ADHD reWired

This episode is the recording of March's live Q&A. These Q&A sessions take place the second Tuesday of every month. The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live. I am, once again, joined on this episode by Brendan Mahan. If you're listening to this on the day it is published, you can listen to April's live Q&A at 1:30pm Eastern. Join Brendan Mahan and me as we answer your questions live. You can register at http://ADHDreWired.com/events. In this episode, you will hear Brenden and I answer several listener questions on medication, managing emotions at the end of the day, procrastination, cell phone notifications, and much more. Connect with Brendan Mahan ADHD Essentials Podcast You'll Learn: [05:05] - A listener asks if we have learned a new skill lately. I share the importance of hydration and my recent bout of seasonal affective disorder. Brendan talks about his learning experiences with podcasting. [11:16] - Another listener asks about guanfacine, a non-stimulant form of ADHD medication. I share that it tends to work with a stimulant medication. [13:33] - Elise asks about activities with strict structure. Brendan explains why he shys away from these types of activities. I address the individuality of strategies. [17:40] - Jessica asks about managing emotions later in the day when multiple family members have ADHD. We share some of our experiences and Brenden provides us with some strategies. [23:35] - David asks about managing evening routines when medication has worn off. Brenden and I share some thoughts on this situation. [32:58] - Rob asks about forming in-person support groups with other adults with ADHD in their lives. I share some resources to help make this happen. [37:05] - We discuss Elise's follow-up question about bad habits. [40:00] - A listener asks us to discuss procrastination. I suggest the I Procrastinate Podcast. [45:45] - A listener struggles with being assertive and asks for some techniques. [48:08] - We field the question, "Does turning off notifications apply to calendar notifications?" I explain my answer, "It depends." [52:40] - A listener asks for resources on the neural anatomy involved with their ADHD. We share several ADHD resources. [55:37] - A listener asks about people with ADHD finding themselves in difficult financial situations. [1:01:45] - We end the episode with the question, "Does Harry Potter have ADHD?" Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group We are trying something a little different with our ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group this summer. This summer, I'll be hosting our first 8-week intensive, called "One Big Thing." These groups will fill up quickly. For more information, go to http://coachingrewired.com. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Joining me on this episode are Jessica McCabe and Edward Newton. Jessica is the creator of the extremely popular and successful How To ADHD YouTube Channel. She recently did a Ted Talk that has over 10 million views! Edward has a background in television production and has played a large role in the success of How To ADHD. On this episode, you will hear Jessica and Edward talk about how How To ADHD has grown since they were last on the podcast. They also share the backstory behind her Ted Talk, including how the talk was put together and executed. Jessica has also organized a grassroots campaign in response to the Netflix documentary, "Take Your Pills." We discuss why this film isn't accurate and does a disservice to those who would benefit from ADHD medication. Connect with Jessica McCabe and Edward Newton How To ADHD Website How To ADHD YouTube Channel How To ADHD Patreon You'll Learn: [05:07] - Jessica talks about being asked to do a Ted Talk. [07:32] - Jessica started How To ADHD about a year into their relationship. Edward stepped in to share his expertise with video production. [09:30] - Jessica shares how Edward helped craft the ending of her Ted Talk. [11:10] - Edward tells his version of the Ted Talk story. They admit to writing the second half of the talk on the plane. [16:55] - Jessica explains how time restrictions impacted her talk. [17:59] - Jessica describes what it was like to see a million views a day on her video. [20:58] - Since the last time she came on the podcast, Jessica and Edward have been able to go full-time with How To ADHD. [25:18] - We discuss some ADHD cooking tips. [28:00] - With around 100 videos completed, Jessica shares how their videos are evolving. [35:37] - Jessica and Edward talk about his ADHD characteristics and diagnosis. [38:53] - We talk about the Netflix documentary on the abuse of ADHD medication, Take Your Pills. [41:46] - Jessica explains that this production is painting everyone with a broad brush and did not draw a distinction between people diagnosed and appropriately prescribed medication and those who may have been abusing it. [45:29] - Jessica and Edward talk about how this film misrepresented ADHD meds and compared it to meth. [47:25] - Jessica talks about her response to this film, including the hashtag #ITakeMyPills. [49:40] - We talk about the idea that medication should be a last resort, and how this is not what the research says. We also discuss how safe these medications are. [54:43] - I share that my brain is like a clock and how it operates differently with and without medications. Jessica shares the positive effects of her starting medication. [56:35] - Jessica describes her grassroots campaign to change public perception of ADHD medication. [1:00:17] - Jessica shares how you can tell your own story about meds helping you. [1:05:28] - I share that this is the 4-year anniversary with ADHD reWired. [1:08:18] - Jessica shares how much time they invest in each video. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. If you would like to join the waiting list for our spring season, schedule a call with me at http://CoachingReWired.com. The spring session begins April 9th. Our summer session begins July 9th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

