Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD - podcast cover

Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD

Productivity, Parenting, and Education for Moms with Adult ADHD Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder... Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house. Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard! We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me? Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out. How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was. What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT. Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash. Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life. We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane. When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well. At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom. If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama! You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on! With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com

Episodes

E057: 11 Tips for Staying Organized for Doctors Appointments

I can not explain what ADHD is without discussing Executive Function, because executive functioning is the CEO of our brain. You use it to run your life: your productivity, efficiency, family, work, friendship, including every single decision you make, from career choices to when to brush your teeth. Keeping up with doctor appointments, insurance, tests, labs, medicine, etc., is so much information for my brain to keep track of! Here are the ways I stay on top of all the juggling. Find the info ...

Aug 06, 202019 minEp. 57

E056: Focus and Consistency: Executive Function and ADHD

I can not explain what ADHD is without discussing Executive Function, because executive functioning is the CEO of our brain. You use it to run your life: your productivity, efficiency, family, work, friendship, including every single decision you make, from career choices to when to brush your teeth. One area of EF is Focus & Consistency. Or the lack thereof, being the hallmark of ADHD. How does it affect an ADHD adult? Let's learn about our ADHD brains. Find the info & items mentioned in my pod...

Jul 30, 202012 minEp. 56

E055: Perfectionism Part 3: Failure Check-in

We’re more than halfway through the year. Even though 2020 did not turn out how anyone planned, we still have 5 months to do some good work. My word for 2020 is FAILURE because I tend to play it safe. I'm a recovering perfectionist. What about you? How can you pivot on the goals you wanted to achieve this year to fit this crazy situation? It's not going to be like this forever, mama. It will get better. Don't throw 2020 in the trash just yet. For more info & free resources: https://www.patricias...

Jul 23, 202013 minEp. 55

E054: Working Memory: Executive Function and ADHD

I can not explain what ADHD is without discussing Executive Function, because executive functioning is the CEO of our brain. You use it to run your life: your productivity, efficiency, family, work, friendship, including every single decision you make, from career choices to when to brush your teeth. One part of EF is Working Memory. We use it constantly. Every minute of every hour of every day. How does it affect an ADHD adult? Let's learn about our ADHD brains. For resources: bit.ly/MIAShowNot...

Jul 16, 202018 minEp. 54

E053: Executive Function and ADHD

I can not explain what ADHD is without discussing Executive Function, because executive functioning is the CEO of our brain. You use it to run your life: your productivity, efficiency, family, work, friendship, including every single decision you make, from career choices to when to brush your teeth. This episode kicks off my Executive Function series where we'll learn what is executive functioning, discuss how we can see the EF-ADHD connection in our everyday lives, so that we can improve our d...

Jul 09, 202013 minEp. 53

E052: Do One Thing: Start

Struggling to start? ADHD brains easily feel overwhelmed by big projects and too many options. When I'm feeling stuck, here's what I do to calm the chaos, overcome fear, and break down big projects: I do one action. That's it. Just one. Join me for a pep talk on baby steps, because YOU can do one thing, too! Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-notes I also put together a free list of my favorite resources for ADHD mamas; snag that there, too....

Jul 02, 202014 minEp. 52

E051: Friendship Strategies for Adult ADHD

How can we be better friends? Adult ADHD makes it difficult to juggle social cues, keep up with friends, and show how much you care to the people who mean the most. Let's talk some practical strategies. I also sat down with Noelle Rhodes of Friending podcast this week and discussed friendship struggles when have adult ADHD, feeling scattered or overwhelmed, so be sure to Listen in on my chat with Noelle here. Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-n...

Jun 11, 202020 minEp. 51

E050: 10 Strategies for Exiting the Depression Spiral

Are you struggling? I sure am! Here are 10 ways I exit the depression spiral, and disrupt "Depressed Brain's" monologue on how much life sucks. Battling depression is an every day job. We can reclaim our lives as happy, productive, peaceful, and loving. Depression is an ugly beast that is so much more than just being sad. I have overcome deep depression twice, and I do these 10 things every day to stay mentally healthy, and I know that they will help you feel better, too. Find the info & items m...

Jun 04, 202017 minEp. 50

E049: How to Help a Friend Whose Parent is Dying

My little sister called for advice on how to help her best friend, who just found out her mom has terminal cancer with 12 months to live. Since our mom passed away of cancer when we were young, my sister felt like she should know what to say, yet she was stuck. Grief is strange like that. A death 15 years ago can choke you up like it was yesterday. Sharing the burden of grief and death is not easy and it's scary. And that's just what a good friendship relies on: support through the tough times. ...

Apr 23, 202021 minEp. 49

E048: 10 Tips for Potty Training Your Toddler

Potty Training is one of the great obstacles of parenthood. You're really excited to get to the other side and never change another diaper! You're also dreading the effort, stress, and cleanup that goes into process. Because... SO MUCH PEE. Here are my 10 tips to set yourself up for success and get your child using the toilet in 3 days using Lora Jensen's three day potty training method: it's as quick, easy, and efficient as toilet training can be. Yes, it's possible; I've done it twice. No more...

