What happens when you're navigating your own ADHD while caring for aging parents, supporting your children, and trying to keep up with everything else life throws your way?
In this episode of Grandma Has ADHD, Jami Shapiro sits down with LeAnn Levering, therapist, ADHD specialist, and founder of Levering Mind, to talk about the challenges of being part of the sandwich generation, especially when ADHD is part of the picture.
LeAnn shares her own experience of discovering her ADHD in midlife, navigating caregiving responsibilities with her 86-year-old mother, and managing the guilt and self-criticism that can come with feeling like you're never doing enough.
Together, Jami and LeAnn explore how aging, grief, changing family roles, and unexpected responsibilities can affect executive functioning, and why understanding your ADHD can help you approach these transitions with more flexibility and self-compassion.
In This Episode
- LeAnn's journey to an ADHD diagnosis in midlife
- Why ADHD in girls and women often goes unrecognized
- Imposter syndrome, overachievement, and years of self-doubt
- How ADHD can change as we get older, especially during menopause
- The challenges of being part of the sandwich generation
- Why caregiving, grief, and major life transitions can affect executive functioning
- Helping aging parents downsize while honoring their memories
- Managing caregiver guilt and the feeling that you're never doing enough
- Why therapy and coping strategies need to be adapted for ADHD brains
- Learning to work with your ADHD instead of constantly fighting against it
When Life Changes, So Does Your Structure
For adults with ADHD, having fewer responsibilities doesn't always make life easier. Sometimes, losing the routines and structure we've relied on can make everyday tasks more difficult.
Add unexpected caregiving responsibilities, children leaving home, or the loss of a loved one, and things can become even more challenging.
LeAnn explains how grief affects executive functioning, whether we're grieving a person, a relationship, or simply a chapter of life that has ended.
Caregiving, Clutter, and Letting Go
LeAnn shares what it has been like helping her 86-year-old mother go through belongings and storage units accumulated over the years.
What started as a downsizing project became an opportunity for three generations to share stories, revisit memories, and decide what still holds meaning.
Jami and LeAnn discuss why helping an aging parent downsize isn't simply about getting rid of things. It's also about respecting their experiences and supporting them through a major life transition.
Giving Yourself Grace
One of LeAnn's most helpful strategies isn't about calendars, reminders, or productivity hacks. It's about changing how she responds to the critical voices in her head.
Instead of letting guilt about caregiving or feelings of inadequacy take over, she's learned to recognize those thoughts without allowing them to dictate her choices.
Sometimes, feeling guilty about not spending enough time with a parent is simply a reminder of how much that relationship matters. The question becomes what you can do about it, rather than how long you can beat yourself up over it.
Why Understanding ADHD Still Matters Later in Life
LeAnn was nearly 40 when she finally recognized her ADHD, after it had been missed during childhood.
She and Jami discuss why identifying ADHD later in life can be so meaningful, even after decades of managing without a diagnosis.
Understanding your brain gives you more information, more options, and a better foundation for building a life that works for you.
As LeAnn explains, the goal isn't to get rid of your ADHD. It's to find ways to support the challenges while making room for your strengths.
About LeAnn Levering
LeAnn Levering is a licensed therapist, ADHD specialist, and founder of Levering Mind. With a background spanning technology, business, and clinical social work, she brings both professional expertise and personal experience with ADHD to her work.
LeAnn helps adults with ADHD build flexibility, resilience, and practical strategies that work with their individual strengths and challenges. She also offers online ADHD classes and professional consultation for clinicians.
About Jami Shapiro
Jami Shapiro is a certified ADHD coach, speaker, author of This Explains So Much, and host of Grandma Has ADHD. She's also the founder of Silver Linings Transitions, where she helps individuals and families navigate downsizing, moving, and major life transitions.
Through her coaching, speaking, and podcast, Jami helps adults, especially those discovering ADHD later in life, better understand themselves and find practical ways to make life easier.
Resources
Remember: It's never too late to make the rest of your life the best of your life.
Thank you for joining us for this episode of Grandma Has ADHD! We hope Jami's journey and insights into ADHD shed light on the unique challenges faced by older adults. Stay tuned for more episodes where we’ll explore helpful resources, share personal stories, and provide guidance for those navigating ADHD. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with friends who might benefit. Remember, Make the rest of your life the best of your life.
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