I Have ADHD Podcast

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #333: Want to Stay Behind Forever? Keep Ignoring Your Capacity

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.
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In today’s episode, we’re talking about ADHD that looks like overwhelmed and under-functioning: when your brain gets so flooded that it can’t prioritize, and instead of choosing a next step… it shuts down.

You’ll learn what overwhelm really is in the context of ADHD (total cognitive, emotional, and/or sensory flooding), why “freeze” can be a very real nervous system response, and how this pattern often develops especially for those who grew up criticized, emotionally unsafe, unsupported, or chronically overwhelmed. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not hyper—I’m stuck,” this episode is for you.

We’ll break down the common pattern: Overwhelm → Freeze → Underfunctioning

Not because you don’t care, but because your system can’t handle the load.

Then we move into gentle, practical ways to “thaw” without bullying yourself:
Name it and accept it (without shame)
Use safe, doable movement to activate your system
Shrink the cognitive load (two essentials, tiny timers, one-minute starts)
Borrow someone else’s brain (ask for help, then obey)
Reduce decisions wherever possible
Practice deep self-compassion as the pathway to change

Finally, we talk about when to get extra support—especially trauma-informed therapy and nervous-system-based approaches like EMDR or somatic work.

Watch this episode on YouTube
Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!
Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343
Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #332: Stop Adding to the Planner Graveyard: One Tool to Improve ADHD Time Blindness NOW

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is part two of our series on dysfunctional families and ADHD.
If last week’s episode felt heavy, emotional, or disorienting, that makes sense. Episode one was about naming reality—and naming reality can stir grief, anger, relief, or all three. But we can’t change what we’re not willing to name.

Today, we answer the next (and crucial) question:
If that’s dysfunction… what does health actually look like?

Because knowing what you don’t want isn’t enough. You also need a clear picture of what you’re moving toward.

In this episode, I walk you through 10 signs of a healthy, functional family—not perfect families, not calm-all-the-time families, but regulated-enough, repair-focused, emotionally safe-enough families. Yes, even with ADHD.

We talk about:
Why repair—not perfection—is the real difference between healthy and dysfunctional families
What direct communication, emotional attunement, boundaries, and accountability actually look like in real life
How to end parentification and create age-appropriate roles
Why unconditional love, safety, and reliable care matter more than appearances
Small, realistic shifts you can make without shame or perfectionism

This isn’t a pass/fail checklist. It’s about direction, not perfection.
If you’re pausing, noticing, repairing, and setting boundaries—you are already changing the pattern. And that’s how generational cycles end.

Your family can be marked by safety, honesty, connection, and repair. Even with ADHD. Especially with ADHD.

Resources mentioned:
@codependencykate
@timfletcherco
@sitwithwhit
@benvbennett

Watch this episode on YouTube
Want help with your ADHD? Join FOCUSED!
Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343
Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #331: ADHD Medications: What’s Fact, What’s Fiction, and Why They’re Not “Basically Meth”

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.