Podcast
ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast
Hosted by Kate Moryoussef · EN
Are you struggling with the challenges of life as a woman with ADHD? Perhaps you need support with your mental and physical wellbeing, so you can feel calmer, happier and more balanced? Perhaps you’re newly diagnosed with ADHD – or just ADHD curious – and don’t know where to turn for support. Or perhaps you’re wondering how neurodivergence impacts your hormones or relationships?
If so, the award-winning ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast is for you. This award-winning podcast is hosted by Kate Moryoussef, an ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach, author, EFT practitioner, mum of four, and late-in-life diagnosed with ADHD herself.
Each week, thousands of women just like you tune in to hear Kate chat with top ADHD experts, thought leaders, professionals and authors. Their powerful insights will help you harness your health and enhance your life as a woman with ADHD.
From tips on nutrition, sleep and motivation to guidance on regulating your nervous system, dealing with anxiety and living a calmer and more balanced life, you’ll find it all here.
The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast will help you live alongside your ADHD with more awareness, self-compassion and acceptance. It’s time to put an end to self-criticism, judgment and blame – and get ready to live a kinder and more authentic life.
“Mindblowing guests!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Brilliant and so life-affirming” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“So, so grateful for this!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Obsessed with this pod on ADHD!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ORDER NOW! Kate's new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit! https://www.adhdwomenswellbeing.co.uk/adhd-womens-wellbeing-toolkit
In The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Toolkit, Kate Moryoussef shares the psychology and science behind the challenges faced by women with ADHD and lays out a roadmap for you to uncover your authentic self.
With practical lifestyle tools on how to manage mental, emotional, physical, and hormonal burnout and lean into your unique strengths to create more energy, joy, and creativity, this book will help you (re)learn to not only live with this brain difference but also thrive with it.
56episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Stop Trying to Hack Your ADHD and Do This Instead
2d ago00:43:05Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my workshop library here or search for any topic on the Podcast here. If you've ever tried an ADHD productivity hack, felt briefly hopeful, and then quietly gone back to exactly how you were before, this episode is for you. Welcome to this week's summer compilation. This one is all about redefining what productivity actually means for ADHD brains, and letting go of the neurotypical advice that was never designed for the way our minds work. We hear from four guests across four different conversations. Ari Tuckman on why productivity isn't about doing more, but about creating a life that has more meaning and breathing room in it. Dr Jacob Santhouse on automaticity, why everyday tasks like filling in a form are so much more mentally exhausting for neurodivergent brains, and why that is not a character flaw. Sonia Ponzo on the paralysis state, interoception, and why ADHD brains so often struggle to read what their body actually needs in any given moment. Dr Claire Plumbly on the three states of the nervous system, what it means to get stuck in fight or flight, and how burnout can build so slowly we almost don't notice it. And Laura Willis on digital overload, the default mode network, and why a real rest is not the same as switching from emails to scrolling. In this episode, we cover: Why quick-fix productivity hacks rarely work for ADHD brains, and what to aim for instead How genuine productivity creates meaning and more time for the things that matter, rather than just getting more done What automaticity is and why struggling with everyday admin tasks is a neurological difference, not a personal failing Why form-filling, reading and life admin can deplete an ADHD brain so much faster than people realise What the paralysis state is and why knowing what to do is not the same as being able to start What interoception is and why ADHD brains often misread what they actually need, leading to cycles of shame and self-blame The autonomic nervous system explained: green, amber and red, and why so many of us get stuck oscillating between the last two How burnout can build quietly over time rather than arriving all at once Why scrolling on your phone during a break is not actually a break, and what the default mode network needs instead Practical, sustainable ways to create boundaries around technology that protect your energy and your headspace Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to this week's summer compilation 03:00 - Ari Tuckman: why productivity hacks rarely work for ADHD brains 05:30 - What real productivity looks like: meaning, not just output 08:00 - The importance of immediate rewards over vague long-term goals 10:00 - Sleep, nutrition, movement and flexible routine as the actual foundations 13:00 - Kate and Ari on the ADHD brain's contradictions and daily recalibrations 16:00 - Dr Jacob Santhouse: what automaticity is and why it matters 19:00 - How automaticity affects working memory and executive function 21:30 - Why form-filling is exhausting, and what to do about it 24:00 - Playing to your strengths and letting go of the guilt 27:00 - Sonia Ponzo: the paralysis state and why you can't always start 31:00 - What interoception is and why ADHD brains struggle with it 35:00 - The cycle of self-shame when we misread what our body needs 37:00 - Practical ways to start training interoception 41:00 - Dr Claire Plumbly: the autonomic nervous system explained 44:00 - Green, amber and red: rest and digest, fight or flight, and shutdown 48:00 - What it looks and feels like to get stuck in amber or red 51:00 - Kate on losing access to contentment and compassion during burnout 53:00 - Laura Willis: why scrolling is not a rest 55:00 - The default mode network and what a real mental break actually does 57:00 - Practical boundaries: phones out of reach, batch working and scheduled screen time Links and Resources: Find my popular ADHD Women's Wellbeing workshops and resources on my website here. Connect with the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod Get my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit (also available in ebook and audiobook) here Join the More Yourself membership community here Visit Dr Ari Tuckman's website: drarituckman.com Connect with Dr Ari Tuckman on Instagram Get Dr Ari Tuckman's book: The ADHD Productivity Manual Connect with Dr Jacob Santhouse on Instagram Get Dr Jacob Santhouse's book: Dyslexia Explained: Your Toolkit to Understanding and Thriving Visit Sonia Ponzo's website: outsetwellness.com Connect with Sonia Ponzo on Instagram Visit Dr Claire Plumbly's website: drclaireplumbly.com Get Dr Claire Plumbly's book: Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You Connect with Dr Claire Plumbly on Instagram Visit Laura Willis's website: laura-willis.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why So Many ADHD Women Have to Fight to Be Heard
5d ago01:04:41Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here or search for any topic you need on the Podcast here. A diagnosis doesn't give you a new brain. But it does turn the lights on, offer validation, and create a gateway to support and that changes everything. Welcome to this week's More Yourself Monday episode. This week I'm sharing a conversation I had as a guest on The Hairy Chin Podcast, hosted by Spencer Moore, a patient advocate with over 30 years of experience navigating complex healthcare systems in the US and Spain. Spencer's podcast is all about practical self-advocacy skills for women, and I loved being interviewed by her because she asked me things I don't always get to explore when I'm in the host seat. We ended up having a really open conversation about what it actually takes to get heard as a woman seeking an ADHD diagnosis, what that diagnosis does and doesn't change, and why so many of us have been quietly shrinking our ambitions when what we actually needed was flexibility, understanding and someone in our corner. In this episode, we cover: How I came to my own ADHD diagnosis at 40 while advocating for my daughter during lockdown Why so many women experience pushback, dismissal or misdiagnosis before reaching an ADHD assessment Practical tools for chronicling your symptoms and preparing for a doctor's appointment when your working memory is under pressure Why a diagnosis is a gateway, not just a label, and how it opens the door to support you didn't know you could ask for What diagnosis changes and what it doesn't, and why awareness is the most powerful tool of all Why so many ADHD women have quietly shrunk their careers and ambitions, and what needs to change in workplaces The nervous system as the foundation of everything: burnout, sustainability and how to start noticing your own triggers Why perfectionism is often a mask, and how understanding ADHD can finally help us let it go The importance of finding trusted resources and building a community when you feel alone with all of this Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to this week's More Yourself episode 01:00 - Introducing The Hairy Chin Podcast and Spencer Moore 03:20 - How Kate's daughter's struggles during lockdown led to both of their diagnoses 08:00 - Advocating for yourself when the healthcare system doesn't lead the way 12:00 - How to prepare for a doctor's appointment when ADHD makes it hard to articulate your history 17:00 - Why a diagnosis matters, and what it actually unlocks 21:00 - What a diagnosis changes and what it doesn't: building scaffolding, not a new brain 27:00 - The expectations women bring to diagnosis, and how to manage them compassionately 32:00 - ADHD women in the workplace: burnout, downsizing and what needs to change 39:00 - The nervous system: capability vs sustainability 47:00 - Walking without your phone and other small nervous system resets 51:00 - Perfectionism, done is better than perfect, and the 2.0 version of yourself 56:00 - Trusted resources, the book and the More Yourself membership Links and Resources: Find my popular ADHD 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 ebook and audiobook) here Join the More Yourself membership community here Listen to The Hairy Chin Podcast here Connect with Spencer Moore and The Hairy Chin on Instagram Visit The Hairy Chin website: thehairychin.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why Parenting 'Rules' Don't Work in a Neurodiverse Family
