ADHD Chatter

Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen is a British clinical psychologist and world-renowned expert on autism. In this deeply personal and eye-opening conversation, we explore the hidden struggles of being autistic, from the loneliness of feeling different and the emotional cost of masking to the link between autism, addiction and mental health. We uncover why autistic people can see patterns others miss, the truth about autistic empathy, and what happens when years of masking leave you questioning who you really are. An essential conversation for anyone who has ever felt different, misunderstood or alone. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:24 What Everyone Gets WRONG About Autism 08:02 The Hidden Psychological Cost of Feeling Different 10:01 Are You Born Autistic? Nature vs Nurture 11:32 Why Autistic People Crave Intellectual Intimacy 14:59 The Loneliness Nobody Talks About 19:07 When Autistic Obsessions Become Superpowers 21:20 The Darkest Side of Feeling Different 23:56 The Shocking Link Between Loneliness and Addiction 28:08 The Hidden Cost of Autistic Masking 33:05 When Masking Makes You Lose Yourself 38:33 Why Autistic Girls Are More Vulnerable to Abuse 42:22 Why Autistic Brains See What Others Miss 49:55 The Biggest Myth About Autistic Empathy 01:17:30 An Emotional Letter to My Younger Self Buy Simon’s book 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pattern-Seekers-Theory-Human-Invention/dp/014198239X Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and leading voice in women’s health and hormones. In this episode, she joins Alex to explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD, hormones, the immune system, pregnancy, postpartum changes, PMDD and perimenopause, and why so many women are still being misunderstood by conventional medicine. Chapters: 00:00 The Heartbreaking Reality of ADHD 02:07 The ADHD Patient Dr Jolene Will Never Forget 05:19 Why ADHD Isn’t Just a Brain Condition 06:51 The Hidden Brain–Hormone–Immune Connection 12:14 Why Estrogen Can Change Everything for ADHD Women 14:04 What Medicine Still Gets Wrong About Female ADHD 16:43 The Shocking Link Between ADHD, PMDD & Endometriosis 29:45 Why Pregnancy Can Make ADHD So Much Harder 32:54 The Postpartum ADHD Experience Nobody Warns You About 37:02 Why ADHD Can Suddenly Get Worse in Perimenopause 43:23 The 14-Day Meal Plan for Better ADHD Energy & Focus 50:21 The Lifestyle Habits That Can Transform Female ADHD 52:37 What ADHD Women Think Is Normal — But Isn’t 53:28 The ADHD Symptom Women Blame Themselves For Most 56:55 A Letter to My Younger Self Dr. Brighten’s Book ADHD & Women: https://drbrighten.com/adhd-and-women/ Dr. Brighten’s Website: https://drbrighten.com Dr. Brighten’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten Dr. Brighten’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoleneBrighten Dr. Brighten’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten Dr. Brighten’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbrighten/ Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clinical psychologist, therapist and ADHD expert Dr Jacob Ambrose returns to explore what a dysregulated nervous system really looks like, why anxiety and hypervigilance can become your normal, and what happens when you finally begin to feel safe. We discuss why rest can initially feel uncomfortable, the difference between being perceptive and hypervigilant, why rejection can feel so personal, and a difficult question: if fear has powered you for most of your life, what replaces it when you begin to heal? Chapters: 01:14 What does ‘healing your nervous system’ actually mean 02:17 What does a dysregulated nervous system actually look like 04:50 Why healing makes you feel worse to start with 06:21 The first rule of healing 08:06 The big emotions that come with healing 12:23 How healing reduces anxiety and makes you less productive 17:42 If your life has been powered by fear, what replaces it 19:31 How can you feel exhausted but not realise 21:10 Restorative solitude vs unhealthy isolation 23:55 Tiimo advert 25:30 The early warning signs of a dysregulated nervous system 29:22 Why reason leaves you when you’re triggered 32:51 When rejection stops feeling so personal 37:23 The difference between being perceptive and hypervigilant 38:51 Are you healing when things that bothered you no longer do 41:42 Healing from narcissistic abuse 47:37 Advice for anyone who’s trying to heal 48:49 A letter to my younger self Find Dr Jacob on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dr.jacob.ambrose/?hl=en Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices