In this conversation, Johanna Badenhorst and Tania Attley delve into the complexities of ADHD and PMDD, exploring Tania's personal and professional journey in psychology. They discuss the definition of PMDD, its emotional and psychological symptoms, and its interaction with ADHD and autism. The conversation highlights the importance of management strategies, the role of hormones, and the significance of communication and support networks for individuals experiencing PMDD. Tania emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to treatment and the value of community and shared experiences in navigating these challenges.

keywords ADHD, PMDD, neurodivergence, mental health, emotional regulation, women's health, psychological support, community, trauma, therapy

takeaways Tania Attley has over 10 years of experience in psychology, focusing on neurodivergence and trauma. PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that significantly impacts emotional and psychological well-being. There is a strong relationship between PMDD and neurodivergent conditions like ADHD and autism. Many symptoms of PMDD are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression. Management of PMDD often requires a holistic approach, including therapy, lifestyle changes, and support networks. Communication with partners about PMDD is crucial for understanding and support during difficult phases. Tracking menstrual cycles can help identify patterns and triggers related to PMDD symptoms. Hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in PMDD, but it's not about hormonal imbalance. Building a supportive community can provide validation and shared experiences for those with PMDD. Self-advocacy and education about PMDD are essential for individuals seeking help. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to PMDD and ADHD 02:24 Tania's Professional Journey and Personal Experience 04:22 Understanding PMDD: Definition and Differences from PMS 06:31 The Spectrum of PMDD: Severity and Symptoms 09:08 The Interaction of PMDD with ADHD and Autism 11:25 Current Treatment Options and Management Strategies 12:13 The Role of Community and Support Networks 12:54 The Importance of Tracking Cycles and Hormonal Awareness 15:38 Psychological Strategies for Managing PMDD 18:14 The Impact of Lifestyle on PMDD Symptoms 20:55 Navigating Relationships During PMDD 23:18 Final Thoughts and Resources for PMDD Support

In this episode, Johanna talks with clinical psychologist Kirstin Bouse about the intersection of menopause and ADHD. They explore the often-overlooked symptoms that women experience during perimenopause, how hormonal changes impact mental health, and the overlap between ADHD and menopausal symptoms. Kirstin shares practical lifestyle changes and self-care strategies, emphasizing the importance of education and support for women during this phase. The episode also touches on the benefits of menopause hormone therapy as part of a comprehensive approach to managing symptoms.

You can find Kirsten on: @allabouthercentre and Allabouthercentre.com.au

Key words:

menopause, perimenopause, ADHD, mental health, hormone therapy, women's health, self-care, psychological support, lifestyle changes, education summary Key take aways: Perimenopause can begin in your late 30s. Many women experience significant symptoms during perimenopause. Hormonal changes can greatly impact mental health and well-being. ADHD symptoms can overlap with perimenopausal symptoms. Education about menopause is crucial for both women and healthcare providers. Lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms of perimenopause. Menopause hormone therapy can alleviate many symptoms. Self-care is essential during this transitional phase. Women often feel lost during perimenopause due to hormonal changes. Support from informed professionals can make a significant difference.

Summary

In this conversation, Johanna discusses the intersection of ADHD and imposter syndrome, particularly focusing on the experiences of women. She highlights the internal struggles faced by those with ADHD, the societal pressures that lead to masking behaviors, and the importance of self-identification in the journey towards understanding and managing ADHD. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-validation and the challenges of seeking external support, while also addressing the unique experiences of women diagnosed later in life.

Takeaways

- ADHD Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by those with ADHD.

- Many women experience a significant internal struggle with ADHD, often feeling like they are paddling hard beneath the surface.

- Imposter syndrome can lead individuals to doubt their own experiences and struggles with ADHD.

- Masking symptoms is common among women with ADHD due to societal pressures.

- Perfectionism can delay diagnosis and exacerbate feelings of inadequacy.

- Self-identification with ADHD is valid and important, even without a formal diagnosis.

- Seeking help is a crucial step towards empowerment and self-acceptance.

- Women often report higher levels of imposter syndrome, especially with late ADHD diagnoses.

