2 Crucial Info My Doc Never Told Me

I’m beyond excited to share this episode with the one and only Oliver James. At 35 years old, Oliver is learning how to read for the first time.

You might have seen him on TikTok, Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, or NPR, where he’s shedding light on functional illiteracy.

After being diagnosed with ADHD and OCD as a child, Oliver spent most of his life struggling to keep up both in and out of the classroom until a string of bad choices found him in prison.

On the other side, Oliver continued to struggle. His ADHD and OCD left him desperate for answers but not sure where to turn — until he decided to teach himself how to read in 2020. Oliver captured the raw journey on TikTok, where he ended up going viral.

Over the past four years, Oliver’s story has inspired millions. He’s now using his powers for good as a public speaker and advocate for adult literacy. I truly cannot wait for you to hear his story.

You can follow Oliver on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in college. While I’d like to think that was like 5 years ago, it was actually a lot longer. It was much harder to get a diagnosis back then. 

In fact, the ADHD diagnosis process was different 5 years ago when I started my podcast.

It’s 2024 now, and I’m thrilled to say it’s easier than ever before for adults to get an ADHD diagnosis. This isn’t me saying it’s easier to FOOL clinicians into falsely diagnosing you. I mean it’s easier for people who have ADHD to get an accurate diagnosis. How so?

1. We’ve got more access to info than we’ve ever had. People are more willing to share their experiences with ADHD, which is helping lessen the stigma around mental health.
2. The medical field is finally catching up with science. It wasn’t until the '90s that doctors realized most children do NOT grow out of ADHD. Adults are finally getting diagnosed!
3. We’re living in a highly digital world, which means we’re now able to get assessed and treated online. This is huge.

So, how do you go about getting diagnosed with ADHD? In this podcast episode, I’m sharing the 3 steps you need to take if you’re ready for a formal assessment, including links for an online diagnosis.

PS - if you know somebody who suspects they have ADHD but hasn’t gotten a diagnosis or been evaluated for it, send them this podcast episode to help them gain some clarity.

Shownotes links:
The ASRS-5 assessment

Online ADHD resources for the US
Done
Circle Medical
ADHD Online

Online ADHD resources for Canada
Frida
Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada

Find a clinician who can help you across state lines
Psypact map

Hang out with me on Instagram HERE.
AG1 by Athletic Greens.

The I Have ADHD Podcast is a clear, concise, and FUN podcast for adults with ADHD. Host Kristen Carder is an ADHD expert who has been supporting ADHDers for over a decade. Kristen began working with ADHD students in 2012 and transitioned to mindset coaching for ADHD adults in 2019. Let's just say she entered the ADHD field long before it was a trending topic on TikTok. Join Kristen to learn about how ADHD impacts every area of your life...from the boardroom to the bedroom...and how you can begin to overcome your symptoms by accepting who you are, flaws and all. This podcast is a mix of solo shows + interviews with the authors of all the dusty ADHD books sitting on your shelf: Dr. Barkley, Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Quinn, Dr. Ramsay, Sari Solden, Dr. Tuckman, and more! Binge-listen from the beginning, or start with the latest episode. Either way, it won't be waste of your time. Whether you're officially diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or just curious about ADHD, you're going to love this podcast...guaranteed or your money back! Disclaimer: Kristen would like you to know that she's a very different person now from the woman who dropped the first 75 episodes of this podcast. Her values have changed. Her tone of voice has changed. She's much more empathetic and trauma-informed NOW than she was 4+ years ago. ****OBVIOUSLY the content in this podcast is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. Kristen Carder is not a medical professional.

This week, I blew up at my son. At the time, I felt justified (don’t cross mama’s boundaries) but the more I sat with the situation, I knew I was in the wrong.

The whole thing made me feel ick and got me thinking about the “right way” to apologize.

Note: These are tips for apologizing in a perfect world. If you’re activated, feeling defensive, or in self-judgment mode, it’s going to be way harder to put these into action.

Here’s the thing: Being human is hard. We all want safe, connected relationships. But every relationship in our lives will rupture at some point.

Fortunately, it is possible to repair even when we're in the wrong.

Because at the end of the day, apologies aren’t enough. (I know, if you grew up in a home where “sorry” was used as a power play to silence you, this is probably shocking.)

But being sorry doesn't fix everything. 🙅🏻‍♀️ We need to do the work of repair, and people need time before they can recalibrate and trust us again. That’s NORMAL.

In this episode on How to Apologize, I’m sharing 3 steps you need to take the next time you apologize - plus what you need to do to repair the relationship and make sure you don’t make the same mistake again.

Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

I’ve got something incredible to share with you. As an adult, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Did you know this?! Pause. Breathe. Let that soak in.

Many of us grew up in situations where we didn’t feel we had autonomy or the right to self-govern. We didn’t feel like we were in charge of our lives. So, in adulthood, we struggle to recognize that we have control over what we say yes and no to.

Why is this a problem? Because, as adult ADHDers, it takes us so much mental and emotional energy to do things we don’t want to do.

So, you stay stuck in a job you don’t like doing tasks you don’t enjoy. You feel burnt out. You spend your weekends unable to do things around the house because you’re exhausted.

I’ll let you in on my little secret. I give myself an 'out' for everything.

I tell myself I don’t have to do anything. It takes away any obligation and resentment so my brain can truly determine if it’s something I want to choose to do.

Next time you are resisting and dreading a task and procrastination keeps nagging at you, ask yourself that question. Challenge yourself to consider what will happen if you don’t do it. Is that what you really want?

Hang out with me on Instagram HERE
Athletic Greens AG1

If you’ve ever wanted a look inside the brain of Kristen Carder, this episode is for you. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been sick or that I’ve just got things I want to say that don’t fit into a topic we’ve covered on the podcast lately… but this episode is going to be me dumping the contents of my brain for all to see (or…hear?!).
So, find a comfy spot on the couch, grab your beverage of choice, and let’s chat!
In this episode, I’m sharing about…How it’s so dang *hard* to be human.

1. The actual meltdown I had after a crazy successful FOCUSED launch last month
2. Why success is scarier for us ADHDers than failure. See point #1.
3. The struggle happening in my mind after working for years to stop overcommitting
4. Whether I’ll actually commit to going to yoga classes this year… tbd
5. All the things I learned from Dry January and the takeaway that surprised me most

This episode is no-holds-barred. If you like a structured podcast episode, you may want to check out one of the other 249 I Have ADHD Podcast episodes.

Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

If you’ve ever wanted a sneak peek at what happens inside FOCUSED, this podcast episode is for you.

I recently added a new course to my group coaching program called How to Build Self-Trust Even with ADHD. It’s been so impactful I had to share a coaching call we had on the topic.

Self-trust is hard for those of us with ADHD. If you feel alone, I encourage you to listen to this coaching call. It will help you understand yourself better.

Whether you grew up with parents who interrupted your ability to build self-trust or society slowly eroded it, you need to change that inner voice/critic. Building self-trust is about changing how you talk to yourself.

It’s time to stop saying you’re too much or not enough. Stop listening to the flippant comments from people who don’t build you up.

On this call, you’ll learn how to become your own (overly protective) bestie who doesn’t listen to that voice in your head.

Watching others get coached is so powerful. When you listen, ask yourself how you can identify with these stories. Take the questions I ask on the call. How can you apply them to your own life?

I dare you not to get goosebumps listening to some of these stories!

Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE.

Athletic Greens AG1

On the latest podcast episode, I had the absolute honor of talking with my business and life coach, Breian Elliott, about the topic of saying sorry.

We’re digging DEEP into why we feel the need to apologize so much when we should be saying sorry, and why it’s detrimental to constantly be in sorry mode.

Spoiler alert: When you’re apologizing and haven’t done anything wrong, you’re actually putting the other person in an uncomfortable position.

Brien’s breaking down the 6 different types of “sorry” we use most often, including the “negative self-image sorry” where we apologize because we’re seeking reassurance.

If you find yourself apologizing for every little thing, this episode will be a game-changer. I know I learned a lot recording it.

Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE.

Breian Elliott Coaching

We get to enjoy the delicious Jen Kirkman on another episode of the podcast!

The TV writer, comedian, New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and FOCUSED member shared part 1 of her ADHD story.

Jen’s story of misdiagnosis, navigating a career in the public eye, and figuring out how to use her diagnosis to help other people inspired so many of you.

In part 2, we get to learn… 

1. How Jen found ADHD coaching (spoiler: it was listening to this very podcast)
2. The different ways she uses talk therapy and coaching 
3. Her daily morning routine she calls "Bedquarters"
4. How she was able to step away from burnout and into a life she loves
5. What her career plans are for 2024 and beyond 

For being the *most* famous person in my group coaching program, Jen is incredibly relatable. You can use the tools and routines she’s incorporated into her daily life to set yourself up for success in living a life with ADHD.

Jen is encouraging, entertaining, and educational. I can’t recommend part 2 of my interview with Jen Kirkman enough.

Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

Today's episode is part 1 of a 2-part interview with my dear client, Jen Kirkman. Jen is currently a writer/producer on the one-hour comedy Etoile for Amazon Prime. She was a writer/producer on 4 seasons of the The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime). Jen hosts a weekly solo podcast, "You Are A Lot" (An ADHD Podcast) - which is about navigating life with ADHD. Jen is a New York Times Bestselling author of two books. She has toured the world as a stand-up comedian and has two critically acclaimed stand-up specials on Netflix. You're going to LOVE this conversation - enjoy!

Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE.

AG1 by Athletic Greens