Claire's recent recurrent nightmares and a podcast reccomendation have made her want to finally share her deeply personal journey of escaping an abusive relationship decades ago. We talk around the unique vulnerabilities ADHD women face in toxic partnerships.

• ADHD traits can make individuals more susceptible to manipulation and gaslighting
• Early warning signs of abuse include controlling behavior, isolation from friends and family, and financial control
• Abusive relationships often escalate gradually over years, with physical violence sometimes appearing later
• Nightmares and PTSD symptoms can persist long after leaving an abusive relationship
• Fear of being alone, not being believed, or retaliation can keep victims trapped for years
• Speaking to trusted people and reaching out to domestic violence services can help those trying to escape
• Finding yourself again after abuse is possible, and being single can be empowering rather than frightening

If you're experiencing domestic abuse, please contact a national domestic violence helpline for support.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge)

The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect)
The Mix, free information and support for under 25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop)

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

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Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

ADHD diagnosis brings initial relief until the harsh reality sets in – it helps you understand yourself better but doesn't make the struggles disappear. The journey continues with extreme highs and lows, requiring ongoing effort and coping strategies.

• Gen shares that recognizing anxiety as an "unwelcome visitor" rather than part of her identity represents significant growth
• When physical symptoms of anxiety include heightened awareness of your heart and lungs and racing thought patterns
• Anxiety can trigger awareness of other past mental health issues like eating disorders
• Having neurodivergent friends who truly understand you is invaluable for us ADHD parents
• Children with neurodiversity often connect more authentically with other neurodivergent adults
• Even stressful situations (like accidental acrylic paint on rental property steps) can become brilliant bonding experiences for your kids, with the right people

Sisters in Chaos, raise a fist!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We discuss the emotional journey of moving house as a Mum with ADHD, from being stuck in overwhelming clutter to successfully downsizing by 75% into a more functional living space. Frickin WOOOO-HOOOOOOO! YES Claire!!!

• Setting the ambitious goal to eliminate 75% of possessions despite sentimental attachments and hoarding tendencies
• Discovering the surprising ease with which her teenage son adapted to minimalism after years of collecting
• Processing the emotional grief of letting go of cherished mementos and childhood items
• Confronting the "ADHD tax" - finding multiple duplicates of items purchased when originals couldn't be found
• Managing the overwhelming administrative burden of moving while working full-time
• Implementing practical organization systems like color-coded tags for different categories of items
• Experiencing the tremendous improvement in quality of life after downsizing to a more manageable space

The rewards of downsizing far outweigh the pain of the process. Learning to stop filling emotional emptiness with possessions has created space for relaxation and meaningful projects. This is an exciting new chapter for Claire!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

This week we explore the balance between global activism and personal challenges, sharing how we navigate feelings of helplessness about world events while managing the daily chaos of ADHD parenthood.

• Claire discusses her journey from feeling helpless about the situation in Palestine to taking action by connecting with local activists
• The importance of boycotting certain products as a tangible way to make a difference
• How Claire's recent job change after 17 years created both anxiety and new opportunities for meaningful engagement
• Gen shares her struggles with household management as a single parent and the physical manifestations of her stress
• The contrast between overwhelming home responsibilities and the excitement of one of Gen's band's songs reaching one million Spotify streams
• Both hosts reflect on maintaining perspective and gratitude while still acknowledging personal challenges
• The value of teaching children to appreciate their fortunate circumstances without guilt-tripping

Are you with us?

Sisters in Chaos!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

Household management presents unique challenges for mothers with ADHD, from the constant distractions to the repetitive, unrewarding nature of daily tasks. We explore "Overwhelmed Mum Syndrome" and share practical solutions for making our homes more ADHD-friendly.

• Household tasks are particularly difficult for ADHD brains due to lack of structure, constant interruptions, and minimal dopamine rewards
• The gendered division of labour places most household management on women, contributing to the rise in adult female ADHD diagnoses
• Co-regulating with children while managing your own ADHD creates additional emotional labour
• Creating ADHD-friendly systems like bag sorting methods and ready-to-go areas can significantly reduce daily stress
• Home hacks like dishwashers, key hooks, and strategic storage systems make life more manageable
• Sometimes the best solution is letting go of neurotypical standards and finding creative adaptations that work for your unique brain

Raise a fist and say it with us... Sisters in chaos!

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We share our experiences with dating fatigue, disability discrimination, and finding joy in neuro-divergent spaces while navigating life with ADHD.

• Gen admits reaching dating fatigue and Claire points out how Gen's standards have risen as she's learned more about herself
• Dating with ADHD presents unique challenges including time management and intense connections
• Gen celebrates her current joy in "platonic dating" - developing meaningful friendships from dating connections without romantic expectations
• Claire shares her frustrating experience completing a 21-page handwritten disability form that forced her to relive medical trauma
• Systemic discrimination against people with disabilities exists despite workplace accommodations supposedly being available
• We both acknowledge the struggle with internalized ableism when claiming disability status for invisible conditions
• The episode ends on a high note with our Comic Con experience - a joyful gathering of "our people" where neurodivergence is celebrated

Support the show

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We discuss the highs and lows of our weeks, ft:
• Claire's escalating dismay at a furniture company over delayed sofas and turning confrontation into a win
• Finding satisfaction in home organization that creates space for creative projects
• Dealing with a child's escalating school refusal and the emotional complexity as an ADHD parent who relates
• The joy of a weekend getaway for Gen with her band at Whitby Goth Festival
• Learning to celebrate small victories and turn potential lows into unexpected highs

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx

We're back after an unexpected 18-month break, and what a whirlwind it's been! Life with ADHD never slows down, and we've both experienced some big changes that have reshaped our day to day completely.

Gen's journey has taken her from co-parenting related job loss to university studies, from a relationship ending to dating adventures, and most significantly, through transformative EMDR therapy that's revolutionized her self-perception.

Meanwhile, Claire's path has been dominated by health challenges – from employment discrimination due to illness to multiple diagnoses, a significant medical weight loss journey, and the emotional rollercoaster of losing her housing security before finally purchasing her first flat. Through it all, she thinks the clarity brought by her ADHD medication has helped her develop stronger boundaries and self-advocacy skills.

Both of us have been exploring the possibility that we're not just dealing with ADHD but may also be on the autism spectrum – a common co-existing condition that explains many of our sensory and social experiences. This expanded understanding has brought greater self-compassion and clearer perspective.

Moving forward, we're redesigning the podcast to focus less on education (there are plenty of experts doing that brilliantly) and more on normalizing and sharing authentic experiences. We'll maintain our signature "Highs and Lows" segments while adding more listener interaction, creating space for the ADHD community to connect through shared stories.

If you have questions or experiences you'd like us to discuss? Reach out through our social channels – we want to platform more diverse voices within the ADHD community, whether you're a mother or not.

Sisters in chaos unite!

Further TW: This podcast references at times: alcohol abuse, depression, mood disorders, medical emergency, miscarriage, traffic accidents, grief and loss, teen pregnancy, anxiety, abuse, PDA, low self esteem, and anti-depressant medications, disordered eating, hoarding...

All music written and produced by Ash Doc Horror Lerczak.
Artwork by Gen

For more information about us, our podcast and our ADHD MUMS community, visit OUR WEBSITE.

To make a small donation towards our podcasting expenses, visit our BUY ME A COFFEE we are eternally gratefulllllll!!!

PLEASE like and subscribe, and if you enjoyed the show, leave us a review.
Let's get ADHD MUMS up the pod charts and raise awareness when we all need it most!

See you next Wednesday! xxx