1w ago00:55:41Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here or search for any topic on the Podcast here. If you've ever lost your patience with your child and then felt terrible about it, or wondered why what works for every other family just doesn't seem to work for yours, this ADHD parenting compilation episode is for you. Today's episode is all about parenting in neurodiverse families and the real day-to-day of parenting neurodivergent children when you're often navigating your own ADHD at the same time. We hear from four guests across four different conversations, each bringing something distinct. Jessie Hewitson on what PDA actually is and how low-demand parenting can change everything. Dr Casey Ehrlich on why meltdowns are a nervous system response, not a discipline problem, and what it looks and feels like to go through the paradigm shift every PDA parent has to make. Kristen Pressner on giving up the search for a scaled solution and learning to become a brain friend instead. And Dr Tamara Rosier on the window of tolerance, why ADHD people have a narrower one, and what we can do about it in the moment. None of this is about perfection. It's about understanding, acceptance, compassion, and choosing options that feel more aligned with your family, without judgement. In this episode, we cover: What pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is, how it shows up and why it's so often misunderstood Why low demand parenting is not about giving in, but about lowering anxiety and keeping connection How meltdowns are a threat response in the nervous system, not a sign of bad parenting or a bad child The paradigm shift: moving from trying to fix your child to understanding how their brain actually works Why interest, not importance, motivates the ADHD brain and what that means for family life Kristen Pressner's concept of being a brain friend, and how a judgment-free household helps everyone thrive What the window of tolerance is and why ADHD narrows it The difference between hyper and hypo arousal and simple tools to move between states Dr Tamara Rosier's pool metaphor for understanding big emotions in neurodiverse families Why co-regulation starts with you, and how managing your own nervous system first makes everything easier Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to this week's compilation 03:27 - Jessie Hewitson: what is PDA and how does it show up 05:12 - Why PDA is inconsistent and so hard to explain to schools and relatives 07:15 - Kate on recognising PDA traits in her own children 08:07 - Low demand parenting and why the hierarchy has to shift 11:27 - Dr Casey Ehrlich: moving out of fixing mode and into acceptance 13:47 - Why a meltdown is a threat response, not a lack of skills 16:52 - The new baseline: treating dysregulation like a panic attack, not a behaviour problem 18:30 - Casey's own journey to a paradigm shift through Buddhism and radical acceptance 22:10 - Kristen Pressner: why there is no scaled solution in a neurodiverse family 24:00 - Interest versus importance: how the ADHD brain actually gets motivated 28:00 - How Kristen's family members responded to their diagnoses 31:15 - The brain friend concept and creating a judgment free household 39:21 - Dr Tamara Rosier: what the window of tolerance is 41:10 - Hyper versus hypo arousal and how ADHD narrows the window 44:05 - How Kate's window shrinks across a busy day and what she does about it 45:24 - Practical tools for widening the window and staying regulated 49:05 - Co-regulation and why the pool metaphor helps families understand big emotions 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 ebook and audiobook) here Join the More Yourself membership community here Get Jessie Hewitson's book: ADHD: How to Raise a Happy Child with ADHD Connect with Jessie Hewitson on Instagram Visit Dr Casey Ehrlich's website: atpeaceparents.com Connect with Dr Casey Ehrlich on Instagram Learn more about Kristen Pressner and watch her TEDx talk: kristenpressner.com Visit Dr Tamara Rosier's website: tamararosier.com Connect with Dr Tamara Rosier on Instagram Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach, podcast host, author and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why Parenting 'Rules' Don't Work in a Neurodiverse Family
1w ago00:45:00Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here or search for any topic on the Podcast here. If you've ever lost your patience with your child and then felt terrible about it, or wondered why what works for every other family just doesn't seem to work for yours, this ADHD parenting compilation episode is for you. Today's episode is all about parenting in neurodiverse families and the real day-to-day of parenting neurodivergent children when you're often navigating your own ADHD at the same time. We hear from four guests across four different conversations, each bringing something distinct. Jessie Hewitson on what PDA actually is and how low-demand parenting can change everything. Dr Casey Ehrlich on why meltdowns are a nervous system response, not a discipline problem, and what it looks and feels like to go through the paradigm shift every PDA parent has to make. Kristen Pressner on giving up the search for a scaled solution and learning to become a brain friend instead. And Dr Tamara Rosier on the window of tolerance, why ADHD people have a narrower one, and what we can do about it in the moment. None of this is about perfection. It's about understanding, acceptance, compassion, and choosing options that feel more aligned with your family, without judgement. In this episode, we cover: What pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is, how it shows up and why it's so often misunderstood Why low demand parenting is not about giving in, but about lowering anxiety and keeping connection How meltdowns are a threat response in the nervous system, not a sign of bad parenting or a bad child The paradigm shift: moving from trying to fix your child to understanding how their brain actually works Why interest, not importance, motivates the ADHD brain and what that means for family life Kristen Pressner's concept of being a brain friend, and how a judgment-free household helps everyone thrive What the window of tolerance is and why ADHD narrows it The difference between hyper and hypo arousal and simple tools to move between states Dr Tamara Rosier's pool metaphor for understanding big emotions in neurodiverse families Why co-regulation starts with you, and how managing your own nervous system first makes everything easier Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to this week's compilation 03:27 - Jessie Hewitson: what is PDA and how does it show up 05:12 - Why PDA is inconsistent and so hard to explain to schools and relatives 07:15 - Kate on recognising PDA traits in her own children 08:07 - Low demand parenting and why the hierarchy has to shift 11:27 - Dr Casey Ehrlich: moving out of fixing mode and into acceptance 13:47 - Why a meltdown is a threat response, not a lack of skills 16:52 - The new baseline: treating dysregulation like a panic attack, not a behaviour problem 18:30 - Casey's own journey to a paradigm shift through Buddhism and radical acceptance 22:10 - Kristen Pressner: why there is no scaled solution in a neurodiverse family 24:00 - Interest versus importance: how the ADHD brain actually gets motivated 28:00 - How Kristen's family members responded to their diagnoses 31:15 - The brain friend concept and creating a judgment free household 39:21 - Dr Tamara Rosier: what the window of tolerance is 41:10 - Hyper versus hypo arousal and how ADHD narrows the window 44:05 - How Kate's window shrinks across a busy day and what she does about it 45:24 - Practical tools for widening the window and staying regulated 49:05 - Co-regulation and why the pool metaphor helps families understand big emotions 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 ebook and audiobook) here Join the More Yourself membership community here Get Jessie Hewitson's book: ADHD: How to Raise a Happy Child with ADHD Connect with Jessie Hewitson on Instagram Visit Dr Casey Ehrlich's website: atpeaceparents.com Connect with Dr Casey Ehrlich on Instagram Learn more about Kristen Pressner and watch her TEDx talk: kristenpressner.com Visit Dr Tamara Rosier's website: tamararosier.com Connect with Dr Tamara Rosier on Instagram Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach, podcast host, author and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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ADHD, Love and Intimacy: Understanding Neurodivergent Relationship Needs
2w ago00:45:00Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here or search for any topic you need on the Podcast here.Whether you've been with your partner for years or you're navigating dating after a late diagnosis, ADHD changes how we love, connect and show up in relationships, and this episode is entirely about that.Welcome to this week's summer compilation episode. Rather than a single conversation, I've pulled together some of the most resonant clips from three different episodes on ADHD, love, intimacy and relationships, because I wanted to bring all of this into one place for you.We begin with Lisa Rabinowitz, couples counsellor, certified Gottman and PACT therapist and author of Why Won't You Stop Interrupting Me? Lisa talks about how blame rarely helps either partner, why neurodivergence is often present on both sides of a relationship, and how working as a team rather than against each other can genuinely turn things around.Then we hear from Sara-Louise Ackrill and Bontle Senne, AuDHD therapists, writers, and advocates and co-authors of The ND Lovers Club. They talk about psychological safety, masking in relationships, self-disclosure, and why understanding yourself is always the foundation before you can truly connect with someone else.And we close with Dr Angela Wright, a trauma-trained clinical sexologist, sex medicine practitioner and menopause clinician, who talks honestly about how hormones, the nervous system and ADHD all intersect when it comes to desire, intimacy and what changes in midlife.In this episode, we cover:Why neurodivergence is often present in both partners, even when only one has a diagnosisHow to move from blame to teamwork in a neurodiverse relationshipLisa's concept of the "talk nook" and why having a dedicated space for connection mattersWhy psychological safety is the foundation of intimacy