Navigating Adult ADHD

Ever spend the whole day exhausted, promise yourself an early night… then suddenly it’s midnight & your brain has decided NOW is the perfect time to come alive? 

In this episode, we’re talking about ADHD & sleep & why getting to bed, falling asleep & actually feeling rested can be such a bloody struggle.

We’ll cover:
Why some ADHD body clocks naturally run later
Bedtime procrastination, time blindness & the “just one more thing” trap
Why nighttime can feel like the only part of the day that’s actually yours
Racing thoughts, stimulation & why lying quietly in the dark doesn’t always help
Practical, ADHD-friendly ways to make sleep easier
Why poor sleep can make ADHD feel even louder
When sleep problems might be worth looking into properly

Plus, plenty of very relatable examples of what our brains get up to when they should be sleeping.

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM US:
*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain
*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)
*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD
*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List
*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena
*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 
*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Why can your ADHD brain receive 10 lovely comments… then obsess over the ONE person who criticised you?

In this episode, we’re talking about RSD, its lesser-known flip side RRE (Recognition Responsive Euphoria) & why genuine recognition can have such a powerful impact on ADHD brains.

We’ll cover:
Why rejection & criticism can hit so bloody hard
Why ADHD brains can forget the good & cling to the bad
How recognition can boost motivation, energy & confidence
Why you need to create your own File of Fantastic Shit
What to put in it & when to use it

Because sometimes your brain needs reminding of the evidence it conveniently forgot…

LINKS TO GOOD SH*T FROM XENA:
*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain
*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)
*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD
*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List
*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena
*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 
*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Ever wondered why one tiny thing can suddenly send you from “I’m fine” to “I absolutely cannot deal with this”?
In this episode, we’re talking about the Window of Tolerance & why understanding this is incredibly helpful when you have ADHD.
You’ll learn:
Why your capacity can look completely different from one day to the next
The difference between the red zone, blue zone & being inside your window
How stress, sensory overload, emotions and everyday ADHD demands can push us outside it
Why feeling safe matters to our nervous system
Simple ways to regulate, build capacity & widen your window of tolerance

Resource mentioned: 
Breathing Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety - Dr. Andrew Huberman on the Physiological Sigh

CONNECT WITH & WORK WITH XENA:
*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain
*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)
*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD
*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List
*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena
*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 
*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Dopamine gets ALL the attention in the ADHD world… but what about endorphins?

These little feel-good chemicals can help take the edge off stress, support your mood & make life feel just a bit easier. And the best part? Some of the easiest ways to get them are actually pretty fun.

In this episode, we’re talking about:
What endorphins actually are & why they matter
Why movement can help shift your ADHD state
The very legitimate benefits of laughing your arse off
How singing, music & dancing can help when you’re stressed or stuck
Why doing something slightly hard can leave you feeling surprisingly good
How to bring more play into your life 

Plus, I’m setting you a simple 7-day Endorphin Experiment so you can find out what genuinely helps YOU feel better.

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM XENA:
*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain
*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)
*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD
*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List
*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena
*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 
*Come hang out with me on Instagram!

One Saturday morning, I ended up in the ER saying, “I think I’m having a heart attack.”

Two weeks later, I had a diagnosis I’d barely heard of: POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

In this episode, I’m sharing what happened, what POTS actually is & the interesting overlap researchers are seeing between POTS, ADHD & other neurodivergent conditions.

We’ll talk about:
The weird symptoms that finally made me realise something wasn’t right
What POTS actually does to your body
The connection between POTS and neurodivergence
Common symptoms, triggers and co-occurring conditions
What diagnosis & management can look like
Why understanding what your body is doing can change everything

If you’ve ever thought, “Why does my body do this weird sh*t?” this one is worth a listen.

RESOURCE MENTIONED: https://www.dysautonomianz.co.nz/

Important: POTS symptoms can overlap with other medical conditions, so please don’t diagnose yourself from a podcast or smartwatch. If something here sounds familiar, speak with your doctor.

LINKS TO MORE GOOD SH*T FROM XENA:
*Join Adulting with ADHD your ADHD toolbox & everything you need to work with your brain
*Get our ADHD Coach in your pocket! + the ADHD Goal Setting Workbook (life planner tool)
*12 Things I wished my Doctor had told me about Adult ADHD
*Find out if you might be living with ADHD - Download Symptoms List
*Check out Courses & Coaching with Xena
*Learn, Inspire, Share & Connect inside our Facebook Community 
*Come hang out with me on Instagram!