The voice in my head said “You’re stupid”: ADHD and negative self-talk (Carla Ciccone’s story)
About this episode
Carla Ciccone shares her experiences with ADHD and the impact of negative self-talk on her life and motherhood.
Carla Ciccone, author of Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD’s Lost Generation, shares what it’s like to grow up thinking you’re the problem. She talks about learning to mask when she was just 6 years old and living with constant negative self-talk. Like many girls with ADHD, Carla hid her struggles and felt like a lost cause. Carla opens up about her inner voice — the one that says “you’re stupid” — and how fear, failure, and pressure from others can build deep self-doubt. Motherhood became a turning point, pushing her to change the way she spoke to herself so her daughter wouldn’t continue the cycle. Also in this episode: Carla draws parallels between her experiences with asthma and ADHD.
People in this episode
Host: Laura Key
Guest: Carla Ciccone
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD’s Lost Generation
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