James Ochoa returns to the podcast this week. James is a licensed professional counselor, author of Focus Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD. He is the founder and director of The Life Empowerment Center in Austin, Texas. James offers action-focused counseling and executive coaching to help his clients discover ways to empower themselves in areas of their lives. His passion is treating the emotional distress of ADHD, so clients can begin to build internal worlds in their imagine to manage their attention challenges. For the past 27 years, his passion has been to transform how society understands and treats the diagnosis of ADHD. By standing in the fire with his clients, he has helped them find ways to live powerfully in the midst of their storms while managing his own ADHD. Jules Ochoa is 22-years-old, and currently pursuing a masters degree in psychology with the intention of working with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. He is self-taught in the world of podcasting and audio engineering. He produces and co-writes the new podcast series, The Complex. On this episode, you will hear the second episode of James' and Jules' podcast, The Complex. We play "Ok, stop" and interrupt the episode to talk share some thoughts on what is happening in that particular episode. Connect with James and Jules Ochoa The Complex Podcast JamesOchoa.com You'll Learn: [07:05] - Jules describes the podcast he has been working on with James, The Complex. [08:10] - Jules talks about working on a creative project with his father. [11:41] - We play "OK Stop" with on of Episode #2 of The Complex. [15:58] - I share that this particular story rings true with my life experience. James explains why this story feels real. [18:07] - When I first listened to this, it struck some shame triggers. James talks about the balance they try to strike with this podcast. Jules says that one aim of the podcast is to help people that don't have ADHD relate to people in their lives that do have ADHD. [24:18] - Jules explains why they made some creative decisions with one of the characters. [26:30] - Jules shares how the audio demonstrates that someone with ADHD can jump tasks and orientations. He says that this is one of the most confusing aspects of ADHD for other people. [36:53] - We pick back up with the episode after our break. [37:22] - I share that I really liked the description a character used in the episode. [41:10] - I talk about a meditation practice, "Welcome to the Party." [46:16] - Jules explains why the story may take a route to help address another area of ADHD. James lists the different types of issues and areas of disruption covered in the podcast. [51:10] - James shares one of the things that was difficult with the creation and writing process of the podcast. [52:51] - Jules talks about playing the role of the son of James, an ADHD expert. James shares his feelings on that topic, too. [1:02:10] - James talks about how podcasts and community can turn the tide of understanding and living with ADHD. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. If you would like to join the waiting list for our spring season, schedule a call with me at http://CoachingReWired.com. The spring session begins April 9th. Our summer session begins July 9th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

This episode is the recording of February's live Q&A. These Q&A sessions take place the second Tuesday of every month. The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live. I am, once again, joined on this episode by Brendan Mahan. In this conversation, you will hear several listener questions. This month, a lot of these conversations involved medication. We also talk about employment and recovering from a loss of employment. These Live Q&A's are a great opportunity for you to get your questions answered. The sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. You'll Learn: [02:19] - Brendan shares how things are going with his podcast, ADHD Essentials. [04:16] - Jane asks what Patreon is. This gives me an opportunity to talk about the unique opportunity you have to support this podcast. [06:41] - Sue was recently let go at her job. She tells some of her story and asks for advice on employment and recovering from this disappointment. [21:20] - Samantha asks about focusing on ADHD and coaching instead of general psychotherapy. [32:22] - A listener asks for tips on keeping up with laundry. Brendan and I share a few ideas to help with this "im-bore-tant" task. [41:32] - Chris asks about