for neurodivergent peopleHow masking and people pleasing quietly erode intimacy over timeWhat self-disclosure in relationships and dating really looks like for ND womenWhy so many neurodivergent women are reconsidering traditional relationship structuresHow hormones and perimenopause affect desire, arousal and connectionWhy the ADHD brain's need for novelty and dopamine can complicate long term relationshipsHow the nervous system underpins sexual arousal, and why feeling safe comes firstTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome and introduction to this week's compilation episode03:30 - Lisa Rabinowitz: why both partners are often neurodivergent05:47 - Moving from blame to understanding in a neurodiverse relationship08:00 - How couples come back from the brink with awareness and teamwork10:15 - The three legged race: working toward the finish line together14:48 - Focusing on strengths and creating the talk nook16:29 - Sara-Louise Ackrill and Bontle Senne: psychological safety in relationships20:53 - Why masking is survival, not a quirky personality trait23:27 - Self-disclosure: what to share, when and why28:27 - How perimenopause and diagnosis collide in midlife relationships33:04 - Celebrating the traits neurodivergent women bring to relationships34:33 - Dr Angela Wright: dopamine, novelty and desire in long term relationships37:00 - How hormones affect arousal and what changes in perimenopause41:22 - The nervous system, safety and why emergency mode kills desireLinks and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website here.Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podGet my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit (also available in ebook and audiobook) hereJoin the More Yourself membership community hereVisit Lisa's website: counselorforcouples.comConnect with Lisa on Instagram: @rabinowitzcounselingGet Lisa's book: Why Won't You Stop Interrupting Me? Simple Solutions for ADHD CouplesVisit Sara-Louise and Bontle's website: builttodiverge.comGet their book: The ND Lovers Club: How Neurodivergent Women Lust, Like and LoveVisit Dr Angela Wright's website: spicedpearhealth.co.ukKate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach, author and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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What I Wish I'd Known Earlier About ADHD, Burnout and Saying No
3w ago01:03:30Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here or search for any topic you need on the Podcast here.What if the conversation you needed to hear wasn't one Kate was leading, but one where she was being asked the questions for a change?Welcome back to a More Yourself Monday episode. This week I'm sharing a conversation I had as a guest on the Limited Time Only podcast, hosted by Esther Stanford and Susie Riddell. It's a beautifully produced show that feels like a proper chin wag over a cup of tea, and I had such a good time talking to them.In this conversation, we go into some topics that don't always get as much space on the main podcast: what my life looked like before diagnosis, the shame that came with finally getting those answers, and the very real experience of sensory overload and limited social batteries. We also talk about how burnout can creep in quietly rather than arriving all at once, how hormones and perimenopause can amplify everything, and why decompression and downtime aren't luxuries; they're necessities.I hope you find it as useful and validating to listen to as I found it to record.In this episode, we cover:What Kate's life looked like before her ADHD diagnosis at 40, and how her daughter's struggles during the pandemic finally connected the dotsWhy the initial reaction to diagnosis is so often shame rather than relief, and how that shifts over timeSensory sensitivities, limited social batteries and why understanding these is so freeingWhy ADHD and trauma are deeply interlinked, but trauma does not cause ADHDHow fluctuating hormones and perimenopause amplify ADHD traits, and why this hits neurodivergent women harderWhat ADHD burnout actually looks and feels like when it builds slowly rather than arriving all at onceKnowing which "season" you're in and why that matters before making any big decisionsWhy decompression time is non-negotiable, not a nice-to-haveSimple daily practices: movement, outdoor time and breathwork to regulate your nervous systemLearning to say no, protect your bandwidth and stop performing for everyone elseTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome to this More Yourself episode01:00 - Introducing the Limited Time Only podcast and what this conversation covers02:58 - Kate's story: life before diagnosis and how her daughter's struggles led to both of their assessments07:34 - Why girls with ADHD get missed, and the epidemic myth08:50 - The shame that comes with diagnosis, and navigating it publicly10:33 - Labels, autism, and finding language that doesn't hold us back15:02 - Sensory sensitivities, limited social batteries and permission to protect your energy18:27 - The parent experience: protecting yourself when you're already pouring into everyone else23:14 - Hormones, perimenopause and why ADHD traits can feel amplified in midlife28:57 - Gabor Maté, trauma and ADHD: why Kate disagrees with the causation theory34:56 - Burnout, boundaries and knowing your bandwidth40:42 - The empowerment of finally knowing your limits49:50 - How to recognise which season you're in52:33 - What ADHD burnout really looks like when it creeps in slowly55:22 - Simple practices: movement, breathwork and giving yourself buffersLinks and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website here.Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podGet my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit (also available in ebook and audiobook) hereJoin the More Yourself membership community hereListen to the Limited Time Only podcast on Spotify here and Apple hereFollow Limited Time Only on Instagram: @limitedtimeonlypodcastKate 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How and WHY a Doctor Missed Her Daughter's ADHD
