ADHD Chatter

Paris Hilton is a global icon, entrepreneur, and one of the most recognisable women in the world. But behind the fame and success is a story of childhood trauma, undiagnosed ADHD, and a lifelong struggle to feel understood. In this deeply personal conversation, Paris opens up about her traumatic experiences at Provo Canyon School, the loneliness behind her public persona, masking her true self, and the emotional pain of rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). We also explore how ADHD affects her everyday life, what she hopes to teach her children about being different, and the emotional message she would give her younger self. Chapters: 00:00 Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD 03:39 The Trauma Paris Hilton Experienced at Provo Canyon School 06:18 Is Paris Hilton Hiding Her True Self? 08:53 The Hidden Loneliness Behind Paris Hilton’s Fame 10:58 Why Rejection Hurts Paris Hilton So Deeply 13:59 Tiimo: Making Life With ADHD Easier (Sponsored) 15:18 What to Tell Yourself When Rejection Feels Unbearable 17:34 20,000 Tiny Rejections: The Hidden Emotional Cost of ADHD 19:40 What Paris Hilton Wants Her Children to Know About Being Different 21:28 The Everyday Tasks Even Paris Hilton Struggles With 23:08 Paris Hilton’s Powerful Message to Anyone Struggling With ADHD 25:42 What Paris Hilton Would Tell Her Younger Self Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  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

Can diet, gut health and peptides play a role in autism? In this episode of ADHD Chatter, I sit down with Oxford scientist Sarah Warley to explore the fascinating relationship between autism, the gut and the brain. We discuss the surprising differences in the gut microbiome of autistic people, why gastrointestinal problems are so common, the role of mitochondria, and emerging research into peptides that could potentially improve certain symptoms. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:23 Can Changing Your Diet Improve Autistic Traits? 02:50 The Personal Story Behind Sarah's Research 08:07 How Your Gut Could Be Affecting Your Brain 10:43 The Surprising Difference in Autistic People's Gut Bacteria 16:31 Why So Many Autistic People Have Gut Problems 19:49 Could This Peptide Really Reduce 91% of Symptoms? 27:10 Which Autistic Traits Could Actually Improve? 33:39 The Surprising Connection Between Candida and Autism 39:59 The Hidden Link Between Autism, Mitochondria and Energy 44:06 An Emotional Letter to My Younger Self Visit Sarah’s website 👉 https://www.thekeyclinic.co.uk Find Sarah on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/thekeyclinic/?hl=en-gb 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<sid=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

Why do so many people with ADHD and autism experience chronic pain, unexplained exhaustion and hypermobility? In this episode, ADHD and autism expert Nick Potter explores the surprising connections between neurodivergence and physical health, from fibromyalgia and easy bruising to interoception and why ADHD and autism have historically been overlooked in women. Chapters: 00:47 The Hypermobility Test: Are You Hypermobile Without Knowing? 07:38 Why So Many ADHD and Autistic Women Were Missed 11:39 The Surprising Link Between ADHD, Autism and Chronic Pain 15:37 What Fibromyalgia REALLY Feels Like 24:23 Advert 26:12 Why You're Always Exhausted (Even After Resting) 33:05 Why Do You Bruise So Easily? 36:07 Interoception: Why You Might Not Notice Your Body's Signals 51:04 ADHD and Autism: What If Your Brain Isn't the Problem? 01:02:30 A letter to my younger self   Visit Nick’s website 👉 https://backboneclinic.com/our-team Visit Nick on instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/backboneclinic/ Discover Neuralis by HealthRestore — a dedicated ADHD Profile designed to help people explore their individual characteristics and strengths through a personalised assessment. Try it through ADHD Chatter here 👉https://kf7jhxklzbmwcf.kartra.com/analytics/traking_links/G8V6EFgBshdT?tracking_id1=XXX&tracking_id2=XXX&cpc=X.XX Learn more about Neuralis here:https://www.myadhdprofile.com 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<sid=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

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<sid=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

I wish I knew about this 14 day meal plan years ago. It changes everything. Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and leading voice in women’s health and hormones. 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<sid=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<sid=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

