Living with an ADHD Partner
Navigating life with a partner who has ADHD can be a unique and enriching experience, full of both challenges and triumphs. ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, affects many adults in ways that can influence relationships, routines, and communication. Understanding how ADHD manifests and developing strategies to foster a healthy relationship are key to thriving together.
Redefining Your Faith & Spirituality
As we navigate faith-related challenges, doubts, or transitions, it’s important to remember that this exploration is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Whether you're questioning your current beliefs, exploring a new spiritual path, or redefining your relationship with faith, you don’t have to go through it alone. Coaching offers non-judgmental support to help you better understand yourself, your beliefs, and your journey.
LGBTQIA+ in an Unaccepting Society
Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community is an act of resilience, particularly when living in a state or country that doesn’t accept you. In many parts of the world, the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights is still ongoing, and individuals in these regions often find themselves at the intersection of discrimination, fear, and isolation. Yet, despite these challenges, the strength and unity within the LGBTQIA+ community continues to shine.
Understanding the Basics of Gender: A Beginner’s Guide
In recent years, discussions about gender have become more prominent, yet for many, the concept of gender beyond the traditional male and female binary remains confusing. This post aims to provide a foundational understanding of gender, addressing the idea that it is far more nuanced than many of us were taught. To help explain these complexities, we’ll reference the "Genderbread Person," a widely recognized and accessible model created by Sam Killermann.
The Double-Edged Sword of Success for ADHD Individuals
Success is often viewed as the ultimate benchmark of capability and potential. For individuals with ADHD, achieving success can feel like a monumental victory—a testament to perseverance, creativity, and sheer determination. However, what many don’t see is the hidden burden that comes with success for neurodivergent individuals.
Undiagnosed Adult ADHD
For years, ADHD was primarily considered a childhood condition, often overlooked in adults. However, the reality is that many adults—particularly women and marginalized groups—go undiagnosed, struggling silently with symptoms that affect every aspect of their lives. This phenomenon has gained more attention recently, shedding light on how ADHD manifests in adulthood and the barriers that keep people from receiving proper diagnosis and support.
ADHD in Relationships
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often thought of as a condition that affects school performance or workplace productivity, but its influence extends far beyond those spheres. For individuals with ADHD and their partners, the condition can present unique challenges in romantic relationships. With the right awareness and strategies, however, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities for growth and connection.
ADHD Common Threads
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While it is often associated with children, ADHD can persist into adulthood, creating unique challenges at every stage of life. By understanding the common symptoms and problems associated with ADHD, we can foster greater empathy and support for those living with this condition.
Time Blindness
If you or someone you know lives with ADHD, the phrase “time blindness” might resonate deeply. For those unfamiliar, time blindness is not a formal medical term but rather a way to describe the challenges many individuals with ADHD face in perceiving and managing time. It's a concept that sheds light on the unique struggles tied to this condition and provides a framework for better understanding and supporting those affected.
Decision Paralysis
If you or someone you know lives with ADHD, the phrase “time blindness” might resonate deeply. For those unfamiliar, time blindness is not a formal medical term but rather a way to describe the challenges many individuals with ADHD face in perceiving and managing time. It's a concept that sheds light on the unique struggles tied to this condition and provides a framework for better understanding and supporting those affected.
Letting Go of Parenting Perfection
Parenting is often described as the most rewarding job in the world, but it can also feel like the most relentless one. Many parents grapple with the nagging feeling that they are never quite good enough—that they are falling short in ways big and small. If you’ve ever found yourself lying awake at night replaying your perceived parenting failures, you are not alone.
Breaking the Cycle: Replacing Self-Harm with Healthy Coping Strategies
Self-harm is a deeply personal and complex behavior that many people turn to as a coping mechanism for emotional pain, overwhelming stress, or a sense of numbness. While it may provide temporary relief, it is not a sustainable or healthy solution. Instead, developing healthier coping strategies can lead to lasting emotional regulation and improved mental health.
This post explores why self-harm might feel like a coping mechanism, discusses its impact, and highlights Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills as effective alternatives for managing distress.
Understanding Suicidal Thoughts
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide and has a plan to act on them, please seek immediate help. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or call 911 in an emergency. Your life matters, and help is available.
Fight or Flight Exhaustion
We’ve all heard about the “fight-or-flight” response. It’s our body’s way of preparing us to handle immediate danger, triggering a cascade of physiological changes—increased heart rate, heightened alertness, and a rush of adrenaline. This ancient survival mechanism is incredibly effective for short-term threats. But what happens when your body stays stuck in fight-or-flight mode, unable to return to a regulated, calm state?
The answer is simple: exhaustion. Both physically and emotionally.
Why We Get Defensive When We Know We're Wrong
Defensiveness is a universal human experience. It can show up as anger, excuses, or even an overwhelming need to justify our actions. Often, this response emerges when we sense—even subconsciously—that we’re wrong. But why do we get defensive instead of acknowledging the truth? The answer lies in the interplay of psychology, emotions, and our need for self-preservation
Women Voicing Injustice
Throughout history, societal norms have systematically silenced women when they attempt to voice discomfort or objection to inappropriate treatment. This suppression isn’t just an artifact of the past but persists in subtle, often insidious forms in modern society. Women are frequently encouraged—both explicitly and implicitly—to tolerate behavior that disrespects their boundaries rather than confront it.
The Winter Blues
For individuals with ADHD, particularly those who are extroverted, the colder months can be even more difficult. Depression can creep in, leaving them feeling disconnected, restless, and out of sync with their usual high-energy selves.
Why Social Interaction is a Need, Not Just a Want
Extroversion isn’t just about being outgoing or enjoying parties. At its core, it’s a personality trait defined by how we derive energy. While introverts recharge by spending time alone, extroverts thrive on external stimulation—and most often, that comes from being around other people.
Navigating the Holidays with Religious Trauma:
The holiday season, with its twinkling lights, festive gatherings, and cultural traditions, is often depicted as the most wonderful time of the year. But for those who have experienced religious trauma, this time can evoke complex emotions: a blend of longing, anxiety, and unresolved pain.
Accepting Grief
Grief is a universal experience, yet deeply personal. Whether it stems from the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a significant life transition, grief reminds us of our fragile humanity. Existential therapy offers a unique lens through which to navigate this complex emotional landscape, focusing not on avoiding pain but on embracing it as an integral part of existence.