medication for adults with ADHD. We talk about how we have a responsibility as consumers to take valuable information on medication to our medical professionals. [44:23] - While we're on the topic of medication, I mention a thread from our Facebook community. Robin asked what the optimal dose of medication should feel like. I share that when I found the right dosage, I felt "normal." I read a few responses from the thread. [50:14] - Katie joins us live to ask for suggestions for remembering tasks and keeping the same drive at work that she has at home. This leads to a discussion on medication and some routines Katie could implement. [58:53] - Sheila asks about higher correlation within "The Four A's." [1:00:34] - David shares that he was about to be fired and he realized it was because of his ADHD. We talk about the coaching he received, and the struggles he's continued to experience. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

If you're expecting to hear last month's live Q&A, I've changed the plan. I really want to share a conversation with Marisol Salizar. Marisol is one of the members of our Coaching and Accountability Group, and I think when it comes to finding what really matters in life, and creating healthy boundaries between work, family, and play, the progress that she has made can be inspirational for all of us who really struggle with this balance, especially when we are fortunate enough to love the work that we do. Marisol is a wife, a mom, and a biology professor. She made it through her whole academic career not knowing she had ADHD. Like many undiagnosed women, she hit 40 with a full-time career, a husband, two kids (one recently diagnosed with ADHD), a house, a geriatric cat, and several dead plants. She just couldn't juggle it anymore. Luckily, her daughter's psychiatrist advised her not to quit her job before coming in for an evaluation. In this conversation, you will hear Marisol share her successes, her struggles, and her story. Marisol talks about her diagnosis, "parenting herself," and some of the strategies she has implemented. Marisol explains why she decided to join the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability group, and what she has gained from participating. You'll Learn: [05:19] - Marisol tells her ADHD story. She talks about being overwhelmed and the feeling of failure, and the impact that was having on her career. [09:33] - Marisol expected her evaluation results to show one thing, but she explains why the results surprised her. [10:22] - After starting her prescription, Marisol experienced an "astounding" semester. [11:18] - Marisol talks about introducing strategies to work hand-in-hand with her medication. She shares what drew her to the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group. [13:30] - Marisol explains that parenting her daughter she was parenting herself. [15:56] - Marisol describes her husband's reaction to the news that she has been diagnosed with ADHD, and wanted to join the Coaching and Accountability Group. [19:30] - Marisol talks about her interview with me to join the group. [21:20] - There is power in a group and the power of "me too." Marisol describes this feeling. [22:47] - Marisol explains what she hoped to get out of the group. [26:29] - Balancing work and home life was something that Marisol identified as a major issue. [29:30] - Marisol describes her time-blocking strategies, and how they've changed. [33:33] - Marisol talks about battling with perfectionism. [39:23] - Marisol talks about the mind map she created. She explains how she aims to keep work at work, and home at home. [48:45] - Marisol talks about the layers of her personal life goal cake. [54:28] - Marisol says that one her takeaways from the group was "friendship." [1:00:13] - Marisol talks about the difference in her planning since she's joined the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group. [1:06:27] - Marisol has a message for those of you considering joining the Coaching and Accountability Group. Your Resources: Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Early registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. To learn more and schedule your interview, http://CoachingReWired.com. Registration is open through March 15th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Jamie Popernack is a recovering achievement addict living a fiercely simple life with her husband and daughter. Jamie is a public health educator who works at a crisis program. She has a lot of love for the ADHD tribe. In this conversation, you will hear Jamie explain the idea of achievement addictions. She shares how she fell into that trap. She was hustling for her self-worth and doing things because she had to and it looked good. Her motivation was no longer to help people, but to make herself feel good. One of the ways Jamie combats this achievement addiction is living what she calls a "fiercely simple life." Jamie also tells about her career, working suicide prevention. She shares some insight into this year. She says, "You can't prevent suicide without talking about it." Connect with Jamie Popernack Website - JamiePopernack.com You'll Learn: [06:44] - Jamie explains that she is coming on the podcast because of a dare. [07:42] - Although she wasn't a perfectionist, Jamie feels that she is a recovering achievement addict. She shares what this means to her. [09:42] - Jamie shares her ADHD story. [11:50] - Jamie says that her achievement addiction started in college. [12:55] - Jamie shares some of her "epically messy" weaknesses and a forgetfulness story from college. [14:56] - Being hospitable and community drives her to want to improve. [17:05] - Jamie talks about some of the labels that have been attached to her over the years. [19:33] - Jamie explains the concept of living a "fiercely simple" life. [24:55] - Jamie describes how she approaches her day. It starts with meditation and prayer. She shares how she deals with time. [26:22] - Jamie shares her experience of working in a restaurant. [28:55] - Jamie talks about the support she receives from her husband. [31:17] - Jamie takes us back to the roots of her achievement addiction. [40:08] - After college, Jamie ended up working in the disability community. She shares her goals of learning how to love and learning how to be still. [47:30] - Jamie describes her current job, working in suicide prevention. [52:28] - Jamie explains that you need self-love to be able to help people. [52:22] - Jamie encourages individuals struggling with thoughts of suicide to reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-2255. [54:18] - Jamie suggests if you are concerned about someone's well being, you should ask directly about suicide. [56:28] - There are red flags with suicide and Jamie says she doesn't understand the statement, "that's just a cry for help." [57:10] - Jamie explains why sometimes her ADHD works to her advantage in her work. [59:45] - Jamie claims she would rather give birth than do paperwork. This leads to a discussion on what she learned about ADHD from childbirth. [1:04:48] - Jamie experienced conscious surrender, and that led to stillness. She talks about letting go in labor and carrying that with her in life. [1:09:53] - In this conversation, Jamie said that she'd like to start a blog. I put my coaching hat on and push her on this a little. Your Resources: Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess - Rachel Hoffman Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Early registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. To learn more and schedule your interview, http://CoachingReWired.com. Registration is open through March 15th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Kwame Dougan is an attorney by training, an investor by experience, and an advisor by design. He earned his Juris Doctor from Columbia University and a Master of Science from London School of Economics, attending as a rotary ambassadorial scholar. Previously, Kwame practiced commercial litigation with a global law firm. His journey overcoming poverty and an undiagnosed learning disability has been documented in various publications and is the subject of a Ted Talk. In 2015, Kwame was honored as a trailblazer by the National Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division. In this conversation, you will hear Kwame describe his background as a refugee from Ghana who grew up in Canada. He talks about his unique experiences as a black man in China. Kwame went through a lot of personal growth in China, and he explains why he felt successful in his time there. Kwame was diagnosed in 2006, and until that point, he had been thriving in chaos and learning in a state of drowsiness. Kwame is intentional and thoughtful and I think you'll enjoy this conversation. Connect with Kwame Dougan kwame.dougan@scotchpalm.com Kwame Dougan on LinkedIn You'll Learn: [08:35] - Born in Ghana, Kwame grew up in Canada. He shares his childhood story and explains how technology led to him not being diagnosed. [11:50] - Kwame talks about his education history and the testing that identified some of his strengths, weaknesses, and diagnoses. [17:20] - Kwame shares that he has also been diagnosed with sleep apnea. He shared how he learned to learn in a state of drowsiness. [21:33] - Kwame survived a fire in China, and he shares this story of this situation. [27:25] - Kwame talks about being black in China. [34:06] - Kwame explains why he felt successful during his time in China. [41:11] - We talk about attention, focusing, and leaving a trail of crumbs. [45:00] - Kwame talks about how ADHD helps him encourage creativity with his daughter. [46:45] - Algorithms to Live By is something that made sense to Kwame. He explains why. [49:43] - Kwame talks about his intuition when it comes to a specific task that needs to be accomplished. [53:20] - We talk about the concept of satisficers and maximizers. [55:13] - Kwame shares that he was a successful nightclub promoter when he was in school. [57:24] - Kwame says that the death rate is 100%, so we know what's going to happen. He talks about leaving a legacy by having a logical approach. [1:01:03] - Kwame talks about being black with ADHD and creating your own path. Your Resources: Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions - Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Early registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. To learn more and schedule your interview, http://CoachingReWired.com. Registration is open through March 15th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. ADHD Women's Palooza If you missed the ADHD Women's Palooza, don't worry. They recorded all 33 sessions in audio and video, and they are available for purchase. Go to http://ADHDreWired.com/palooza for more information. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Logan Nelson joins me on this episode of the podcast. Logan is the creator of Scratch Your Own Itch Podcast, where he inspires and motivates listeners to scratch your own itch so that you can grow personally and professionally. He is a performance enhancement expert and published author on thrive global. Logan graduated with a BFA in Acting from NIU, and is now sharing his story and his "why." In this conversation, you will hear Logan explain his why. Logan opens up about body dysmorphia, the fear of failure, and a suicide attempt. After that suicide attempt. Logan spent seven days in isolation, and those experiences have led Logan to the work that he's doing now. Connect with Logan Nelson: Website - LoganTylerNelson.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/logan.nelson3 Scratch Your Own Itch Podcast You'll Learn: [06:35] - Logan explains his "why." After 8 ½ years, he was not sure he still wanted to be an actor. [09:33] - After a breakup, Logan didn't want to see his own face, and he explains why he felt that way. [10:24] - Logan describes body dysmorphia. [11:30] - Logan shares his struggle with the fear of failure. [12:32] - Logan believes that it's good to joke about suffering. [13:47] - Logan shares that he made the decision to jump off the top of a five-floor parking garage. This has led Logan to the work he's now doing. [17:13] - Disproving a thought right away can help people with anxiety. [19:45] - According to Logan, our stories make up the person that you are. [21:54] - Logan says that scratching your own itch is about being creative, compassionate, curious, and making people feel less alone. [24:18] - Logan asks me to give an example of a time I experienced trauma and turned it into a positive. [32:23] - Logan wonders if the people who have things easy are asking themselves the quality questions that lead to a quality life. [33:47] - Sam Harris is someone Logan believes people should listen to. This leads to a discussion on truth and integrity. [37:42] - Logan says that he reflects on times when he is the happiest. However, he realized these were times when there was gossip. [45:00] - Logan explains how he challenges his inner-dialogue and preconceived ideologies about himself. [49:29] - Logan shares why he feels embarrassed [51:27] - After his suicide attempt, Logan did seven days of isolation. [56:31] - Logan talks about gratitude. [1:00:34] - I read a passage of Brene Brown's Manifesto of the Brave and Brokenhearted. Your Resources: The Waking Up Podcast Brene Brown's Manifesto of the Brave and Brokenhearted Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Early registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. To learn more and schedule your interview, http://CoachingReWired.com. Registration is open through March 15th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. ADHD Women's Palooza If you missed the ADHD Women's Palooza, don't worry. They recorded all 33 sessions in audio and video, and they are available for purchase. Go to http://ADHDreWired.com/palooza for more information. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

This episode is the recording of January's live Q&A. These Q&A sessions take place the second Tuesday of every month. The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live. I am joined on this episode by Brendan Mahan. We cover several different topics on this episode, including questions on prioritization systems, money management, "The Wall of Awful," and much more. Because of Brendan's area of expertise, we also answer a handful of questions on parenting with ADHD and parenting children with ADHD. You'll Learn: [06:15] - ADHD Essentials is now available in all of the places you find podcasts. This podcast is aimed at families that are affected by ADHD. [09:40] - Sara asks about determining the difference between an engaging interest and a lasting passion. [14:50] - Tre asks about prioritization systems. I talk about the idea of block scheduling. [19:39] - We answer a question about the inability to keep going. Brandon talks about the energy we feel when we start tasks, and then we hit "the wall of awful." [23:55] - We discuss a question from someone who wants to know what to do if their spouse is not on board. [28:07] - Sharon and her son are newly diagnosed. She asks for parenting advice for staying on-point. Brendan shares some of his expertise in this area. [35:53] - Brendan and I do an exercise that demonstrates why multitasking kills productivity. [39:38] - Terry asks for tips on getting to bed on time after meds wear off. Brendan talks about the importance of not looking at a computer screen after 6pm. He shares several other tips on lighting, food, and hygiene. [47:32] - David comes on live to share that he has had trouble finding a medication that works properly. We talk about how diet can help manage ADHD symptoms, and I share a few words of caution. [52:34] - A listener asks for advice on ways to focus 1-on-1 attention with children when there are a lot of other things going through your head. Both