28. Why ADHD still feels so hard - even when you understand it

28. Why ADHD still feels so hard - even when you understand it

From No Such Thing as Normal by NZME

March 27, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

This episode explores the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD and offers insights on how to work with their unique brain functions.

ADHD is being talked about more than ever.  But for many, life still feels harder than it should. Even with a diagnosis there can be a lingering sense of “Why is life still so difficult?” In this episode, Sonia speaks with ADHD coach Alex Campbell, to find out what we’re missing. Alex says ADHD brains are motivated by interest, not importance. But the world expects the opposite, and that’s the where issues arise. People often develop hidden systems to try to meet life’s demands - hypervigilance, hyper-independence and a harsh inner-critic.  But these come at a cost.  Their are high rates of burnout and exhaustion for those with ADHD. This conversation explores a different way forward: understanding how your brain works, and learning how to work with it, rather than constantly pushing against it. In this episode: How interest acts as the fuel for focus and executive function Why simple tasks can feel disproportionately hard to start How the brain creates stimulation when things feel boring Negative interest: why anxiety and urgency often become the default fuel The hidden coping systems (hypervigilance, masking, hyper-independence) The…

People in this episode

Host: Sonia

Guest: Alex Campbell

Topics covered

  • ADHD
  • mental health
  • coaching
  • burnout
  • executive function
  • emotional intensity

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • burnout
  • hypervigilance
  • inner critic
  • executive function
  • emotional intensity
  • coaching

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