Apr 16, 202035 minEp. 48

E047: Grit by Angela Duckworth

Grit is an intimidating word for those of us with ADHD. A lot of us feel like we're not good at sticking with, well, anything. However, if we read Angela Duckworth's life-long study of grit, we learn not only that grit is a learned skill, but also how we can build our grit muscle. There are plenty of ADHD paragons with serious grit skills, meaning we, too, can stretch and tone our Stick-to-itiveness abilities to be someone who overcomes obstacles and achieves big goals. Let's talk about how. Fin...

Apr 09, 202019 minEp. 47

E046: Resolutions and Goals for the New Year

FAIL: That's my 2020 word of the year. I know, that sounds ridiculous, so listen in while I explain why this is the perfect choice for me to achieve new levels of success this year. What about you? How do you feel when I ask you how your 2020 New Years Resolution or Goals are going? If it's panic, self-loathing, or disappointment, fear not! There are still 9 months left in the year to do great things. Quit clinging to that negative attitude and let's figure out what we can do to get your goals g...

Apr 02, 202011 minEp. 46

E045: Adjusting to Grief and Stressful Times

We're in the thick of crazy times. Nothing seems right and everything is stressful. I'm in a state of mourning how life as we knew it is gone. There is so much we can not control, so let's focus on what we can control: how can we adjust our lives to make the best of a down-right awful situation and navigate the grief? Here's what I have been doing to set priorities, modify my mindset, and adjust the basic necessities to create a balanced mama and a peaceful family as we grieve the loss of so muc...

Mar 26, 202018 minEp. 45

E044: Less Control, More Grace

I'm back! My break was half amazing and half messy, and I'm sharing my mindset goals when life gets out of control, unexpected hiccups occur, systems breakdown, and everything feels overwhelming. I'm slow rolling into 2020 as I learn to balance things while I take on a huge project for my son's school. This fundraiser is using all of the executive functioning skills that don't come easily with ADHD. I have one month left to blow this event out of the water, so wish me luck and say a whole bucket...

Feb 28, 202015 minEp. 44

E043: Perfectionism and ADHD, Lessons from Therapy, Part 2: Practicing Purposeful Imperfection

I believe perfectionism is an epidemic among ADHD women. Too many of us mastered this coping mechanism as young women in an effort to align the messages we received as girls with the reality inside our brains. And while it served us for a long a time, it doesn’t have to cripple us any longer. In the last episode, we sifted through our histories with perfectionism, and now we will practice being imperfect in a low-risk environment. Step by step we can build evidence for our brain that our new sta...

Dec 19, 201915 min

E042: Perfectionism and ADHD, Part 1.5: Practice What I Preach

I'm here to practice what I preach, ADHD mama! So here's an imperfect episode to explain why I'm not going to publish an episode every single for the next few weeks. It's time to prioritize and practice being imperfect. Meet me over at www.motherhoodinadhd.com. Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-notes

Dec 12, 20196 min

E041: Perfectionism and ADHD, Lessons From Therapy, Part 1: Understanding and Paradigm Shifts

I believe perfectionism is an epidemic among ADHD women. Too many of us mastered this coping mechanism as young women in an effort to align the messages we received as girls with the reality inside our brains. And while it served us for a long a time, it doesn’t have to cripple us any longer. Let’s discuss how we got to this place, what our current beliefs are, & how we want our thoughts to match with our priorities and values. In Part 2, we’ll practice being imperfect! Find the info & items men...

Dec 05, 201922 min

E040: A Thank You Note

A little thank you note from me to you, sweet mama! Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-notes I also put together a free list of my favorite resources for ADHD mamas; snag that there, too.

Nov 28, 20194 minEp. 40

E039: What's Your Motivation?

Why? Why do you have that goal? Why are you trying to make a change? ADHD often gets us stuck. We aren’t sure how to proceed. It’s overwhelming and overstimulating. Or we forget about our new goal and make the same impulsive/bad/unhelpful choice as last time, tossing our new goal into the black hole along with all the forgotten goals and changes we never made. Figuring out WHY we are trying to achieve a goal makes us far more likely to stick with it. But not a surface why. Let’s dig down deep to...

Nov 21, 201915 minEp. 39

E038: Your Survivalist Brain

Our brains do a great job of keeping us alive. Thanks, brain! But in our brain's wiring for survival and safety lurks a strong aversion to risk, new or scary things, and the unknown. This makes changing anything and everything feel like a Herculean effort. Before you get discouraged, listen up to how this made my struggles easier to deal with...we can still do the hard things when we have the right mindset. Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-not...

Nov 14, 201918 minEp. 38

E037: Letting Go of Harmful Thoughts

Some of your thoughts are garbage and you need to let go of them right now. Not everything your brain thinks deserves your brain power! We talk Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Intrusive Thoughts, and how we can mistakenly think we're taking control, when were actually giving our power over to our fear. Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I've learned how to let go of harmful and fearful thoughts, and now I am using my energy for productive, useful thoughts. I wish words could adeq...

