundation of executive functioning:

• Notice when you call yourself "stupid," "scatterbrained," or "a mess"
• Reframe mistakes as actions rather than identity (I did something silly vs. I am silly)
• Remember: if your brain works differently, you're not broken - you're just using the wrong manual
• Try Meg's approach: "I spilled coffee" not "I am a piece of shit"