- The journey of understanding ADHD can be validating and empowering with the right support.

- Trusting one's own feelings and experiences is essential in the journey of managing ADHD.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding ADHD and Imposter Syndrome

03:31 The Masking Dilemma in Women with ADHD

07:59 Perfectionism and Its Impact on Diagnosis

09:26 Self-Validation vs. External Proof

12:42 Empowerment Through Self-Identification

13:54 Outro

In this episode of ADHD Her Way, Johanna sits down with Amy Sketcher, a psychologist specialising in neurodivergence in children and adolescents. Amy works with kids aged 3 to 12, and explains how she uses play therapy as a non-directive, therapeutic tool to help them navigate challenges. She shares how ADHD can present differently depending on age—younger children may exhibit hyperactivity and impulsivity, while older kids and teens may face struggles with inattention, time management, and anxiety.

Amy and Johanna emphasise the unmet potential of kids with ADHD and the impact of their struggles with self-esteem and expectations. The conversation also delves into the coexistence of ADHD and specific learning disorders (SLD), highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to better support children and families. They tackle common misconceptions about ADHD, and Amy shares practical advice on the supports parents and schools can provide, including accommodations, targeted interventions, and helpful resources.

You can find Amy Sketcher here: https://www.seasonsalliedhealth.com/about-us⁠ and @amysketcher_psychologist!

Also check out their brand new resources and upcoming training and workshops.

Follow @adhdwithjohannab and contact us via hello@holisticwellnesspsychology.com.au. We love to hear from you!

Also visit: ⁠⁠www.holisticwellnesspsychology.com.au⁠⁠ to get access to free ADHD guides, blogs and information on how to work with me.

Key takeaways:

• ADHD presents differently depending on age—younger kids may show hyperactivity and impulsivity, while older children and teens may struggle more with inattention and anxiety.
• Play therapy is a powerful tool for helping younger children express and process emotions.
• Kids with ADHD often have unmet potential and face self-esteem challenges, but early diagnosis and intervention can unlock their abilities.
• ADHD and specific learning disorders (SLD) often coexist, making it crucial to provide tailored support at home and in school.
• Misconceptions about ADHD still persist, but parents and schools can play a significant role in offering accommodations and targeted interventions.

Sound Bites

"Play therapy is where toys become the words and play is the language of communication"

"Kids with ADHD often have unmet potential and struggle to meet expectations"

"Kids with ADHD often say things they don't mean in heightened emotional states"

"All Dogs Have ADHD book great because I can use it with reading the book and also real life examples of things that Augie does that are very ADHD"

"The Rainbow Brain and The Brain Forest are great, not just for those who are neurodivergent, but all kids, because it gives a bit of an introduction to what different neurotypes look like"

"Tracy Moroney's picture books that talk about feelings and how to manage them can be helpful in understanding their feelings and emotions"

In this conversation, Johanna Badenhorst discusses the importance of embracing opportunities, celebrating small wins, and the impact of positive reinforcement on mental health, particularly for those with ADHD. She reflects on her podcast journey, cultural perspectives on achievement, and practical ways to practice gratitude and self-compassion. The conversation emphasizes the need for neurodivergent individuals to recognise their accomplishments and foster self-esteem,trust and confidence.

Takeaways

• ADHD minds can achieve remarkable things through hyper-fixation.

• Celebrating small wins is crucial for self-esteem and motivation.
• Positive reinforcement can significantly impact mental health.
• Reflecting on achievements helps build confidence and identity.
• Cultural attitudes towards success can affect self-perception.
• Gratitude practices can enhance overall well-being.
• Self-compassion is essential for overcoming self-criticism.
• Recognizing small accomplishments fosters resilience.
• Creating a reward system can motivate progress.
• Practicing gratitude regularly reinforces positive thinking.

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Small Wins

01:38 Reflection on Podcast Journey

05:26 Cultural Perspectives on Achievement

08:46 The Link Between Gratitude and Celebration

12:36 Practical Strategies for Celebrating Wins

18:31 Outro ADHD Her Way podcast .mp3

Summary

In this conversation, Johanna interviews Amanda Moses, a psychologist who specializes in ADHD and autism assessments for adults. They discuss Amanda's background and passion for this work, the importance of self-care for professionals in the helping profession, the process of diagnosing ADHD and autism, the misconceptions and overlap between the two conditions, and the challenges faced by individuals with high masking or internalized presentations. Strategies for managing ADHD and autism are discussed, including building compensatory strategies, embracing strengths, and practicing self-compassion. The conversation also addresses the misconception that trauma can explain ADHD and autism, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis and appropriate support. The importance of preventing and managing autistic burnout is highlighted, along with the value of understanding and accommodating sensory issues.

For Amanda's clinical resources use the code 'johannabadenhor' for a discount. https://www.amandamosespsychology.com.au/clinicalresources Also check her out on Instagram and Tiktok @amandamosespsychology

Follow @adhderway and contact us via hello@holisticwellnesspsychology.com.au. We love to hear from you!

Also visit: ⁠⁠www.holisticwellnesspsychology.com.au⁠⁠ to get access to free ADHD guides, blogs and information on how to work with me.

Keywords

ADHD, autism, assessment, diagnosis, high masking, internalized presentation, misconceptions, overlap, psychologists, ADHD, autism, neurodiversity, contradictory traits, identification, managing, compensatory strategies, strengths, self-compassion, trauma, autistic burnout, sensory issues

Takeaways

Psychologists specializing in ADHD and autism assessments for adults should stay up to date with research and guidelines to provide accurate and affirming assessments.

Transparency about the assessment process and fees is important for both psychologists and psychiatrists.

High masking or internalized presentations of ADHD and autism may not display stereotypical observable traits, but individuals still experience the same constellation of traits internally.

ADHD and autism are distinct neurotypes that often coexist, and it is important to assess both together to provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual's experiences.

Misconceptions and stereotypes about ADHD and autism can lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis, and it is crucial to seek information from individuals with lived experience.

Cognitive assessments, such as intelligence tests, are not necessary for diagnosing ADHD in adults and may perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Psychologists have a responsibility to provide assessments that are relevant and necessary, and to avoid exploitative practices.

The DSM-5 allows for the diagnosis of both ADHD and autism, and many individuals may have been previously misdiagnosed or undiagnosed due to the previous guidelines.

Living with both ADHD and autism can feel like living with two different paradoxes, as the two conditions have distinct characteristics and experiences. ADHD and autism have contradictory traits that can make identification and understanding challenging.

Strategies for managing ADHD include building compensatory strategies, embracing strengths, and practicing self-compassion.

The misconception that trauma can explain ADHD and autism should be challenged, and accurate diagnosis and appropriate support are crucial.

Preventing and managing autistic burnout is important, and understanding and accommodating sensory issues is essential.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:19 Passion for ADHD and Autism Assessments

06:42 Challenges of High Masking and Internalized Presentations

11:59 Co-Occurrence of ADHD and Autism

21:03 Misconceptions and Overlap between ADHD and Autism

24:38 Living with Contradictory Neurotypes

25:07 The Challenges of Identifying Autism and ADHD

44:08 Strategies for Managing and Thriving

49:26 Embracing Neurodiversity

Dr Emma DeCicco and Johanna discuss schema therapy and providing neuro-affirming therapy. Emma shares her personal journey with ADHD and how it has influenced her work as a psychologist. They discuss the importance of understanding core needs and how they relate to schemas and modes in schema therapy.

The conversation explores the concept of schemas and coping modes in the context of neurodivergent individuals. It discusses how neurodivergent individuals may have different expectations and ways of functioning compared to neurotypical individuals. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding and accepting these differences rather than trying to conform to neurotypical norms. It also emphasizes the need for sustainable coping strategies and the potential impact of medication on coping modes. The inner critic is identified as a common coping mode for neurodivergent individuals. In this conversation, Emma and Johanna discuss the different modes in schema therapy, including critic modes, healthy modes, coping modes, and vulnerable modes.