Nov 07, 201924 minEp. 37

E036: ADHD Ninja Mom Skills: Ask the Experts

You are an amazing, loving, perfect-for-your-kids Mother. If you are struggling to think of a reason why, I asked four Powerhouse ADHD Mom Role Models to share their ADHD Ninja Mom Skills with you. I am honored to share their wisdom, honesty, and encouragement with you, Mama. In honor of ADHD Awareness month, let's celebrate how our ADHD makes us incredible. My panel of experts: Laura, The ADHD Mama, ADHD Video Creator Tracy Otsuka, Lawyer & ADHD Podcast Host Jaclyn Paul, Author & ADHD Blogger S...

Oct 31, 201924 minEp. 36

E035: Strengths, Not Weaknesses

So many of us with ADHD have been beaten over the head regarding all of the things we don't "do right". I want to challenge you to think about what you DO do right. You are a Bad A$$ Mama who can do tremendous things. You have admirable personality traits. You can do things few others can do. What are the skills that make you unstoppable? Let's all agree to stop the negativity tape that plays on repeat in our minds and record a new soundtrack that reminds ourselves how our ADHD makes us remarkab...

Oct 24, 201916 minEp. 35

E034: How to Use Parent Teacher Conferences to Help Your ADHD Child: Back to School

In all my years of parent conferences, most parents asked about their child's grades & that's it. That's a wasted opportunity! You can learn so much about your child from their teacher, as can the teacher learn about your child from you. You, mama, set the priorities for your child's growth, so it's time to team up & build that relationship. Everyone is on Team (your child's name). Ready, Set, Goal! Here are the questions I wished parents would ask me, covering preschool to high school. Find the...

Oct 17, 201921 min

E033: Patricia's ADHD Diagnosis & Story

In honor of ADHD Awareness Month: You asked; I answered! When did I get diagnosed? How has my life been affected by ADHD? I'm cracking open the history book and sharing my diagnosis, struggles, failures, as well as my successes. From sweet childhood, disastrous college years, and flawed career choices, I'm an open book. I would love to hear about you, too, so let's trade stories, Mama! Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-notes I also put together...

Oct 10, 201922 minEp. 34

E032: How to Get More Money by Learning How to Prioritize: Wise Money Management for ADHD

Where has all my money gone? Are you woefully distraught as you wait for payday to inch closer? It's time to quit that negative thinking. Cast the vision of your future and set your priorities. We all know we should spend less but how do we actually cut back our spending? It's time to make a few phone calls and some sacrifices, in order to reach the goals we are pursuing and achieving. Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasung.com/show-notes I also put together...

Oct 03, 201923 min

E031: Budget is not a 4 letter word: You Can Be Good with Money When You Have ADHD: Wise Money Management for ADHD

When you hear "budget", what are the first three words that come to mind? Fulfillment! Success! Accomplishment! Um, no? If yours are all pessimistic, then it's time to quit that negative thinking. Cast the vision of your future & set your priorities. Your budget is a financial road map that YOU create to achieve YOUR goals. Future-you is depending on Present-you to get it together. YOU are driving this mother. Now let's make that budget. You can do it. Find the info & items mentioned in my podca...

Sep 26, 201925 min

E030: My Journey with Anxiety & Postpartum Anxiety

Hello, Skeletons in the closet! I am a raw and open book today. I'm sharing my myriad of mental health struggles: anxiety, depression, postpartum anxiety (PPA), suicidal thoughts, what it feels like to have a panic attack, and the tools in my toolkit for getting through the overwhelming hurdles. If you're struggling like I did, please reach out for help right now with someone you trust. All the hugs from me to you, Mama. Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: https://www.patriciasun...

Sep 19, 201924 minEp. 30

E029: Love Your ADHD Self: Ask the Experts

I asked a few of my favorite positive ADHD Instagram role models to share what has been most impactful in learning to love themselves with ADHD. I'm so excited to share their wisdom, honesty, & positivity with you, Mama. So grab your coffee, relax, & let's get to loving ourselves a little bit more today! My panel of experts: Alissa @alissaswonkybrain Dina @theadhdlawyer Jessica @everythoughtcaptivecoaching Jon Jon @adhd_jOnjOn Kristen @i.have.adhd.podcast Liz @healthyadhd Marc @wellnesswithmarc ...

Sep 12, 201919 minEp. 29

E028: The Big Leap: A Book Review

More happiness? That's a goal worth pursuing for all of us. In The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks shares where we often stumble and how to dissolve our obstacles to live a more full life in our Zone of Genius. We're not settling for Excellence here, mamas. We are sifting through societal stigmas and childhood wounds to find ways to overcome our worry, incompetence, and self-imposed limitations. Scary? Yes. But we can do this! It's time to level up! Find the info & items mentioned in my podcast here: ht...

Sep 05, 201918 minEp. 28