Episode Summary:

In episode 10, Gwen and Latrice delve into the importance of community and cultivating relationships, particularly from the perspective of women with ADHD. They explore the challenges of finding a sense of belonging and building friendships in adulthood, especially when balancing personal and professional lives from home. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, they address the complexities of connecting with others and the impact of past traumas on forming new relationships and share insights on navigating the nuances of friendship and community as adults. This episode offers listeners a heartfelt look at the struggles and strategies for finding one's tribe and the value of genuine connections.

Highlights:

• The Challenge of Cultivating Community: Both hosts discuss the difficulties of building and finding a community, especially as adults with ADHD and as women.
• Feeling Like an Outsider: Gwen and Latrice share personal experiences from high school to adulthood, where they felt like they could fit in everywhere but truly belonged nowhere.
• The Role of Trauma in Relationship Building: They explore how past experiences and traumas influence their approach to new relationships, often leading to guardedness and high standards for friendship.
• Guarded Openness to New People: While initially cautious, both hosts express a desire for clean-slate relationships, where past burdens don't overshadow new connections.
• Intimacy Beyond Trauma: They differentiate between sharing personal histories and sharing current emotional states as forms of intimacy in friendships.
• The Importance of Community for Emotional Support: Both emphasize how having even one or two close friends for support can significantly impact mental health and well-being.
• Self-awareness and Expectation Management in Friendships: The episode highlights the importance of understanding oneself and managing expectations in friendships to avoid disappointment.
• Tips for Building Community: Gwen and Latrice suggest being patient, following vibes, and being open to connections without forcing them.