Why do so many people with ADHD spend their lives trying to earn their worth? How do you know if you're masking? And why do even the most successful ADHD adults still feel like they're failing?

In this episode, ADHD coach and former British Army soldier Rich Forbes explains the hidden emotional burden of ADHD, how to spot masking, practical strategies for managing rejection sensitivity, and why the right environment can change everything. Before becoming an ADHD coach, Rich served for eight years in the British Army, bringing a unique perspective on resilience, identity, and what it really takes to thrive with ADHD.

Chapters:

00:00 Trailer

03:33 Why ADHD Makes You Feel You Have to Earn Your Worth

05:00 The Hidden Cost of Constantly Proving Yourself

07:53 The Moment Everything Finally Made Sense

09:10 The Saddest Thing People With ADHD Tell Themselves

10:16 The Grief Nobody Warns You About After ADHD Diagnosis

11:01 Why ADHD Diagnosis Hurts Differently at Every Age

17:00 How to Tell If You've Been Masking Your Entire Life

18:54 Maybe You're Not the Problem, Maybe It's Your Environment

21:04 Is Masking ADHD's Biggest Challenge?

25:06 What Years of Masking Really Costs You

28:22 The Emotional Weight ADHD Adults Carry Every Day

31:37 Tiimo Advert

32:56 How to Calm Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

34:52 A New ADHD Hack That Changes Everything

38:52 Why Success Never Feels Like Enough With ADHD

40:16 The Advice Every ADHD Adult Needs to Hear

42:33 The One Thing ADHD Adults Need to Stop Blaming Themselves For

48:03 Why Successful Women With ADHD Still Feel Like Failures

54:46 The Biggest Myth About ADHD in Women

58:18 A Letter to My Younger Self

Find Rich on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/richforbes_adhdcoach

Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter

Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817

Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e

Producer: Timon Woodward

Recorded by: Hamlin Studios

Trailer editor: Ryan Faber

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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