474 | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with Emily Sussman

In this episode, my friend and colleague Brooke Schnittman talk about the importance of community, especially for those of us who may have never felt like we belonged because we are a little different. There is something absolutely magical when I found my ADHD community, for the first time in my life I truly feel like I can be myself and I know that I have a kick-ass community that has my back and gets me.

We hope you enjoy this episode and also we wanted to share with you a little about our community and how you can join us.

To find out more about the program that Brooke mentioned visit ***3C Activation Group Coaching***

In today’s episode, Eric is joined by Edward Savio!  Edward is a dad, has ADHD, wrote a musical, and grew up in Connecticut; after Howard University, Edward moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting, where he became a 10-year overnight success!  Savio’s first novel, Idiots in the Machine, was picked up by Sony Pictures from the academy award-winning producers of Forest Gump. After more deals with Sony, Disney, and others, Edward shifted his focus  writing novels so he could spend more time with his family.  He wrote his first three novels in the home overlooking San Francisco Bay, where Danielle Steel wrote her first two breakout novels.  He also once nearly drove Val Kilmer off a cliff!   Learn more about Edward at his website: EdwardSavio.com 🌟 Go to adhdrewired.com/Patreon where you can get an uninterrupted listening experience of this show!  You’ll also catch the full content of today’s episode and Eric and Edward’s extended discussion when you become a Patron at $5 a month or more!  You can even join Eric every 4th Tuesday of the month for a Patron-only monthly coaching call at $25 a month!  Questions/Topics:  [00:01:32] Introducing Edward Mentioned here: Book – Idiots in the Machine   [00:02:50] How Edward became successful and a writer and managing ADHD  [00:04:45] Routine, resistance, novelty, and plateauing [00:06:03] How to revisit a project that’s been put away for a while  [00:09:10] Misunderstandings in writing and why inflection matters [00:10:50] Struggles with transitions  [00:14:09] Getting help and taking action  [00:15:04] Edward shares some of his writing process and mitigating distractions  [00:21:23] Systems, built-in overhead, and a question about calendars  [00:25:37] Planning for and putting fun stuff on your calendar, and guilt when not engaging with goal-directed behavior  [00:29:04] “Do you know how many people said they wished they worked more?” and a creative person’s struggle  [00:31:04] “I want to make sure […] my writing does not overtake my ability to interact with people.” – Edward  [00:33:00] Goals, good ideas, and basketball in the office  [00:37:43] Tips for when your brain is faster than you can write and organizing thoughts  [00:41:51] When you don’t want to write, do this.  [00:42:52] What else has Edward been up to?  Mentioned here: Book – The Velvet Sledgehammer [00:47:11] Closing thoughts & where to find more from Edward  Resources & Honorable Mentions: ADHD reWired: Episode 497: Succeed in College with Hannah Choi Book: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware 🌟 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 today’s episode we have a heartfelt conversation with Zara, Dr. of Pharmacy. We talked about: 

• Her late-in-life diagnosis of ADHD, barriers to diagnosis, and the effects of medication on her day-to-day [0:52]
• Life after diagnosis and medication [6:55]
• Zara’s go-to tools for focus, productivity, and calm. Understanding the dopaminergic effects of task completion and procrastination. [8:49]
• Zara’s thoughts on medication and ADHD – addiction, psychiatrist guidance, and medication tolerance [13:03]
• Zara’s heartwarming message to other late-in-life diagnosed ADHDers, and the top 3 things she thinks you should do after a diagnosis [16:55]

Invitation to upcoming MasterClass – bit.ly/ADHDMasterclass 

About: Zahra Darya Shahangian,  Doctor of pharmacy

She served as a pharmacy executive for several healthcare systems developing clinical programs, improving medication safety & quality assurance & implementation of digital health technology to drive healthcare innovation.   Her personal struggles with the pressures of climbing the executive co-operate ladder lead her to pursue Holistic Neuropathic Treatment options to Mental Health Disorders.  Her mission is to help eliminate the stigma around Mental Health and push beyond the pill to incorporate natural remedies to support nutritional deficiencies and optimize  patients treatment regimen.   Connect with Dr. Zara contactdoctorzara@gmail.com

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting with Yakini Pierce, discussing her journey with ADHD as a parent.  

Yakini Pierce is a mom with ADHD that has two children, both with ADHD. She has an MBA and degrees in engineering and mass communications, but her strong passion is advocating for parents that have children with ADHD, parents, and adults in general that have ADHD through her ADHD Love platform.

I enjoyed listening to her perspective and approach when it comes to parenting kids with ADHD. 

You can find out more about Yakini’s work:

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/adhdlove2020/
• Twitter – https://twitter.com/adhdlove2020
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/adhdlove2020/
• Clubhouse – https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@adhdlove2020 
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDLove2020
• ADHD Love Merchandise:  https://www.adhdlove2020.com/
• Podcast – ADHD Love Parent Talk Spotify, iTunes 

There are three representations of ADHD

• Combined Presentation: if enough symptoms of both criteria inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity were present for the past 6 months
• Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: if enough symptoms of inattention, but not hyperactivity-impulsivity, were present for the past six months
• Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: if enough symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, but not inattention, were present for the past six months. (ref – CDC.gov)

In this episode, I dig deep in understanding how those with Inattentive ADHD manage life and work. When I read the article Living with Inattentive ADHD by Barbara Luther I had to bring her on my show to further discuss this topic.

I encourage you to listen to the full episode as she covers some very key areas such as goal setting, task management, overall living with Inattentive ADHD – the challenges and strengths, and much more.

About Barbara Luther, MCAC, MCC, is the Director of Training for the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). Over the past 20 years, Barbara has trained, observed, mentored, and assessed thousands of coaches.

Barbara specializes in coaching adults impacted by ADHD to rewrite their “what’s not working” stories into appreciative and empowering stories about their unique brain wiring and strength

She was the founding president of the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC), an organization devoted to establishing and maintaining global standards of excellence for ADHD coaches.

Access my complimentary online mini-lesson, to learn a new perspective of what impacts your focus and immediate actions you can take to move through your tasks with ease.

  Returning to the podcast is David Greenwood, the author of .  He is also the author of and hosts the ADHD podcast called “Overcoming Distractions.” Learn more about David Greenwood at Find his books Overcoming Burnout and Overcoming Distraction at   Hear David Greenwood previously on ADHD reWired on episode #165 – Hear Eric as a guest on David’s podcast:   Questions/Topics Answered in this Episode: [00:05:44] What made David want to write about burnout? [00:07:45] What is burnout?  What are the symptoms/basic signs of burnout?  [00:09:26] What is the line distinguishing between depression and burnout?  [00:10:45] Alleviating stress is not the same thing as alleviating the stressor. What’s the difference? [00:13:40] “Burnout recovery starts with the body.”  [00:20:28] How do we know if we’re in a period of stress vs. actual burnout that needs to be addressed?  [00:24:04] What else can we do, other than exercise, to help with burnout? [00:36:17] Recap of the 6 things to do when you begin to recognize you’re headed to burnout. [00:37:48] Another way to help with burnout is…  [00:40:03] How do drugs/alcohol affect burnout?   6 things to do when you begin to recognize you’re headed to burnout: Talk with someone you trust.  Hit the gym / do something physical & exercise    Sit still.  Try for 30 minutes to start.   Book a weekend away.  Manage your time.  Test your “no” and say no to at least one thing.  Resources & Honorable Mentions: Book:   Bonus Mentions: ADHD reWired episode #404:   Watch and listen to Eric’s interview with one of his past podcast guests, Pasha Marlowe, on Pasha’s Podcast on YouTube: Pasha’s Book:   Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens The Annual International Conference on ADHD is coming soon!  Join virtually or in person in Dallas, Texas!  Then, listeners of ADHD reWired can get 15% off your registration at !  Or use the promo code adhdrewiredadhdcon2022 at checkout!