I never thought I’d have a life-changing revelation in the cereal aisle at Walmart, but that’s exactly what happened. As I tried to decide which breakfast option to buy, my thoughts went something like this: I don’t know what to get. I really want Cinnamon Toast Crunch. But I can’t...
The day before our wedding, the entire city of Sydney became blanketed by heavy red dust. I woke up coughing, I could taste dirt in my mouth, and my bedroom was filled with a rusty glow.“Of course the bloody apocalypse would happen the day before my wedding,” I thought to...
Three years ago, I launched the @domesticblisters TikTok channel to serve a neurodiverse audience. Short videos on the channel present strategies for accomplishing daily care tasks. For all the ADHD information swirling around social media, very little addresses how the simple tasks of living are sometimes the hardest for us....
“You’re going to do great things!”“You have so much potential!”“You’re so talented. I see great things in your future!” So many people in my life have directed various versions of these well-meaning yet anxiety-inducing, expectation-laden comments to me during every phase of my academic career. As a gifted child, I...
What’s in your doom pile? I first learned about doom piles from a client during one of our therapy sessions. She told me she was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and she described all the signs and symptoms that led to her diagnosis. That’s when she said two words that changed...
Like most moms, I can clearly recall the moment my baby was first placed into my arms. It was real… She was here! Ten fingers, ten toes, bright eyes, and a cute little mouth with pink, bowed lips. She was perfect. My urge to protect her and offer her the...
Here it comes: another friend giving me the silent treatment. I’ve been here before, but it still feels sudden and raw. It still hurts, though not as much as it did when I went through this as a child. I know what it’s like to have people shut me out,...
Can’t seem to make yourself fall asleep? I often hear individuals with ADHD say things like, “I want to sleep, but my body won’t let me” or, “It’s difficult to turn off my mind so that I can go to sleep.” Sure, keeping a regular wake schedule, expending energy throughout...
When it comes to women, work, and ADHD, it’s impossible to really dig deep without understanding the lingering biases that women and other underrepresented groups face. These biases, combined with the experience of being neurodivergent in a working world not made for them, create a perfect storm for masking, exhaustion,...
Q: “I’m a college junior and always feel overwhelmed. I have so much work to do that I’m always busy, but it feels like I’m not making much progress. When I try to focus, I get distracted or interrupted.” — CollegeJunior Hi CollegeJunior: Have you ever heard the expression “in...
As an educator dedicated to supporting students with ADHD and other learning differences, I’ve delivered many presentations over the years to teachers of students who learn differently. One training session, in particular, stands out. I desperately wanted to effect real change, and I remember putting immense pressure on myself to...
The word “shy” was affixed to my name in preschool, and I never fully shook it loose. It was a term that I internalized and grew to dislike. I felt that shyness kept me from forming close bonds, and people boxed me in by seeing me as such. When I...
Q: “My 15-year-old daughter is doing well enough in school, but it’s always by the skin of her teeth. I know her ADHD is getting in her way. Tests surprise her. She doesn’t seem to know how to prepare or study. What solutions have helped other teens prepare for exams?”—...
On an episode of an ADHD-related podcast I recently heard, the guest shared a familiar backstory — one of lifelong frustration and sweet relief after receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Diagnosed with ADHD in my early 30s, I knew this story all too well. Then, almost nonchalantly, the guest...
Congratulations on becoming a new mom! Here are 10 tips to help you navigate this exciting and challenging time:
Do you feeling tired or drained most of the time? Do you feel like running away? Do you struggle with procrastination? Does it take you longer to get things done these days? These are all signs of burnout, a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that women with ADHD experience...
I played a simple yet rousing guessing game recently that I kept thinking would be great for my students with ADHD and other learning differences. The game has many versions and names, including “Who Am I?” and Guess the Famous Person. We simply know it as the Tape Game. It’s...
We’ve all heard about the increasing role of grandparents in raising children. According to the AARP, in the years from 2000 to 2010, the number of American children living in grandparent-headed households jumped from 1.5 million to 1.9 million. But it turns out that this is not a uniquely human phenomenon....