Brendan and I can relate to this topic. [59:45] - A student asks about functioning without Adderall. I share that I would not be where I am without medication. [1:00:20] - Brendan vows to do a webinar on The Wall of Awful. [1:01:17] - A listener asks how to know if symptoms of anxiety stem from ADHD. [1:02:31] - We discuss how "sometimes the ADHD wins" and the idea of forgetting about consistency and focusing on resiliency. [1:03:52] - A listener asks about an ADHD-friendly money management app. I suggest this person hire it out. [1:04:47] - Multitasking comes back up, and Brendan encourages you to single-task. [1:05:42] - Brendan explains that there's no dopamine in our brains for doing the dishes. Your Resources: Ted Talk: "Why Some of Us Don't Have One True Calling" - Emilie Wapnick TotallyADD.com Understood.org ADHDEssentials.com/essentials/the-wall-of-awful Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Early registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now over. To learn more and schedule your interview, http://CoachingReWired.com. Registration is open through March 15th. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. ADHD Women's Palooza If you missed the ADHD Women's Palooza, don't worry. They recorded all 33 sessions in audio and video, and they are available for purchase. Go to http://ADHDreWired.com/palooza for more information. Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

On this episode, Matt Beardsley joins me in my office. First off, thanks to Matt for giving me the motivation to clean my office! Matt is a husband, father, and friend. In his professional life, he works in technology as a site reliability engineer. Since his diagnosis in April of 2017, Matt has been able to go on a deeper journey of self-discovery, finding along the way, himself and the community he cherishes. In this conversation, you will hear Matt's story. He talks about his academics and emotions as a youth. He explains his love for math and why he sees math as a place for creativity. When Matt was evaluated for ADHD, he was nervous that he would not be diagnosed because, in his research, it seemed to answer so many questions. You will also hear Matt describe some of the tools he uses to be efficient. You'll Learn: [04:28] - Matt shares information on his background, which includes being labeled "sensitive" and being moved back and forth from advanced and standard classes. [12:32] - Matt explains why he found it easier to pay attention in math classes and he says that math has space for a lot of creativity. [14:38] - Matt talks about how numbers are abstract. An example is the fact that zero was not a number until a certain point. [16:45] - Matt looks back on the anxiety he would feel with tasks and the introduction of the "what if" monster. [21:42] - Matt says that, for him, numbers have shapes and feelings. He explains why certain numbers are comfortable and uncomfortable. [25:30] - Matt explains agile methodology and "cracking the code of you." [32:16] - Matt points out that we overestimate our ability to remember. [33:17] - Matt talks about doing a budget. [35:22] - Matt explains that 10% of your effort gets you to 90% of your goal. The remaining 90% of your effort goes to the last 10% of your goal. [37:37] - Matt talks about his routines and some of the adaptations he uses to be efficient. [45:03] - Matt says his commute is the best three hours per day and he shares how he utilizes that time. [50:56] - Matt tells the story of his diagnosis. [1:00:07] - Matt talks about the support and love he receives from his family and the ADHD community. [1:04:25] - Imposter Syndrome is something Matt has encountered. We talk about reframing the situation by saying "Welcome to the party." [1:14:00] - Matt shares what a real apology sounds like. [1:16:49] - Matt talks about "emotional flood" and the loss of control that comes as a result. [1:20:00] - Matt explains that Delivered from Distraction made a lot of sense to him and his wife. [1:22:59] - Matt listened to the first episode of this podcast and my sharing that I felt "normal" after starting medication. He had the realization he had never felt normal. [1:26:00] - Matt describes his first day on medication. [1:38:44] - Matt says that if you want to be good, you have to be the best that you can be. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Early registration of our 12th season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is now open. To learn more and schedule your interview, http://CoachingReWired.com. Early registration pricing is limited to the first 18 people. Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me. With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live! These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm. Go to http://erictivers.com/events. ADHD Women's Palooza I will be one of the presenters at the 3rd annual Women's Palooza! Join me and over 30 other ADHD experts at this conference. This is an online event, and you can catch all of the sessions and the replays. Learn more and register at http://ADHDreWired.com/palooza Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you? Do you have a story? Are you a Coach? Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you'd like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.