We explore Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), an intense emotional reaction to perceived rejection or criticism commonly experienced by people with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. We share personal stories about how understanding RSD has helped us recognize when we're experiencing it and develop healthier responses to perceived rejection.

• RSD causes intense emotional pain in response to perceived criticism or rejection
• Fear of rejection can lead to avoiding social interactions and difficulty maintaining relationships
• People pleasing behaviours often develop as a protection strategy against potential rejection
• Understanding RSD helps in recognizing when you're experiencing it and challenging your perception and response
• Progress comes through self-awareness, self-compassion, and recognizing others' actions aren't usually intended to affect you badly
• Parenting presents unique RSD challenges when children assert independence or show affection differently
• Workplace exclusion can trigger RSD but understanding your neurodiversity helps reframe these experiences
• Mel Robins' "Let Them" theory helps de-centre yourself from others' actions and choices

Join us next time for more honest conversations about navigating life as neurodivergent parents.

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Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We dive deep into the rollercoaster of ADHD parenting, from school refusal crises to chaotic hospital visits, while also exploring how hormones and PMDD can devastate our mental health.

• Gen shares her daughter's escalating school refusal that culminated in her unlocking school gates and running into traffic
• Dealing with physical aggression and bites from children during meltdowns
• The chaos of managing two children with different needs during a hospital emergency
• Building a healthier relationship with your own ADHD parent as an adult
• Claire discusses her debilitating depression caused by PMDD and perimenopause
• How HRT helps manage symptoms but finding the right hormone balance is challenging
• The value of resilience and knowing that even the darkest moments will eventually pass
• Finding moments of joy through music, connections, and understanding our unique needs

Remember, Sisters in Chaos - we're in this together!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

Claire and Gen discuss Chris Packham's BBC documentary "Inside Our ADHD Minds," sharing how it portrays the lived experience of ADHD through the stories of two individuals with the condition.

• Documentary follows Henry (diagnosed as a child) and Jo (diagnosed late in life) as they create films to help their loved ones understand ADHD
• Henry's film portrayed ADHD as a character bombarding him with distractions, using ball pit balls as metaphors for competing thoughts
• Jo's late diagnosis led to grief and anger about opportunities missed without proper understanding
• We both related deeply to the challenges of maintaining friendships with ADHD traits like time blindness
• The documentary highlights how "attention deficit" is a misnomer - it's more about attention dysregulation
• The powerful moment when Jo's friend says "You're not too much, I want more of you" resonated strongly with us both
• Packham's empathy despite not having ADHD himself (he has ASD) made the documentary particularly effective
• We highly recommend the documentary as a way to help family and friends understand ADHD experiences

Follow-up documentary about dyslexia also recommended for additional neurodiversity understanding.

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

Another dose of our weekly highs and lows, diving into the physical and emotional toll of health struggles, bureaucratic nightmares, and finding unexpected parenting wins.

• Claire discusses her weight loss journey and the exhaustion from medical treatments affecting her productivity and mental health
• Physical health limitations create additional challenges when managing daily tasks and household responsibilities
• Gen shares a series of bizarre administrative errors where she's "disappeared" from medical systems and appointment records
• The profound impact these errors have on someone with ADHD who already questions their perception of reality
• A parenting win using timer plugs to regulate screen time removes confrontation and battles with her neurodivergent daughter
• Creating alternative activities like "collage club" and outdoor play helped regulate her daughter without screens
• Finding solutions that work with neurodivergent needs rather than against them creates more harmony in the household

Raise a fist... That's it, right?! ... Sisters in chaos!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We introduce our new feature "Voice Notes from the Edge" where listeners can send us voice messages with questions, stories, or ADHD hacks that we'll respond to on the podcast.

• Our first message comes from a listener who's had her ADHD referral lost in the healthcare system
• She asks whether pursuing diagnosis is worth the uphill battle after experiencing system failures
• We discuss how common it is for paperwork to get lost due to underfunded, overstretched healthcare systems
• When you have undiagnosed ADHD, these failures can trigger deep self-doubt and feelings of personal failure
• We both strongly believe diagnosis is worth pursuing despite the obstacles
• Medication can be truly life-changing for many people with ADHD
• Diagnosis provides validation, self-understanding, and access to workplace accommodations
• Practical tips for pursuing diagnosis: set reminders, check progress monthly, consider alternative referral paths
• The importance of persistence when navigating healthcare systems that weren't designed for neurodivergent people

If you'd like to send us a voice note for a future episode, look for our WhatsApp number on our Instagram and in the show notes.

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

Claire's recent recurrent nightmares and a podcast reccomendation have made her want to finally share her deeply personal journey of escaping an abusive relationship decades ago. We talk around the unique vulnerabilities ADHD women face in toxic partnerships.

• ADHD traits can make individuals more susceptible to manipulation and gaslighting
• Early warning signs of abuse include controlling behavior, isolation from friends and family, and financial control
• Abusive relationships often escalate gradually over years, with physical violence sometimes appearing later
• Nightmares and PTSD symptoms can persist long after leaving an abusive relationship
• Fear of being alone, not being believed, or retaliation can keep victims trapped for years
• Speaking to trusted people and reaching out to domestic violence services can help those trying to escape
• Finding yourself again after abuse is possible, and being single can be empowering rather than frightening

If you're experiencing domestic abuse, please contact a national domestic violence helpline for support.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge)

The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect)
The Mix, free information and support for under 25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop)

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

ADHD diagnosis brings initial relief until the harsh reality sets in – it helps you understand yourself better but doesn't make the struggles disappear. The journey continues with extreme highs and lows, requiring ongoing effort and coping strategies.

• Gen shares that recognizing anxiety as an "unwelcome visitor" rather than part of her identity represents significant growth
• When physical symptoms of anxiety include heightened awareness of your heart and lungs and racing thought patterns
• Anxiety can trigger awareness of other past mental health issues like eating disorders
• Having neurodivergent friends who truly understand you is invaluable for us ADHD parents
• Children with neurodiversity often connect more authentically with other neurodivergent adults
• Even stressful situations (like accidental acrylic paint on rental property steps) can become brilliant bonding experiences for your kids, with the right people

Sisters in Chaos, raise a fist!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We discuss the emotional journey of moving house as a Mum with ADHD, from being stuck in overwhelming clutter to successfully downsizing by 75% into a more functional living space. Frickin WOOOO-HOOOOOOO! YES Claire!!!

• Setting the ambitious goal to eliminate 75% of possessions despite sentimental attachments and hoarding tendencies
• Discovering the surprising ease with which her teenage son adapted to minimalism after years of collecting
• Processing the emotional grief of letting go of cherished mementos and childhood items
• Confronting the "ADHD tax" - finding multiple duplicates of items purchased when originals couldn't be found
• Managing the overwhelming administrative burden of moving while working full-time
• Implementing practical organization systems like color-coded tags for different categories of items
• Experiencing the tremendous improvement in quality of life after downsizing to a more manageable space

The rewards of downsizing far outweigh the pain of the process. Learning to stop filling emotional emptiness with possessions has created space for relaxation and meaningful projects. This is an exciting new chapter for Claire!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx