Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD

True physical recovery begins only when we stop ignoring the brain's response to chronic pressure and prioritize our own joy.
This is a must listen podcast episode for anyone with adult ADHD experiencing physical symptoms and stress!
Dave sits down with Dr. David Clarke, author of They Can't Find Anything Wrong and president of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms.
Together, they explore the profound connection between high-achieving professionals, ADHD-ish tendencies, and "stress illness." Real, debilitating physical symptoms generated entirely by altered nerve pathways in the brain rather than structural disease.
Dr. Clarke sheds light on the medical blind spot surrounding neuroplastic conditions and reveals how a childhood spent in high-stress "minefields" frequently shapes the overachieving, people-pleasing adult personalities susceptible to burnout.
Ultimately, this insightful conversation highlights how listening to your body's distress signals and intentionally relearning how to pause and play can heal decades of unexplained pain.
Key Discussion Points
Defining Stress Illness: Dr. Clarke clarifies that ailments like migraines, chronic back pain, and GI issues are 100% real, physical conditions triggered by neuroplastic brain pathways rather than localized injury or organ disease.
The Childhood Connection: Many high-achieving adults and individuals with ADHD traits grew up in unpredictable environments where they developed hyper-vigilance and people-pleasing tendencies as survival mechanisms.
The Medical Blind Spot: Standard Western medical training primarily addresses structural issues, leaving both primary care and mental health professionals under-equipped to diagnose brain-generated physical symptoms.
The Necessity of "Finger Paint" Play: High-performers often lose the essential human skill of purposeless play, trapping them on a treadmill of constant achievement until the body protests.
Shifting the Mindset: Healing requires self-respect, acknowledging early life stressors, and taking actionable steps toward recovery through specialized self-assessments and neuroplastic recovery therapies.

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave sits down with Mark Steiner, founder of the powerhouse event marketplace GigSalad.
After receiving a life-changing ADHD diagnosis at age 57, Mark looked back on his journey from a New Jersey theater actor to a highly successful CEO.
They dive deep into the unique mechanics of the ADHD brain in business, exploring how unconventional paths can breed massive professional success.
 Entrepreneurship and ADHD:
The Reality of Late Diagnosis: Mark shares his personal journey of discovering his ADHD later in life after his daughter was diagnosed, highlighting how common it is for adults to finally make sense of their lives decades into their careers.
EQ Over IQ: Mark emphasizes that high emotional intelligence (EQ) and "street smarts" are critical for building a flourishing company culture, far outweighing traditional MBA or textbook knowledge.
Non-Negotiable Systems for Success: To sustain a thriving, bootstrap company for over 20 years, Mark relies on hiring people who complement his weaknesses, delegating autonomy completely, and protecting his calendar for essential solitary decompression time.
·         Build a Culture of Autonomy: Avoid micromanaging your team. Plant the overarching vision, give your employees a "long leash" with plenty of freedom, and act as their ultimate cheerleader while they execute.
·         Acknowledge and Map Your Social Window: Recognize that even if you are an extrovert who thrives at conferences or in boardrooms, you likely have a "four-to-six-week window" before you need dedicated, solitary decompression time to reset.
·         Practice Extreme Self-Mercy: Forgive yourself for the tangents, the oversharing, and the inevitable administrative blemishes. Mark attributes true professional freedom to showing up as your authentic self without "shape-shifting" or masking.
You can find GigSalad here: https://www.gigsalad.com/

Success can make it easy to overlook what's really happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Dave steps away from productivity hacks, planners, and optimization strategies to focus on something even more important.
ADHD awareness.
If you're a busy professional, entrepreneur, executive, or high performer with ADHD, these weekly questions will help you uncover patterns, recognize strengths, and better understand what your brain may be trying to communicate.
In this episode Dave talks about:
Why ADHD can be both a professional advantage and a source of friction at the same time.
How to identify moments when you felt most energized, engaged, and aligned with your strengths.
What it means when you're constantly "fighting your brain" and how to recognize when a system simply isn't working.
The hidden effort and invisible work many successful adults with ADHD carry every day.
Why unexpected wins, struggles, and surprises contain valuable clues about how you work best.
How to recognize ADHD-related strengths that deserve more attention and appreciation.
The importance of spotting recurring patterns instead of focusing on isolated setbacks.
A simple reflection question that may completely change how you view your ADHD.
**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave's calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min

Dave connects with Jenna Free, author of A Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation, to dismantle the misconception that thriving with neurodivergence requires endless lifestyle hacks.
Instead, they dive deep into the power of nervous system regulation and why busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and CEOs frequently find themselves trapped in a frantic cycle of high performance followed by complete shutdown.
Jenna highlights how prolonged states of fight-or-flight mimic and intensify ADHD symptoms. She offers a sustainable path to step out of survival mode and provides actionable advice on thriving with adult ADHD.
How adults with ADHD can embrace emotional regulation:
The Vicious Cycle: Operating in a frantic, rushing state can feel highly productive but inevitably leads to stress, overwhelming burnout and in some cases physical shutdown.
The Mechanics of Dysregulation: When stress tricks the nervous system into perceiving routine business challenges as life-threatening, blood physically leaves the brain for the limbs, crippling executive dysfunction and creative focus.
The "In-the-Moment" Regulation Strategy: True regulation isn't about avoiding stress or taking constant breaks. It involves interrupting dysregulation in real-time by slowing your physical pace and breathing without abandoning the task at hand.
Unpacking Core Beliefs: Common narrative traps, such as feeling constantly "behind" or believing rest must be earned, keep the nervous system stuck in a permanent, defensive tug-of-war.
You can find Jenna's book about ADHD and regulation here.
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Guide-ADHD-Regulation-Enjoying/dp/1400254698
**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave's calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min

The most impactful way to navigate life with ADHD is to shift your identity from a "disability deficit" mindset to a neuroaffirming, strength-based perspective.
In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave chats with Liz Ahmann and Micah Saviet, authors of the new book Flourishing with Adult ADHD (released April 2026).
The discussion dives deep into practical, evidence-based strategies for high-performing professionals and entrepreneurs who are tired of temporary "hacks" and ready for long-term growth.
They explore how understanding your unique brain wiring is the first step toward moving past the shame of a late diagnosis and toward true well-being.
Key Discussion Points
Hacks vs. Habits: Why temporary ADHD "hacks" often fail and how a deeper understanding of your specific "flavor" of ADHD leads to sustainable lifestyle changes.
The Power of the Pause: Introducing the STOP practice (Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Proceed mindfully) to move from a reactive limbic state to a thoughtful executive state.
Neuroplasticity in Action: How mindfulness and nature walks physically clear neural pathways and lower cortisol levels.
Identity Re-calibration: Moving away from the "square peg in a round hole" mentality by embracing neurodivergence rather than trying to fix perceived weaknesses.
Combating Shame: A look at the research-backed need for self-compassion and how it serves as a foundation for emotional regulation and resilience.
Practical Growth Tools: Simple shifts like gratitude journaling, "micro-wins," and using the VIA (Values in Action) assessment to identify natural strengths.
Find Flourishing with Adult ADHD: The Evidence-based Guide to Client Well-being for Therapists and Coaches here: https://amzn.to/4uX9Bd0
And learn more about the work Liz Ahmann and Micah Saviet are doing here: https://www.adulttraumaandadhdsolutions.com/
https://www.pathways-ahead.com/
**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave's calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min