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So many of us arrive at an ADHD diagnosis carrying years of shame, self-criticism and the quiet belief that something is fundamentally wrong with us. This episode is about what starts to shift when we finally have the right information.
Welcome to this week's summer compilation. This one follows the journey from diagnosis to self-acceptance: the barriers so many of us still face in getting taken seriously, the practical tools that can help us quieten the inner critic, and a completely different way of seeing our ADHD traits, not as defects to fix, but as strengths that just need the right context and support.
We hear from three guests across three different conversations. Vicki George, clinical nurse specialist and founder of The ADHD Nurse, on what the DIVA-5 assessment is really meant to be, why ADHD still carries more stigma than almost any other mental health condition, and how to advocate for yourself with a GP even when it feels uncomfortable.
Cynthia Hammer, author of Living with Inattentive ADHD and founder of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, on how understanding and accepting a diagnosis can bring more happiness even when the symptoms themselves haven't changed, and why replacing negative self-talk requires something to replace it with.
And Hannah Miller, author of The Purpose Pursuit and host of The Purpose Pursuit Podcast, on what limiting beliefs actually are, how self-sabotage shows up for ADHD women, and her four-part framework for taking stock of where you are and finding your way forward.
In this episode, we cover:
What the DIVA-5 assessment is and why it should be a guided conversation, not a form you fill out alone
Why ADHD diagnosis still carries more stigma than most other mental health conditions, and how unhelpful media headlines keep feeding that
Why a GP cannot refuse to refer you for an ADHD assessment, and how to keep the appointment focused on that goal
The challenges of titration and why finding the right medication is rarely a quick or straightforward process
How understanding and accepting a diagnosis brought more happiness to the women Cynthia interviewed, even when their symptoms hadn't changed
Why you can't simply get rid of a negative thought without replacing it with something else, and what that can look like in practice
Why earlier diagnosis matters so much, and why girls with inattentive ADHD are still so frequently missed
Hannah's four-part framework: taking stock, naming your strengths, identifying limiting behaviours and clarifying your values
Why our traits are not defects, and how Clifton Strengths can help neurodivergent women begin to see themselves differently
Why we don't have to be everything, and how leaning on others' strengths is part of thriving, not failing
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome and introduction to this week's compilation
03:00 - Vicki George: what the DIVA-5 assessment is and why it matters
06:00 - Why the person being assessed is always believed over a parent or observer
08:00 - Why ADHD still carries more stigma than other mental health conditions
10:30 - How to advocate for yourself with a GP and what they can and can't do
13:00 - Titration, medication and why the process is so rarely straightforward
18:00 - Cynthia Hammer: how diagnosis brings happiness even when symptoms remain
21:00 - Interrupting negative self-talk and why replacement matters
24:00 - Why girls with inattentive ADHD are still being missed by standard tools
27:00 - Why whole-family screening matters when one person is diagnosed
30:00 - Hannah Miller: what happens when diagnosis collides with limiting beliefs
33:00 - The four-part framework: taking stock, strengths, limiting behaviors, values
36:00 - Why traits we've labelled as flaws can become our greatest strengths
39:00 - Clifton Strengths and why it works well for neurodivergent women
42:00 - We don't have to be everything, we just have to be good at something
Links and Resources:
Find my popular ADHD Women's Wellbeing workshops and resources on my website here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod
Get my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit (also available in e-book and audiobook) here
Join the More Yourself membership community here
Visit Vicki George's website: theadhdnurse.co.uk
Connect with Vicki George on Instagram
Visit Cynthia Hammer's website: iadhd.org
Connect with Cynthia Hammer on Instagram
Get Cynthia Hammer's book: Living with Inattentive ADHD: Climbing the Circular Staircase of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Visit Cynthia's advocacy project: findtheadhdgirls.org
Visit Hannah Miller's website: hellosidekick.co
Connect with Hannah Miller on Instagram
Get Hannah Miller's book: The Purpose Pursuit
Listen to Hannah's podcast: The Purpose Pursuit Podcast
Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity.
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