For years, Franka van der Poll believed she was simply too much. Too impulsive. Too emotional. Too restless. Too intense. She spent decades chasing adventure, throwing herself into relationships, fitness and work, always searching for something she couldn't quite explain. Then everything changed. A routine foot operation left her with chronic pain. Isolation during the COVID lockdowns in Spain pushed her to breaking point. It was only later, after receiving an ADHD diagnosis, that her life finally made sense. Not because the diagnosis changed who she was. Because it changed how she understood herself. In this deeply honest conversation, Franka shares the extraordinary journey behind that realisation. We talk about childhood, grief, identity, chronic pain, perimenopause, resilience and the freedom that comes from finally understanding your own mind. Along the way, we also laugh our way through the unbelievable stories behind her book, SWIPE Love - from disastrous online dates to the strange world of dating apps, and the moment she realised she'd become addicted to swiping rather than searching for love. This episode is funny, emotional and full of hope. • ADHD in women and why it is so often missed• The hidden impact of chronic pain and depression• Perimenopause and self-understanding• Why diagnosis can be liberating rather than limiting• Online dating, identity and finding humour in life's chaos• What it really means to rebuild yourself If you've ever wondered whether you were the problem, this conversation is for you. Unstoppable Women is a podcast about reinvention. Each episode features a woman who has faced one of life's defining moments - grief, illness, divorce, redundancy, burnout or a complete change in direction - and discovered that their greatest challenge became the catalyst for their next chapter. These conversations are honest, practical and deeply human, reminding us that no woman is as stuck as she thinks she is. I'm Julie, founder of Unstoppable by Design. I help women at turning points stop waiting for confidence and start creating momentum. Through one-to-one partnerships, retreats, workshops and the Unstoppable Women community, I help women reconnect with who they are and take purposeful action towards what's next. If Franka's story resonates with you, I'd love to help you write your own next chapter. 🌐 www.unstoppablebydesign.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and share it with someone who needs to hear that they were never broken either.