Do you ever feel like your emotions are dialled up to 100?

This week, we’re making friends with our feelings alongside the brilliant mental health professional Lucy Hine, from Have A Word.

We explore the intense emotional landscape of ADHD and ask: are our feelings really just bigger, or is there more going on beneath the surface?

Lucy shares her own journey of self-discovery, revealing how childhood illness and understanding her ADHD has shaped her life – from a late diagnosis to redefining her emotional world.

We chat about the connection between trauma and neurodivergence, and the bumpy but beautiful road to self-acceptance. As Lucy shares: "It’s my ADHD that makes me different, because nobody has a brain like me and perceives the world or the situation like me."

Ever felt like your emotional reactions don’t quite “fit” the situation? You’re not alone. We dive into emotional intensity, dysregulation, and how these patterns can show up in relationships. Could our sensitivity even shape who we attract?

We also explore the importance of emotional self-awareness, co-regulation (especially in parenting), and gentle strategies for tuning into your feelings with curiosity, not judgment.

Ready to embrace your emotional world instead of battling it? This episode is for you.

Find out more about Lucy here.

Do you feel like you’re either up or down and never in the middle!? Do you tune in with your emotions and express them, or bottle them up?

In this episode of the Unconventional Business Podcast, join me to talk all things emotions. We get stuck into the emotional experience of ADHD - the highs, the lows and everything in between! Emotional regulation can be tricky for ADHDers and I want to shed some light on some of the key ingredients of the feelings cocktail, including the impact of your brain function, co-occuring conditions, difficulties identifying emotions - and just being a human in today’s world!

In this ep, I offer a more empowering alternative to emotional regulation, centred around accepting and making space for emotions rather than trying to regulate them (and feeling like a failure when that feels impossible!) I also talk through some practical strategies for managing emotions include crying, movement, singing, journaling, and seeking support from friends or therapists.

Ultimately, I want to encourage you to view your ADHD as a difference rather than a deficit. Embracing your emotional experiences rather than trying to control or ‘regulate’ them is actually the key to flattening your ’spiky graph’ and living a calmer, more peaceful life.

• Book recommendation: https://www.pepitasandwich.com/the-art-of-crying
• Podcast recommendation: https://revealmarketinguk.com/podcast-episodes/drug-free-adhd
  

References:

• The ADHD Brain - more on the Prefrontal Cortex, Emotional Regulation & Behaviour https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-brain-prefrontal-cortex-attention-emotions/?srsltid=AfmBOooXeGXUINYRRiTXMb85y7UHviYsrDqLp4sJiT0nTMOAPKUWndmA
• ADHD & Brain Differences, particularly the Amygdala https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26964869/
• ADHD & Co-occuring conditions (Co-morbidity): https://www.additudemag.com/when-its-not-just-adhd/?srsltid=AfmBOoojIZwBYdUY-NuG5-_LwscBCrRd_6sFP-If7U_Tw3Fmvip6C5pG
• Alexythmia https://theconversation.com/alexithymia-why-some-people-find-it-so-hard-to-identify-emotions-and-how-this-affects-them-240480
• Emotional tears & their differences: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-microscopic-structures-of-dried-human-tears-180947766/

Tired of the same old advice that just doesn’t work for your ADHD brain?

Joseph Pack, founder of Drug-Free ADHD, is here to shake things up! In this eye-opening episode, we explore the world of the ADHD mind. We discuss why controlling our thoughts can be a losing battle, the magic of non-duality, and how to quiet the ADHD mind without medication.

Joseph shares his journey from a chaotic school experience to a life-changing ADHD diagnosis following a series of seizures and how he discovered the power of meditation as an alternative to medication. Yes - it turns out ADHDers can meditate!

We also dive into unconventional ADHD management approaches, including why traditional methods, like breathwork, meditation and CBT, often fall flat for our busy minds.

If you're ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about ADHD and meditation, this episode is for you!

You can find out more about Joseph and his services here. I highly recommend signing up for his newsletter, too.

In this candid and insightful episode, I am joined by a fellow ADHD entrepreneur and coach - Susanne Schotanus - to discuss what *actually* works when it comes to getting the right help and support as an ADHD business owner.

We share our own experiences, reveal why you need to ditch the typical "hustle harder" advice and dive into the real-world strategies and tools that have made a difference in our own businesses. We discuss the pitfalls of generic business advice, the power of self-compassion, and practical solutions to overcome common ADHD challenges.

Settle in with a cuppa and enjoy a refreshing conversation filled with relatable experiences, actionable tips, and a healthy dose of realism.

