ADHD Awareness Month kicked off with a very real reminder of how chaotic life can feel with an ADHD brain from forgetting my lunch to almost setting the kitchen on fire. If you’ve ever had moments like that, you’ll know how exhausting it can be to constantly juggle, mask, and overcompensate.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why so many women are misdiagnosed or dismissed

• How ADHD and autism often show up differently in women

• The cost of masking and perfectionism

• Why awareness is more than just a label it’s a language that brings clarity and self-trust

If you’ve been wondering “Is it ADHD, autism, or both?” I've got a brand new masterclass!

🎟️ Join me for the Unmasking ADHD & Autism in Women live webinar on 20 October at 7pm AEST (Replay will be available). Limited time available with handout to take to your GP/Psychiatrist (or to share with your clients).
👉 Save your seat here
Use code EARLYBIRD15 for your discount.

In this episode, psychologist Johanna speaks with Laetitia Andrac, the co-founder and CEO of Understanding Zoe, an AI-powered app designed to support families and educators of neurodivergent children.

Laetitia shares her personal journey of discovering her own ADHD and autism while navigating the challenges of parenting her daughter, Zoe. The conversation explores the importance of community support, the impact of understanding and labelling on mental health, and the innovative features of the Understanding Zoe app that aim to improve communication and reduce the cognitive load on parents.

We also unpack the complexities of schooling options for neurodivergent children and debunk common myths around school refusal and homeschooling. The episode closes with key takeaways for parents and caregivers, highlighting the importance of connection, advocacy, and shared understanding.

Where to Find Letitia & Understanding Zoe

• Learn more about the app: ⁠⁠https://www.understandingzoe.com⁠⁠

• Follow Letitia on Instagram: ⁠⁠@understanding.zoe⁠⁠

Our Brand-new Upcoming Webinar!Don’t miss my live webinar Unmasking ADHD in Women on 20th October at 7 pm AEST. This masterclass is for ADHDers/AuDHDers, and those supporting and real allies of neurokin.

Plus as a loyal listener of the podcast use the code EARLYBIRD15 for $15 off for a limited time.🎟️ Grab your ticket here: ⁠⁠https://www.johannabadenhorst.com/unmaskingadhdautism

Takeaways

• Letitia Andrac is the co-founder and CEO of Understanding Zoe.

• Understanding Zoe is an AI-powered app for neurodivergent children.

• Letitia discovered her ADHD and autism through her daughter’s assessment.

• Labelling can help children feel understood and supported.

• Community support is crucial for parents of neurodivergent children.

• The app was designed to reduce the cognitive load on parents.

• Caregivers can easily share information through the app.

• Zoe feels safer and more understood at school because of it.

• Homeschooling can provide better socialisation opportunities for some neurodivergent children.

• Parents should connect with others to combat feelings of isolation.

In this solo episode, Johanna Badenhorst discusses the challenges ADHD entrepreneurs, creators and busy parents face with guilt-free rest. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the need for rest, understanding different types of rest, and reframing rest as an essential part of productivity and self-care. Johanna provides practical tips for implementing guilt-free rest rituals and encourages listeners to break free from the hustle culture that often leads to burnout.takeaways

• Many ADHD entrepreneurs struggle with guilt-free rest.
• Perfectionism and unrelenting standards hinder our ability to rest.
• Rest is essential for mental health and productivity.
• Active, creative, sensory, social, and business rest are important.
• Tiny, doable moments of rest can be effective.
• Research shows breaks improve focus and creativity.
• Rest is not selfish; it's a necessary strategy.
• Scheduling rest is crucial for maintaining balance.
• We need to challenge the hustle culture mindset.
• Building a tolerance for stillness is like building a muscle.

📍 Where to Find Us and How to Work with Psychologist & Coach Johanna Badenhorst

• 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.adhdherway.com⁠⁠⁠

  📧 Contact: ⁠⁠⁠hello@adhdherway.com⁠⁠⁠

  📱 Instagram & Tiktok: @psychologistjohanna and @adhdherwaykeywordsADHD, entrepreneurs, guilt-free rest, mental health, self-care, burnout, productivity, perfectionism, work-life balance, creative restsummary

In this episode of ADHD Her Way, Johanna interviews psychologist Melissa Beaton, who shares her insights on the intersection of ADHD, emotional regulation, and breath work. They discuss the importance of integrating somatic tools in therapy, the complexities of neurodivergence, and the transformative power of breath work in emotional awareness and regulation. Melissa emphasizes the need for vulnerability in therapy and the importance of equipping individuals with the right tools to navigate their mental health challenges. The conversation highlights the significance of understanding emotions, particularly anger, and how it can be expressed healthily in relationships.

📍 Where to Find Us

• 🎙 Host: Johanna Badenhorst – ADHD Coach & Podcast Host🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhdherway.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  🛒 ADHD tools + guides: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  📧 Contact: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@adhdherway.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adhdwithjohannab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  
  

  👩‍🍼 Guest: Melissa Beaton

  🌐 Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.zensohouse.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠@zensohouse⁠

takeaways

• Breath work can significantly change physiological responses.
• ADHD brains often struggle with attention and focus.
• Anger is a natural emotion and not inherently violent.
• Emotional awareness is crucial for healing and self-regulation.
• Integrating somatic tools into therapy can enhance outcomes.
• Vulnerability in therapy fosters deeper connections and healing.
• Neurodivergent individuals often need tailored approaches to therapy.
• Breath work can help regulate emotions and reduce anxiety.
• Understanding the unconscious processes can lead to better emotional management.
• Women often feel misunderstood in their emotional expressions, especially anger.