3w ago00:50:41Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here. The 'ADHD Women's Wellbeing Workshop Series' is on offer this July. Head here to learn more about the workshops and use code JULY to get 35% off.If you've ever wondered why it took so long to get answers, for yourself or for your daughter, this episode is going to feel very familiar.On this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm joined by Dr Olivia Kessel, a former medical doctor who graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and began her career in the trauma unit at Johannesburg General Hospital.Olivia is now the host of the SEND Parenting Podcast and has spoken at the UK House of Lords on patient-centred care, appeared on BBC Radio and BBC Sounds, and addressed healthcare professionals and policy leaders on neurodiversity. She is also the mother of Alexandra, fourteen, who has mild cerebral palsy, dyslexia and ADHD, and the author of Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls.In this episode, Olivia shares the remarkable and deeply personal journey that took her from practising medicine across three continents to founding the SEND Parenting community, after years of not recognising ADHD in her own daughter despite her medical background. We talk about why girls are still being diagnosed four to five years later than boys, how emotional dysregulation, masking and internalised struggles are so often missed, and what parents can actually do when they find themselves navigating a system that wasn't built for their child.In this episode, we cover:Why girls with ADHD are still being diagnosed four to five years later than boys, and what needs to changeHow ADHD can present in girls as anxiety, people pleasing and internalised struggle rather than hyperactivityWhy 52% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD, and why the two should never be looked at in isolationThe emotional dysregulation that doesn't appear in the DSM diagnostic criteria, and why that mattersWhy Olivia, as a doctor, still missed her daughter's ADHD for yearsHow the EHCP process almost broke her, and why it shouldn't be this hard for any familyThe four wheels that need to be running for an ADHD brain to thrive: medication, nutrition, sleep and school supportWhy early screening for neurodivergence in schools would benefit every child, not just those who are neurodivergentHow Olivia's daughter Alexandra went from chaos to making cottage pie by herself after finally getting the right supportWhat parents can bring to their GP to start asking the right questionsDiscover other ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast parenting-related episodes here.Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome, and introducing Dr Olivia Kessel 01:44 - Olivia's career: from South Africa to Swaziland to the UK 08:55 - The EHCP process, and why it almost broke her 10:16 - How a former medical doctor missed her daughter's ADHD diagnosis 12:19 - Why girls are diagnosed so much later than boys 14:19 - How ADHD presents differently in girls: internalisation, anxiety and masking 16:27 - Dyslexia, ADHD and autism: why they rarely travel alone 18:17 - Sleep, emotional regulation and the things the DSM leaves out 22:06 - What changes when families finally understand their child's diagnosis 24:34 - Parenting with a neuroaffirming lens: Kate's own experience 27:06 - How Alexandra has grown in her own self-awareness at fourteen 30:26 - Why so many neurodivergent people were always there, just hiding 34:27 - Screens, social media and navigating this as an ADHD parent 40:19 - Why schools should teach every child as if they were neurodivergent 43:30 - Olivia's book Beyond the Label, her podcast and her ADHD mum community 45:33 - Why patients are currently leading the doctors on neurodiversityLinks and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website here.Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podVisit Olivia's website: sendparenting.comConnect with Olivia on Instagram: @drolivia.sendparentingListen to Olivia's podcast: SEND Parenting PodcastGet Olivia's book: Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD GirlsKate 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Hidden Connections Between ADHD, Hypermobility and EDS: When Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You Something