They also discuss the concept of self-compassion and how it can be integrated into schema therapy. Emma shares information about the neurodiversity affirming schema therapy model and resources available for clinicians and individuals interested in learning more.

Keywords

bios, disingenuous, schema therapy, neuro-affirming therapy, ADHD, psychologist, core needs, schemas, modes, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, schemas, coping modes, neurodivergent, neurotypical, expectations, functioning, differences, acceptance, sustainable coping, medication, inner critic, schema therapy, modes, critic modes, healthy modes, coping modes, vulnerable modes, self-compassion, neurodiversity affirming, neurodivergent, therapy model

Sound Bites

"You can have the most pristine, amazing looking cake ever. And for a neurodivergent person, like as we were saying at the beginning, it might be heavily masked and it's not sustainable and they're using all their ingredients every single day and then they're going to end up with nothing left."

"We want to understand when we're masking, we want to understand why and how it's either helpful or not helpful and then be selected exactly, be selected and how we're using that so that we don't end up completely burning out or losing our sense of self along the way."

"We've got different categories of modes... critic modes, healthy modes, coping modes, and vulnerable modes."

"These critic modes make predictions around what other people are going to think about us or how they might treat us in order to keep us safe."

"We're starting to bring a lens of self-compassion to these experiences and starting to really learn different ways to interact with ourselves and therefore the environment as well."

Summary In this conversation, Clinical Psychologist Lil Desille and Developmental psychologist Johanna Badenhorst discuss various topics related to ADHD, sex, intimacy, and relationships. They explore the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in maintaining intimate connections, including difficulties in communication, sensory differences, and navigating boundaries. Annelil shares her personal journey and how it has influenced her work as a clinical psychologist. They also discuss the different types of intimacy, such as physical, emotional, sensual, and spiritual, and the importance of creating emotional safety in relationships. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for more research, support, and understanding in the field of neurodivergent relationships and intimacy. In this conversation, Annelil Desille discusses the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in relationships and offers insights and advice for navigating intimacy and communication. She emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and finding neurokin, like-minded individuals who understand and support neurodivergent experiences. Annelil also shares information about her retreats for neurodivergent couples and the holistic approach she takes in helping them strengthen their relationships. She encourages newly diagnosed individuals to take their time with the process and find support in online communities. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for understanding, acceptance, and self-care in neurodivergent relationships. Find Lil and her retreat here: https://www.neurokinnection.com.au/retreats and on instagram @neurokinnection

Takeaways

• Neurodivergent individuals face unique challenges in maintaining intimate connections, including difficulties in communication, sensory differences, and navigating boundaries.
• Creating emotional safety is crucial in fostering physical intimacy and navigating the challenges faced by neurodivergent couples.
• There are different types of intimacy, including physical, emotional, sensual, and spiritual, and each plays a role in neurodivergent relationships.
• Therapy and support can be instrumental in helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of neurodivergent relationships and intimacy.
• More research, understanding, and support are needed in the field of neurodivergent relationships and intimacy. Navigating relationships as a neurodivergent individual can be challenging, but finding neurokin and building a support network can be helpful.
• Self-compassion is crucial for neurodivergent individuals, and taking the time to process and accept a diagnosis is important.
• Annelil Desille's retreats for neurodivergent couples provide a safe and supportive space to explore intimacy, communication, and relationship dynamics.
• It is important to find balance and engage in self-care practices to maintain mental health and well-being.
• Understanding and acceptance from family members and loved ones may not always be immediate, but finding support in like-minded communities can be beneficial.

Sound Bites

• "It's less about the time, the effort, the energy, the kids, and then the balance of those things. Like those definitely play a large role, but it's more neurodivergent specific."
• "There are so many different kinds of intimacy. So physical, which doesn't have to just incorporate sexual."
• "The prioritization of [sex and intimacy] comes later. So I've got quite a few couples that I've reached in the stage where we're quite comfortable with the emotional stuff. So now we're onto the physical and navigating physical limits, boundaries, desires, and fantasies."
• "Navigating different social and sexual climates."
• "There are so many nuances and specific things that we actually do struggle with."
• "It's about finding ways to cultivate a safe and healthy relationship."