In this episode we cover:

• The importance of self-compassion and unlearning negative self-talk.
• The Myth of the "one thing" that will change your business (spoiler: it doesn’t exist!)
• The inner rebel and how it affects implementing other peoples systems.
• The "experiment" approach and how it can help you to build systems that work for you and your ADHD brain.
• The value of outsourcing tasks, even those you enjoy (!) to free up your time and headspace.
• The importance of clear communication and setting expectations with outsourced help.
• The life-changing benefits of AI and automation tools like Calendly, Zapier and Otter.ai.

To learn more about my TOAST framework to free up your time and headspace, head to Episode 68: Take Back Your Time.

And to download Susanne’s epic guide and reclaim your focus, head to https://passionatewritercoaching.com/siobhan/

Ever wondered what happens after that 'penny drop' moment when you realise you might have ADHD?

This week, I'm chatting with the wonderful Wendy Gannon, incredibly talented photographer and 'Queen of angles' – a title given by others, she insists (although I reckon she should totally claim it!). In this ep, Wendy and I have a refreshingly honest conversation about her ADHD journey. We explore the initial realisation, the decision (or indecision!) around seeking a diagnosis, and the often frustrating process of actually getting one.

Wendy shares her experiences of navigating the 'Right To Choose' pathway within the NHS, the challenges of lengthy waiting lists, and the importance of self-advocacy. We also delve into the impact of ADHD on her life, the importance of community and self-compassion, and what she's learned along the way.

From navigating those daunting assessment forms, to finding the right support and understanding, Wendy's story is both relatable and empowering. Whether you’re ADHD AF or still just ADHD-curious, this episode is for you.

Additional resources:For those interested, here’s the link to NHS ADHD Symptoms and the Right to Choose page which we mention in the podcast. As always, if you’d like to discuss this further, please get in touch.

Join me on this episode where I’m going old skool… just me, a mic, and my thoughts.

I’m tackling a big question: Why don’t ADHDers ask for help?

As someone who has been hyper-independent for most of my life, I’ve come to realise that this isn’t a strength - it’s a response to trauma. Many ADHDers struggle to reach out for support, whether in life, business, or personal relationships, and my intention for this episode explores is to explore why that might be and crucially, what we can do about it.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• How hyper-independence develops and why it’s not always a good thing.

• The hidden shame and beliefs that stop ADHDers from seeking support.

• Why we’re not supposed to do life alone (and how history proves it).

• The real-life challenges myself and my ADHD clients face daily.

• How to start identifying the help you need and overcoming the guilt of asking for it.

• Small, practical steps to lighten your cognitive load and reduce overwhelm.

If you’ve ever thought, “I should be able to handle this on my own,” this episode is for you!

To find out more about my work coaching ADHD business owners, https://bigpicturebusinesscoach.com/

In this episode, I sit down and chat with Vicky Quinn Fraser, a non-fiction writing and book coach who loves helping unconventional business owners find their voices. From her diverse career path to harnessing the power of ADHD, Vicky offers actionable advice and inspiration for writers navigating creative challenges.

Key takeaways that make this episode a must-listen for aspiring ADHD writers:

1. Learn about Vicky’s unconventional journey, from trapeze artistry to coaching, proving there’s no "right" way to do life - or to reach your own version of success!

2. Discover how having an ADHD brain can help with creativity and problem-solving.

3. Learn how to ditch perfection and embrace the 'compost heap'!

4. Feel inspired to build your own flexible writing routine tailored to your energy and lifestyle.

5. Pick up some fab tools and strategies for staying motivated - that don't involve eating the frog!

Tune in now to hear Vicky’s story and find out more about Vicky here.

How do you feel about goal-setting? If you're an ADHDer, like me, the thought of setting SMART goals or objectives probably brings you out in a rash and gets a hard 'NOPE' from your brain.

So if we want to get anything done, how do we best choose our direction and navigate our way there, without getting blown off course along the way?

Welcome to emotional-based goal setting. In this podcast ep I talk through:

• The key reasons rigid, numerical targets and and traditional goal-setting approaches often don't work for our brains

• The power of intention and how you can align your actions with your deeper motivation, by focusing on the desired feelings and emotions around your goals rather than what they will be measured by
• How to overcome procrastination and impulsive decision-making along the way and stick with your goals

• The importance of having a general direction or destination without rigidly adhering to a specific plan, and why this kind of flexibility and adaptability is crucial for ADHDers to set goals that stick - and actually achieve them!

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Need help setting goals that stick?

Book in a one-off intention-setting session with me - this is your opportunity to set your destination for the next 12 months and create the map to get you there. Email me to find out more and book yours at siobhan@revealmarketinguk.com

As of Dec 2024 I have a few slots left, or if you’d like to give January 2025 you a gift, book one in for when you’re back at your desk in the new year. Equally if you’re listening to this in 2025, you can give yourself this gift at any time. Setting intentions can happen at any time during the year, not just the end!