Jul 1500:50:40Tap to summarizeLooking for further guidance and support on ADHD Women's Wellbeing? Check out my resource library here. The 'ADHD Women's Wellbeing Workshop Series' is on offer this July. Head here to learn more about the workshops and use code JULY to get 35% off.If you've been told your pain is growing pains, anxiety or just something you need to live with, this episode might be the beginning of finally understanding what's actually been going on in your body.On this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm joined by Alexandra Orfanides, a London-based hypermobility specialist osteopath and founder of Hypermobility HQ.Alexandra hosts the Help! I'm Hypermobile podcast and is the author of the book of the same name. She believes that "incurable" does not mean "untreatable," and she's on a mission to help the hypermobile community feel seen, supported, and informed.In this episode, Alex and I talk about the significant overlap between hypermobility and neurodivergence, why so many women spend decades being dismissed or misdiagnosed, and what it actually means to understand your body through this lens. We also get into the difference between osteopathy and physiotherapy, how to recognise signs of hypermobility in children, and why self-treatment strategies are such a crucial part of managing a connective tissue condition day-to-day.In this episode, we cover:What hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorder actually are, and why the terminology mattersWhy growing pains are not a real diagnosis, and what to look for in children insteadThe strong correlation between hypermobility, ADHD and neurodivergenceHow conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and dysmenorrhea overlap with hEDS and HSDWhy gastrointestinal issues in children should never just be dismissed as IBSThe difference between osteopathy and physiotherapy, and how to find the right practitionerHow chronic pain, headaches and migraines can be connected to hypermobile connective tissueWhy rhythmic movement, including swimming and dancing, can be so regulating for hypermobile and neurodivergent bodiesThe importance of self-treatment strategies for people who can't always access clinic appointmentsWhy a diagnosis is a privilege, and how Help! I'm Hypermobile was written to reach the people who couldn't afford oneTimestamps: 00:00 - Welcome, and introducing Alexandra Orfanides 01:40 - Alex's personal story: growing up with undiagnosed pain 05:52 - From English literature to osteopathy 09:45 - Why hypermobility patients kept finding their way to Alex's clinic 11:46 - The overlap between hypermobility, ADHD and neurodivergence 14:12 - Osteopathy vs physiotherapy: what's the difference? 17:36 - Terminology: hEDS, HSD, condition vs disorder 20:30 - What patients are coming in knowing, and what they're not 23:57 - Signs to look for in children: growing pains, gut issues and more 28:15 - Endometriosis, PCOS and hormonal conditions in hypermobile bodies 30:39 - Migraines, headaches and the connection to the neck and connective tissue 36:32 - The gatekeeping problem and self-treatment strategies 39:24 - Working as a team with your patients 43:35 - Why Alex wrote Help! I'm Hypermobile 45:42 - How to work with Alex and what to expectLinks and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod Visit Alexandra's website: hypermobilityhq.comConnect with Alexandra on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest: @hypermobilityhqListen to Alex's podcast: Help! I'm HypermobileGet Alex's book: Help! I'm Hypermobile: Your How-To Guide for hEDS, HSD, and Life in a Hypermobile BodyResearch: Gynaecological conditions in hEDS and HSD (Daylor et al., 2025): https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14165636Research: Defining growing pains — a scoping review (O'Keeffe et al., 2022): https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052578Kate 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Feeling Overwhelmed and Overactivated? ADHD Regulation Strategies for a Busy Summer
Jul 1300:16:57Tap to summarizeLooking for ADHD support this summer? My entire 'ADHD Women's Wellbeing Series' is on offer this July. Head here to learn more about the workshops and use code JULY to get 35% off.Now that summer is upon us, it can be both a vibrant and overwhelming time, and can often feel like riding a rollercoaster for your nervous system when you are ADHD or neurodivergent.This season brings a whirlwind of social engagements and activities that ramp up our energy and excitement. But for many of us, this relentless pace leads to overwhelm and burnout if we don't balance that activation with necessary moments of calm. In this episode, we delve into understanding our nervous systems and recognising when we're becoming overactivated.Activation itself isn't the problem; joy, excitement, creativity, travel, and meaningful work can all be activating. But staying in this energy for weeks can lead to reactivity, snapping, disturbed sleep, and emotional exhaustion. Kate shares her tips for bringing balance into daily life through micro mindful moments, rather than waiting for burnout to force you to slow down.You'll hear how you can proactively weave grounding practices into your routine, whether it's a few minutes of breathwork, a walk in nature, or simply pausing to check in with yourself.In this episode, we cover:How summer's whirlwind of social activities can feel exciting but overwhelming, especially for those of us with ADHDWhy understanding the difference between nervous system activation and regulation is key to managing our responses during busy timesDaily moments of regulation aren't luxuries, but necessary maintenance for our well-beingHow grounding activities like yoga, breathwork, or time in nature help us recharge and prevent burnoutWhy listening to our bodies is vital, and how ignoring signs of fatigue often leads to burnoutHow to find a rhythm between activation and regulation, rather than staying in a constant state of high energy or anxiety🌟 The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Audio Experience is here!My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right.Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to women diagnosed late in life with ADHD. Get lifetime access here!Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website hereFollow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podGrab your copy of my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit hereKate Moryoussef is an author, podcaster and 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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"Why Can't I Remember Anything?" Understanding ADHD, Working Memory & Mental Load
Jul 800:46:13Tap to summarizeLooking for ADHD self-empowerment, guidance and support? Look through my ADHD Women's Wellbeing resources here. My entire 'ADHD Women's Wellbeing Series' is on offer this July. Head here to learn more about the workshops and use code JULY to get 35% off.I'm sure you relate to recalling an entire conversation from months ago or even song lyrics from the 80s, but forgetting why you walked into a room thirty seconds ago?On this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm joined by Dr Sarah Rudebeck, a clinical psychologist with a PhD in memory from the University of Oxford.Sarah specialises in working memory and executive function difficulties in adults, and is the co-founder of Recallify, an AI companion for memory support. She works clinically in the NHS, with a particular interest in bridging the gap between what research tells us about memory and what people are actually offered in terms of help.In this episode, we talk about the difference between memories that are simply hard to retrieve under pressure and genuine working memory difficulties, why so many ADHD adults share a similar cognitive profile of strong intellectual ability alongside weaker working memory and attention, and why working memory cannot be trained like a muscle, no matter how many crosswords or brain games we try. We also get into the practical side, from school admin and parenting reminders to household overwhelm and overbuying, and how Sarah's own frustration with the gap between research and everyday support led her to co-found Recallify.In this episode, we cover:The difference between memories that are "in there" and memories you can retrieve under pressureWhat working memory actually is, and how it differs from attention, executive function and long-term memoryThe common ADHD cognitive profile: strong intellectual ability alongside weaker working memory and processing speedWhat happens during a neuropsychological assessment, and what it reveals about your own pattern of strengths and difficultiesWhy working memory cannot be trained like a muscle, and what the research on brain training actually showsHow hormonal changes in midlife can affect word retrieval and confidenceWhere working memory difficulties show up day to day, from school admin to household overwhelmWhy so many of us overbuy and overcompensate rather than under-organiseSarah's own experience of dyslexia and learning to lean on her strengthsHow Recallify came about, and how its brain dump and task features workTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome, and introducing Dr Sarah Rudebeck01:23 - Sarah's background and her work in the NHS02:43 - Why memory can feel reliable in conversation but fail under pressure05:50 - What working memory actually is08:36 - What happens during a neuropsychological assessment12:21 - How working memory difficulties show up in children at school14:41 - Why working memory cannot be trained like a muscle19:44 - Everyday examples: parenting, school admin and household overwhelm24:38 - Why so many of us overbuy rather than under-organise29:31 - Using your strengths to work around your weaknesses32:01 - How the gap in NHS support led Sarah to create Recallify46:33 - Sarah's free trial offer for listenersThis week's episode is sponsored by elete, a simple way to support your hydration by adding essential electrolytes to the water you're already drinking. So many of us get completely absorbed in a task and forget to drink anything for hours, then wonder why we feel foggy or flat later in the day. Elete is sugar-free, with no artificial sweeteners or unnecessary additives, and it's trusted by health-conscious families, athletes and wellness professionals alike. Head to eletewater.co.uk and use the code WWP20 for an exclusive 20% listener discount.Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podVisit Recallify's website: recallify.aiConnect with Recallify on Instagram: instagram.com/recallify.ai, Facebook and LinkedInEmail Sarah's team for a free one-month trial of Recallify; each voucher is unique so you'll need to get in touch directly: info@recallify.aiKate 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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