ADHD, neurodivergence, breath work, psychology, emotional regulation, ISTDP, mental health, therapy, somatic tools, women's empowerment

Summary

In this episode, Johanna Badenhorst, coach and Psychologist, discusses the challenges faced by ADHD/AuDHDers when it comes to using planners and organisational systems. She shares her personal experiences with planner graveyards and emphasizes that the issue lies not within the individual but within the systems that are often not designed for ADHD brains. Johanna advocates for a compassionate approach to planning, focusing on energy matching and the importance of recovery. She encourages listeners to redefine their relationship with planning, moving away from shame and towards self-compassion, and to create personalized systems that truly work for them.

✨ The 6-Week Reset and Rise program kicks off on the 27th of August! If you’re ready to ditch the planner shame, break the cycle of overwhelm, and finally create rhythms that stick this is your space. Spots are open now, so grab yours before we begin.

https://www.johannabadenhorst.com/adhdherwayprogram

Takeaways

• Many planners are not designed for ADHD brains.
• It's common to have a planner graveyard filled with unused planners.
• ADHD individuals often struggle with delayed gratification.
• Compassionate planning can lead to better outcomes.
• Energy matching tasks can simplify daily planning.
• Rest should be prioritized in planning.
• Shame around planning can hinder progress.
• Personalized systems are more effective than cookie-cutter solutions.
• Your worth is not tied to productivity metrics.
• Creating supportive communities can help in planning journeys.

ADHD, planning, organization, self-compassion, productivity, energy management, planners, mental health, personal development, recovery

In this episode, Johanna Badenhorst reflects on her journey of podcasting, celebrating her 51st episode while discussing the challenges of consistency, especially for those with ADHD. She delves into the feelings of overwhelm and decision fatigue that often accompany ADHD, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and intentional resets. The conversation explores the neuroscience behind ADHD, particularly the role of dopamine, and how hormonal fluctuations can impact emotional regulation. Johanna introduces the concept of short-term and long-term challenges, highlighting the benefits of body doubling and community support in managing ADHD. Finally, she invites listeners to participate in her Focus and Flow Challenge starting Monday August 4th designed to provide meaningful resets and foster connection within the ADHD community.takeaways

• Celebrating milestones can be a powerful motivator.
• Consistency is a significant challenge for those with ADHD.
• Recognizing overwhelm is crucial for managing ADHD.
• Dopamine plays a key role in motivation and engagement.
• Short resets can help regain clarity and focus.
• Structured challenges can improve ADHD management.
• Body doubling enhances productivity and emotional regulation.
• Community support reduces feelings of isolation.
• Intentional resets can help manage decision fatigue.
• Participating in challenges fosters connection and accountability.

keywords: ADHD, podcasting, decision fatigue, dopamine, emotional regulation, resets, challenges, body doubling, community support, neurodiversitysummary

In this conversation, Johanna and Maddi Parsons from Sweet Spot Health delve into the complex relationship between ADHD, eating disorders, and diet culture. They explore Maddi's personal experiences with ADHD and disordered eating, the impact of neurodivergence on intuitive eating, and the societal pressures surrounding body image. The discussion also highlights the lesser-known ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and its prevalence among neurodivergent folk. Throughout the conversation, we emphasise the importance of understanding and challenging diet culture, advocating for a more compassionate and individualised approach to eating and mental health.

Takeaways- ADHD can significantly impact eating behaviors and disorders.- Neurodivergent individuals often experience unique challenges with food.- Intuitive eating is not just about hunger and fullness cues.- Diet culture perpetuates harmful beliefs about food and body image.- ARFID is a serious condition that goes beyond picky eating.- Dopamine plays a crucial role in eating behaviors for those with ADHD.- Masking can lead to burnout and disordered eating patterns.- Understanding one's own body and cues is essential for mental health.- Support from professionals is vital for those with eating disorders.- Challenging societal norms around body image is necessary for healing.

📍 Where to Find Us

• 🎙 Host: Johanna Badenhorst – ADHD Coach & Podcast Host🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.adhdherway.com⁠⁠

  🛒 ADHD tools + guides: ⁠⁠Shop Resources⁠⁠

  📧 Contact: ⁠⁠hello@adhdherway.com⁠⁠

  📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠@adhdwithjohannab⁠⁠

  
  

  👩‍🍼 Guest: Maddi Parsons

  🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.sweetspothealth.co⁠

  ⁠📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠@maddiparsons.dietitian

  🧠 Helpful Links & Support Services

• If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. These supports can help:

  • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): ⁠panda.org.au⁠ | Helpline: 1300 726 306

  • COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence): ⁠cope.org.au⁠

  • Lifeline Australia (24/7 crisis support): ⁠lifeline.org.au⁠ | 13 11 14

  • Beyond Blue: ⁠beyondblue.org.au⁠ | 1300 22 4636

  • ADHD Her Way Free Podcast + Resources: ⁠adhdherway.com