440 | Bipolar and ADHD: A Personal Narrative with Kimberly McColl

Eric is joined by Aran Rees, joining the show from across the pond! Aran has worked in professional development for close to a decade, specializing in self-directed peer-supported experiential learning and believes that learning is a survival skill! You’ll hear about the ways that the “why” behind the “what” we want to learn can affect the ways we learn, how our environments affect how we learn, and what is needed for genuine learning.  Topics & Questions in this Episode: How is work changing? How does the move from office-work to at-home work change the way we work?  (As of this recording), what is the average job tenure? Is the shift to learning online geared more towards compliance versus actual learning? Eric to Aran: “Whether we are trying to learn a new skill ourselves or a new job, from what you do professionally, what do we know about what is actually needed for genuine learning rather than regurgitation?”  What does learning begin with?  How does the interest in what we’re learning affect the ways we learn?  Are the goals you are pursuing actually important to you, or is this something someone else is encouraging you to do? Is it only important to you because that person is important to you? Then, is that enough of an ‘interest’ to keep you engaged? Once you’ve made a commitment and you care about something and you’ve carved out the time – what else is essential for learning a new skill or new ability?  What is Aran’s deep ‘why’ behind wanting more structure in his routines?  How can your environment affect learning? How can our environments affect our routines? What is the importance of environmental cues?  Resources & Honorable Mentions: “…I want to learn the piano, but actually I don’t want to learn the piano, I want to have learned it.” – Aran “People can’t be made to learn something they don’t care about.” – Aran Book: Book: Book:

Join the ADHD reWired Team every second Tuesday of the month for ADHD reWired’s monthly Live Q&A at 10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern!  If you’re listening to this early enough on the day it came out, go to adhdrewired.com/events to register so you can join the ADHD reWired Team live on Zoom!   Then, get an uninterrupted listening experience of this episode and all ADHD reWired episodes when you become a Patron at $5.00 a month or more by going to adhdrewired.com/Patreon! You might even catch some extra questions when you become a Patron and tune into the Patreon-only private podcast feed!  Questions/Topics:   [00:01:23] Welcome & introducing the panel [0003:12] A listener who was recently diagnosed with ADHD shortly after their son was diagnosed, doesn’t feel good about their prescriber’s knowledge of ADHD treatments.  What can be done to find the right people to prescribe or to help educate the prescribers beyond the usual, “How are you feeling?”   [00:11:44] Managing expectations and perspectives about communicating without needing to go into a lecture about having ADHD.  [00:13:14] How do you advocate for yourself when you don’t yet know what works best for you? [00:18:24] A discussion about boundary-setting and boundary violations.  [00:20:40] A listener asks about their 11-year-old son and screen time.  [00:30:18] “Do any of you have sensory issues?  When it comes to clothing and scents, is this an ADHD-specific thing, or could there be something else going on?”  [00:36:53] A masters student asks for tools and suggestions for keeping on top of writing, getting started on assignments, and working consistently.   [00:42:50] “Regarding the emotional regulation piece, how do you conceptualize where ADHD ends and the other struggles (such as bipolar or borderline or other mood disorders) begin?” [00:52:22] A listener asks about the secret-sauce to Eric nearing the 500-podcast-episode milestone, and also seeks advice on starting a podcast and being terrified of not being able to do it consistently.   [00:56:17] A listener talks about RSD and anxiety, and asks the panelists for advice when having a difficult time articulating their needs, especially at work.   Resources & Honorable Mentions: Website: CHADD at chadd.org Book: Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glower Tawwab Book: How to Write a Lot – A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing by Paul J. Silvia, PhD Book: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield  ADHD reWired Episode 118: Could it be Bipolar Disorder? With Dr. Robert Olivardia 🌟 Have you heard about our Adult Study Hall Community? Go to adultstudyhall.com to join our ADHD-friendly body-doubling community! 🌟 Interested in group coaching and want to take your ADHD management to the next level? Go to coachingrewired.com to get all the up-to-date information on the upcoming season of ADHD reWired’s award-winning Coaching & Accountability groups!

In this episode, I talk with Jeff Copper – ADHD & Attention Coach,  we bring the Coaches’ point of view on ADHD medication. 

• At first, Jeff simply explains the scientific facts behind the chemical reactions of our bodies when taking ADHD medications and he clarifies the side effects as well. He stresses the importance of taking the right drug, the right dose at the right time.
• Jeff and I, later on, have some fruitful discussions about the impacts of taking ADHD drugs and the impacts of NOT taking ADHD drugs and we shared our personal experience as both coaches and as people diagnosed with ADHD.

– Jeff highlights the great importance of education and making “well-informed” decisions based on self-awareness about personal ADHD needs.

• he shares some useful tips and techniques to articulate ideas to doctors or coaches especially writing your questions and concerns in a piece of paper.
• On the top of that, Jeff’s best advice is to adjust our expectations about ADHD drugs and create a balanced combination of medications and exercise when necessary.
• Jeff final words is to be patient, be wise to adjust and increase productivity and my final words are to make your decisions based on what you know and based on your reliable research not what you hear from media to manage your ADHD. Do your homework and understand your beautiful ADHD brain.

Join my Quantum Thinkers’s Mastermind, managing ADHD does not have to be done all on your own. Lean into the support of our group. 

Reference episode from Attention Talk Radio Podcast – https://digcoaching.com/adhd-meds-and-nonstimulants/

About Jeff Copper:

Email: jeff@digcoaching.com | Website: www.digcoaching.com

Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG, is an attention coach and expert on attention issues. He is the founder of DIG Coaching Practice and founder/host of Attention Talk Radio and Attention Talk Video. He coaches individuals with ADD/ADHD symptoms who are seeking personal and business results by helping them realize their potential. As someone who has had to learn to manage attention and deal with his own challenges, Jeff helps his clients understand themselves and how their minds work. To this end, Jeff developed his anatomy of attention construct to help them regain control of their attention and move past barriers. Using his anatomy of attention construct, they can achieve what they are capable of faster, with less stress, and create productive environments they need to succeed.

This week, ADHD reWired Coaches Eric Tivers, Kristin Marts, and Brian Entler get together for the first ever round-table discussion!  You’ll hear stories about troubles and tips for how coaches manage their own transitions, how each person leverages the tools in their ADHD toolbelts, the role of novelty, thriving in a crisis, how different times of day affect each coach, and more!   Send your suggestions and ideas of what you’d like to hear from the coaches in future Coaches Round Table episodes to support@adhdrewired.com with the subject line, “Round Table”  You can hear more from Brian, Kristin, and other past guests in all of our recordings of our monthly Live Q&As!  Find show notes to this episode and all past episodes adhdrewired.com/podcast!   More notes on this amazing episode coming soon!  In the meantime, checkout these resources mentioned on today’s show!  Podcast :: ADHD reWired Episode #342 – Transitions, Balancing Work, and Relations – with Adison Smith Podcast :: ADHD reWired Episode #429 – Growth Cycles with Brian Entler Podcast :: ADHD reWired Episode #514 – Introducing: The ADHD Creatives Podcast with Kristin Marts Book :: The One Thing by Gary W. Kellar and Jay Papasan ADHD reWired Coaching :: About Coach Kristin Marts at https://www.adhdrewired.com/coach-kristin-marts   ADHD reWired Coaching :: About Brian Entler at https://www.adhdrewired.com/coach-brian-entler Join our award-winning Coaching & Accountability Groups at coachingrewired.com  If you love the show and want to support our work, consider becoming a Patron at adhdrewired.com/Patreon 

Join the ADHD reWired Team every second Tuesday of the month for our monthly Live Q&A!  In this episode, you’ll hear how the members on the ADHD reWired team thrive with their ADHD, some tools and strategies on how they tackle their most unpleasant tasks, ADHD and gifted programs, and more!  Some of the Questions & Topics in this Episode: I’ve read a lot of books that talk about ADHD as a superpower.  For those who thrive and do well with ADHD, what are the key things that make the difference between somebody who thrives and somebody who struggles?  My son has the option to go to honors classes next year.  His teacher says he has no problem understanding the content and he is smart enough to understand it (the content), but “couldn’t possibly handle honors classes” so they won’t put him in them.  This doesn’t sit well with me.  Are there any suggestions on what I might do?  I need help getting unpleasant tasks done, like job searching.  How do we get these unpleasant tasks done?  My daughter has recently developed a skin-picking habit specifically with her nails to the point where she’ll pick at them until they bleed.  What are some strategies to help her not do it as often, knowing I can’t be there with her all the time? How do I get better at not biting off more than I can handle?  When was the last time you hit inbox zero?    Resources & Honorable Mentions: Coming soon!  Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens

In this episode, Eric is joined by Lorin Devine, who grew up in the cornfields of rural Illinois and has been driven to create, explore, and forge her own way.  In adulthood, she struggled to find footing in a world where she felt like she never quite fit.  In 2014, Lorin entered the world of tattooing.  Then, after 4 years in a busy walk-in studio, she left Illinois to spend 18 months on the road as a guest in more than 25 tattoo studios throughout the U.S. and Europe.  Halting travel in 2020 led to an ADHD diagnosis, and a framework to understand years of straining to conform to a neurotypical world.   Lorin is now based out in Portland, Oregon, where she is creating illustrative black and gray tattoos in a private studio.  Finding support in the ADHD community and the autonomy to curate her tattoo practice towards supporting a neurodivergent brain has empowered her to create the best possible work for her clients.  In this episode, you’ll hear discussions about being categorized as a gifted child, the impact of creating a working environment that works for us, and the importance of community.  Then, you’ll get to listen in on real-time coaching where you’ll hear about tips & tricks to go from time-blind to time-wise. Discover More from Lorin: Instagram: Website:   Bio Site:   Resources & Honorable Mentions: YouTube:  with Jessica McCabe  Tool:  Tool:  Tool:  Tool:  Another option for a Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens