Overcoming Distractions

As individuals with ADHD, by the time we are adults, we have experienced and internalized hundreds of thousands of negative inputs about who we are and how we are.  This can create defensiveness, people-pleasing, perfectionism, social anxiety, oppositional behavior, and other defense mechanisms.

But one thing we need to recognize and talk about openly is shame.

Our guest Diann Wingert, therapist turned coach says it is the elephant in the room when it comes to adults with ADHD.

Diann gives us a general definition of what shame is and explains the difference between guilt and shame.

She also gives people a few basic examples of shame then you may be able to relate to.

Diann also explains why she has called shame and ADHD, the elephant in the room.

She discusses why for people with ADHD, making mistakes can equal shame and the habits we can build to get ourselves out of this pattern.

And Diann gives us a road map for tackling shame in our lives including understanding self-awareness, forgiveness, understanding that shame is a spectrum and understanding how to take an honest look at situations in our lives that we can avoid.

Diann Wingert is a Business Strategist, Coach & Mentor and Host of The Driven Woman Podcast. Connect with Diann on her website: www.diannwingertcoaching.com

If you are an adult with ADHD and find yourself in a leadership position, you’ll want to pay attention to what our guest Brendan Mahan says this week.

Brendan from ADHD essentials is back on overcoming distractions and we talk about the essential elements of being a leader, while being an adult with ADHD.

Maybe you find yourself as a shift supervisor in the hospitality industry, leading a major project at your company or wanting to learn more about how to parent through leadership, Brendan has some awesome advice.

Brendan and Dave discussed the following.

The difference between being a leader and being a boss.

What the general role of someone in leadership should be.

What would we as adults with ADHD expect from our leaders?

The challenges of being an adult with ADHD and assuming a leadership position.

Tips for navigating a leadership role while having adult ADHD. Those include delegating diplomatically, understanding that you are supporting character as a leader, and taking time to own your ADHD and manage it properly.

Find Brandan Mahan and his offerings on his website; www.adhdessential.com

Want to work with Dave? www.OvercomingDistractions.com

How does a creative digital nomad manage her ADHD on the road?

On Overcoming Distractions this time is Nikki May, owner of Nikki D May Art and Design. Nikki sold her house, purchased a bus and now runs her art and design business on the road.

In her business, she does everything from drawing, and designing accessories and apparel as well as web design.

As a newly diagnosed adult with ADHD, she has had to build the skills necessary to run a business on the road including carving time out for work, meeting deadlines and getting it all done.

Nikki admits that her brain doesn’t always switch into working mode so it’s important for her to have implemented several ways to be productive. Those include:

Time blocking

Planning

Hiring and delegating

Having a business manager

Using contractors.

She hired somebody to set up systems for her

And one big thing, not saying yes to everything.

Find Nikki D. May Art and Design here: https://www.nikkimay.com/

Many adults with ADHD can also experience imposter syndrome.

Some even say it is much more common in adults with ADHD than others.

That is the focus of this podcast with Matthew Zakreski a licensed clinical psychologist.

Dr. Matt as many address him, gives an overview of imposter syndrome and what it might feel like. He says one thing that sticks out is when somebody gives us praise, we either feel relief or celebrate the success.

He discusses why it may affect people with ADHD more.

Dr. Matt Give several examples of imposter syndrome and discusses how we can become more self-aware, including reflecting on situations when we feel our best and our worst and how to find context in every situation that doubts us.

He discusses how we can move forward with intention.

And he gives listeners advice on how to begin limiting imposter syndrome in our lives and possibly overcoming imposter syndrome. He talks about how to build confidence, better habits around doubtful situations and even some quick tips if you’re considering a career change that may doubt you.

You can find Matthew Zakreski PsyD here: https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/

In this first podcast episode of 2023, we are discussing complex ADHD.

Dave’s guest on this important episode is Jess Levy MD, a board-certified psychiatrist. Dr. Levy Also diagnosed with ADHD personally understands the challenges that come as an adult with ADHD. His practice is A+ Psychiatry, a one-of-a-kind Direct Specialty Care Practice and represents a fundamentally different approach to psychiatric care.

Dr. Levy First gives us an overview of complex ADHD which is when an individual has ADHD in one or more other mental health concerns. Often, we call this Co-occurring and it comes in the form of anxiety, depression, learning disorders and other forms.

He also discusses why it matters and why it is important to seek adequate treatment for complex ADHD. In short, if not addressed the symptoms and challenges of an adult with ADHD can only worsen and make life more challenging.

Dr. Levy Runs through many of the symptoms and signs of complex ADHD and gives examples.

And he discusses treatment options for complex ADHD including how to proceed with medication, psychotherapy and other forms of support. He discusses your treatment expectations, the trial and error of certain medications, and other support systems.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: For the listeners of this podcast, when discussing diagnostic and treatment considerations, it is CRITICAL to note that this is for information purposes only. It is not meant to replace medical advice from your medical professional.  If you have any questions about this topic as it pertains to your physical or mental health, you should discuss these concerns directly with your providers.

You can find Dr. Jess Levy at his Website: www.apluspsychiatry.com

This new episode explores emotional and cognitive processing and how to communicate effectively at home and in the workplace.

Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials comes back on the podcast to discuss processing and communicating during challenging situations. Situations that could involve conflict present themselves not only at home but in the workplace, and it’s important for us to build the skills to manage Interactions with others effectively.

• Brendan starts the podcast by giving three quick tips for thriving with adult ADHD in 2023.
• Brendan takes time to break down emotional and cognitive processing, runs through many examples, and discusses when these intersect.
• He gives great advice on processing emotions in difficult situations.
• Brendan also talks about how we need to validate our emotions.
• Other discussion points include being honest with ourselves.
• Asking for criticism to allow for personal growth.
• Noticing our emotions
• Allowing those emotions to take place.

Find Brendan at: https://www.adhdessentials.com/

Many adults with ADHD either want a passion project or need to do something that allows them to feel a sense of purpose. When we embark on these types of projects, we feel energized, excited and fulfilled in life.

This episode features Morgan Hancock, founder of Bourbon with Heart based in Kentucky. Bourbon with Heart is a nonprofit that helps fund the arts and other nonprofit organizations.

Morgan is a commercial real estate professional with ADHD, a U.S. Army veteran, and a successful entrepreneur, and she shares her tips for navigating a busy life and creating a passion project.

• Morgan discusses how many with ADHD need to embrace some type of chaos in life.
• She talks about how a basic To Do List saved her life.
• She discusses time blocking, including how she handles her commercial real estate duties and nonprofit responsibilities.
• Morgan also discusses how in some cases, impulsivity is a good thing when it comes to passion projects. Allowing many to take on risks that others would not.
• She also discusses how she learned the value of teamwork in the military and how to work with others.
• Morgan discusses how we cannot be scared to fail if we’re going to be successful in business and life.

Find Bourbon with Heart here and explore all the great things they’re doing. https://bourbonwithheart.org/

Many adults with ADHD decide to open their own business or become entrepreneurs. There are many reasons for this. But before we take on such an important journey, those with ADHD must be aware of what’s ahead to succeed.

Whether you are looking at entrepreneurship or just looking to find your next career move, you’ll find great value in this discussion with Aron Croft of Hidden ADHD.

Aron discusses some of the pros and cons of people with ADHD entering self-employment or entrepreneurship. He talks about why many with ADHD want and need freedom, the desire for scalability in their business, and being in charge because many with ADHD do not like being told what to do.

Aron also talks about why he decided to become an entrepreneur but is honest about his journey along the way which was not always smooth. While Aron had a great job he found himself looking for a higher calling and began the process of building his own entrepreneurial journey on the side.

Aron also talks about the different types of fit you need to be aware of if you are venturing out on your own including the market, whether the product fits you and your values, pricing, and the process. Do these fit into the way you can operate?

He also discusses several productivity tips, activation psychology, and building the right habits to take your next steps.

Find Aron Croft here:

Website: https://hiddenadhd.com/

Free resource: https://link.hiddenadhd.com/overcomingdistractions

Adults with ADHD can make more career decisions than others. There are many reasons for this including boredom, not being challenged and other reasons such as overwork and burnout.

Reevaluating your career, which will affect your overall life, is a process that should not be done with impulsiveness. Thought and care needs to be put into your next career move and life change.

Alex Gilbert from Cape-Able Consulting joined Dave on Overcoming Distractions to talk about how to be methodical about new life choices and the signs that you may need to make changes in your life.

Alex brings up several great discussion points about reevaluating your career and life choices.

She says to ask yourself, “what do I want and what do I need in a career?

She said it might be time to evaluate your career and your job if you experience the following.

• Having trouble getting up in the morning.
• Being constantly reprimanded at work may indicate the wrong job or career.
• Working in a toxic environment.
• You feel bored or not challenged.
• You continue to feel stressed out and experience anxiety.

Alex takes us through a number of important tips to get you thinking about your next move.

Find Alex at: https://www.capeableconsulting.com/

Have you ever wondered if you should disclose your ADHD to your employer, your boss or your coworkers? Maybe even your clients?

First, this is your choice but hopefully this discussion will help you make the right choice for your situation.

This week we have back Grant Crowell, Author of Grantasms Creative twisted words for cool people!  and a self-professed social wordsmith.

Grant has been an employee, a contractor he’s talked about his ADHD and some cases he hasn’t talked about his ADHD.

In this discussion about disclosing your ADHD in the workplace, we cover:

• What are the negatives of disclosing your ADHD.
• The positive examples of disclosing ADHD.
• Resources available to understand your options for reasonable accommodations.
• What reasonable accommodations are in the workplace.

Grant provides several tips to help you make the decision about disclosing your ADHD to your employer.

• Find an ally if possible.
• Obtain an official diagnosis of ADHD.
• Understand your strengths in the workplace.
• Don’t wait too long if you need accommodations.

Grant is hosting a webinar about how to get workplace accommodations for ADHD. The link is below as well as other links to connect with Grant.

https://www.meetup.com/north-carolina-adults-with-adhd-education-group/events/289378244/

Find Grant’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/GRANTASMS-Creative-twisted-words-people-ebook/dp/B07ZY9JDPP

Connect with him on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GrantCrowell