Problem solver or problem creator? The ADHD Paradox

I explore a common ADHD paradox I see in myself and the high-performing leaders I support: we’re great at solving problems, partly because we create so many of them. I share a story about dropping a glass bottle of popcorn kernels, and how my 4-year-old’s immediate “that’s your fault” became a teachable moment about checking if someone is okay rather than blaming. I unpack how rushing, dysregulation, clumsiness, poor spatial awareness, and unconsciously creating urgency can lead to daily “micro-crises,” and how shame and self-attack create a loop that increases mistakes. I emphasize the difference between responsibility and self-blame, and how pausing and nervous system regulation reduce chaos without losing our crisis brilliance. I also announce my first small residential ADHD women’s retreat in Sweden, June 12–14, limited to six people.