This episode has been paid for by Focused. It contains an advert for their ADHD assessments. Almost one year on, Danielle Mulligan, Focused Clinical Lead and ADHD Nurse Practitioner, returns to the podcast to discuss how assessment and support for ADHD is changing. Get a discount on your ADHD assessment at Focused -- use the code 'CHATTER' at checkout   https://uk.focused.clinic/ Chapters: 00:00 The Heartbreaking Reality of ADHD 02:33 Why ADHD Makes You Feel Broken 06:47 The Scary Pattern After 1,000s of ADHD Assessments 10:35 Why Being Misunderstood Turns Into Shame 12:48 Why an ADHD Diagnosis Can Make Things Feel Worse 15:18 The #1 Thing ADHD People Blame Themselves For 17:03 The Hidden Grief After an ADHD Diagnosis 19:31 How ADHD People Learn to Hide It 22:50 Why So Many ADHD Adults Were Missed for Decades 24:57 The Pattern Before an ADHD Breaking Point 25:57 Why Focused Was Created  26:57 What Actually Happens During an ADHD Assessment 28:45 What an ADHD Assessor Is Really Looking For 29:47 How to Make ADHD Assessments Feel Safe 31:06 The Growing NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment Gap 33:30 The Biggest Misconception About ADHD 34:56 A Heartbreaking Letter to My Younger Self Take the ADHD and Education survey at Focused = Enter their £150 prize draw  https://uk.focused.clinic/adhd-education-survey/quiz Explore Focused:  https://uk.focused.clinic/ Focused on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusedclinic Focused on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/focused.clinic/ Focused on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcrewyWYFprbMiObNA1Jgow Focused on X  https://x.com/Focusedclinic Focused on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusedclinic/ 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<sid=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<sid=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

Professor Gina Rippon is a revolutionary Autism specialist . Having written multiple books on the topic, Gina Rippon PHD shares the ultimate guide to spotting autism in high masking autistic women. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:19 How Autism Can Be Hidden — Even From Yourself 03:25 Are You Socialising… or Performing? 05:10 Masking Can Start Earlier Than You Think 07:20 Why Making Friends Can Feel So Hard 09:53 The “Contradictory” Personality Nobody Understands 11:35 What Are Autistic Girls Trying to Hide? 15:25 How Masking Affects Romantic Relationships 20:58 What Happens When You Can’t Mask Anymore 22:25 The Hidden Cost of Masking for Years 24:19 How Much Are You Actually Masking? 27:58 Tiimo advert 29:17 How ADHD Can Hide Autism in Women 34:25 Can You Accidentally Mask During an Autism Assessment? 37:01 The Dangerous Side of People-Pleasing 38:28 The Questions Autism Assessments SHOULD Ask 39:42 What I Wish Every Autistic Woman Knew 41:17 Why Autism Can Look Like OCD 43:07 A Letter to My Younger Self 46:00 Focused survey read Find Gina on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gina-rippon-33287819 Buy ‘The Lost Girls Of Autism’ 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Girls-Autism-Autistic-Research-ebook/dp/B0CX7G2BZW Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Focused are running a new survey and a prize draw giveaway, where you can win £150 in Amazon vouchers just for taking part. It's just 5 simple questions about how ADHD affected you (or affects you now) at college and university. Take the survey here. 👉 https://uk.focused.clinic/adhd-education-survey/quiz It's open to anyone living with ADHD aged 18 or over. (The results from their previous survey about ADHD & health are in too -- results here 👉 https://uk.focused.clinic/myhub/adhd-health-survey-results ) 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<sid=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

Why does something as simple as replying to an email, doing the washing or starting a task feel almost impossible with ADHD? In this episode, leading ADHD advocate Hester Grainger reveals what’s really happening inside the ADHD brain when we procrastinate, and shares 4 practical, brain-based ways to finally get started. We also explore dopamine, motivation, shame, and what happens when years of struggling begin to change the way you see yourself. If you’ve ever called yourself lazy because you knew what you needed to do but still couldn’t do it, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:57 Why Your ADHD Brain Just Can’t Start 07:06 Dopamine Explained Simply 10:14 The First ADHD Hack That Gets You Moving 13:57 The Second Hack: Make Your Brain Care 17:13 The Brutal Things ADHD Makes You Believe About Yourself 20:18 When ADHD Turns Into Shame 21:43 When Procrastination Becomes Your Identity 24:01 Tiimo advert 25:20 The Third Hack: Why Pressure Actually Works 30:34 The Fourth Hack: The ADHD Motivation Switch 33:38 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Hester’s website 👉 https://www.perfectlyautistic.co.uk Find Hester on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hestersvibe/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=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