Podcast Summary
ADHD and Finding One's Unique Advantages: Living undiagnosed with ADHD can lead to chaos, extremes, and a constant search for external validation, but finding solace in self-acceptance and movement can help individuals with ADHD discover their unique advantages and live fulfilling lives.
Rosie Turner, a guest on the ADHD Women's Well-being podcast, shared her experience of living undiagnosed with ADHD, which led to chaos, extremes, and a constant search for external validation. She described feeling lost and trying to fit in by adopting the roles and beliefs of those around her, even if they didn't align with who she truly was. Rosie also mentioned her struggles with addiction and burnout. However, she eventually found solace in movement and exercise, which helped her navigate her ADHD and led her to become an accredited and certified ADHD coach and Pilates and yoga instructor. Now, she uses her experiences and expertise to help others with ADHD find their unique advantages and live fulfilling lives. Kate Moore Yousef, the podcast host, emphasized the importance of understanding and accepting ADHD brains and offered her listeners a live coaching summer program for guidance and support.
Self-discovery and restlessness: Deepest questions and feelings of unease can be found within ourselves, seeking external solutions may not always lead to lasting peace and understanding.
Our interviewee's life was marked by a long period of self-discovery and restlessness, characterized by impulsive decisions and a lack of trust in herself. She recounts her experiences of getting married young, engaging in unhealthy relationships, and trying various career paths, all while feeling an inherent sense that something was missing. This feeling persisted even as she grew older and made more grounded choices, leading her to seek answers externally through travel and impulsive behavior. However, it wasn't until she began to suspect that she might have ADHD that she started to understand the internal root of her restlessness and impulsivity. Through self-study and the guidance of professionals, she was eventually diagnosed and began to see her life transform. The takeaway here is that sometimes, the answers to our deepest questions and feelings of unease can be found within ourselves, and seeking external solutions may not always lead to the lasting peace and understanding we desire.
Mindfulness practices and emotional dysregulation: Despite practicing mindfulness techniques, emotional dysregulation is common. Keep trying different types and teachers to find what resonates, and remember that self-improvement is a gradual process. Help others along the way.
No matter where you are in your personal growth journey, whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD or not, it's important to help yourself while also helping others. Rosie's story highlights the struggle of dealing with emotional dysregulation despite practicing meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness techniques. It's a common misconception that these practices will instantly make us "Zen," but it's a gradual process. Rosie encourages those new to yoga or mindfulness practices to try different types and teachers until they find what resonates with them. Her experience shows that even if you feel like you don't belong or can't do it, giving it a chance could lead to unexpected benefits. Ultimately, the key is to keep exploring and committing to small steps towards self-improvement and helping others along the way.
Present moment: Embracing the present moment and doing what feels good for you, whether it's exercise or any other activity, can lead to positive changes in mental and physical health. Remove judgment and preconceptions to fully reap the benefits.
Embracing the present moment and doing what feels good for you, whether it's practicing yoga or running a marathon, can lead to positive changes in your mental and physical health. It's important to remove judgment and preconceptions when it comes to exercise or any other aspect of life. For one speaker, running the London marathon was a turning point in her life, helping her overcome addiction and improve her mental health. She started incorporating exercise into her routine slowly, and the sense of accomplishment and self-confidence it brought her led her to make healthier choices and focus on becoming the best version of herself. Exercise served as a physical entry point for her to support her mental health and eventually helped her overcome addiction.
ADHD discovery through exercise: Exercise helped an individual with ADHD discover their diagnosis and improve their overall well-being by quieting the noise in their head, releasing dopamine, and encouraging healthier dopamine-seeking behaviors. Regardless of challenges, making active choices to work with tendencies can lead to progress.
Exercise played a crucial role in helping an individual with ADHD discover their diagnosis and improve their overall well-being. The person shared how they used to attribute their forgetfulness and lack of focus to hangovers, but upon giving up alcohol, they realized there was something more going on. Exercise helped quiet the noise in their head, allowing them to hear their inner voice and identify their true desires. Moreover, the dopamine released during exercise helped rewire neural pathways, encouraging healthier dopamine-seeking behaviors. The journey was not easy, as there were setbacks and struggles, but the individual persisted and found ways to keep moving, no matter how small the effort. The key message is that, regardless of our challenges, we have the power to make active choices to work with our tendencies rather than against them. When faced with days or weeks of feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed, it's essential to remember that we don't have to adhere to a strict routine or push ourselves to the extreme. Instead, we can find ways to sparkle it up and keep moving, even if it's just a small step, to nourish our bodies and minds.
Embracing change: It's natural to get bored with routines and need to make adjustments to keep things interesting. Giving ourselves permission to do so can lead to new discoveries and improved motivation.
Embracing change and allowing ourselves to get bored with our routines is a natural part of life. It's important to recognize this and not punish ourselves for not sticking to the same thing all the time. Instead, we should give ourselves permission to "resparklize" things by making small adjustments and looking for new ways to engage with activities that have become mundane. This can apply to various aspects of our lives, from exercise routines to friendships and careers. Additionally, letting go of shame and focusing on the deeper reasons behind our actions can help us overcome challenges and stay motivated. As a coach specializing in ADHD, I help individuals understand their brains and find clarity amidst the entanglement of their thoughts and emotions. My clients come from diverse backgrounds, and I tailor my approach to meet their unique needs and transformations. Ultimately, my goal is to help them rewrite their stories of struggle into stories of strength.
ADHD strengths: During challenging times, discovering our unique traits and using them to move closer to our goals can build resilience and authenticity. Rosie Rees, a coach specializing in ADHD, helps clients identify their strengths and use them to overcome struggles.
During challenging times, we have the opportunity to discover our strengths and gifts. Rosie Rees, a coach specializing in ADHD, emphasizes the importance of reframing past struggles as learning experiences that build resilience and authenticity. Through her coaching, she helps clients identify their unique traits and use them to move closer to their goals, rather than trying to change who they are. Rosie's approach includes group coaching, exercise classes, meditation sessions, and body doubling to provide a collaborative and affordable solution for those seeking support. By living authentically and discovering who they truly are, Rosie's clients have left toxic jobs, found fulfilling relationships, and embarked on new career paths. To work with Rosie or join her group coaching program, the ADHD Movement, visit untangledcodot.com. Additionally, she will be teaching a live yoga class, "Untangling ADHD on the Mat," at the Happy Place Festival. Connect with Rosie on Instagram for more information.