The Anxious ADHDer

Jess

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Overthinking? Same. I’m Jess, your anxious, tea-fuelled ADHDer figuring life out one impulsive decision (and mild panic) at a time. The Anxious ADHDer is a podcast for brains that don’t always play by the rules. And if I dare so say myself, honest, funny, and a little chaotic in all the right ways. New episodes every Monday. Grab your brew, press play, and feel a little more understood. 💜

2025-12-29

ADHD and the Weird Week

Ever notice how the week between Christmas and New Year doesn’t feel like a real week? Like time has lost its edges, routine has packed up and left, and your brain is just floating around asking what it’s meant to be doing. In this episode, I’m talking about the Weird Week. That in-between drop after December ends, and why it hits ADHD brains especially hard. We get into what actually happens when structure disappears overnight, why feeling bored and overwhelmed at the same time makes total sense, and why this week isn’t about rest, failure, or “not using your time well”. I also talk about how the Weird Week feels before and after having kids, why comparison hits harder than usual, and why this whole thing is best understood as a recalibration, not something you need to fix. If this week always throws you, even when you expect it to, this one’s for you. ✨ What I cover: • What the “Weird Week” actually is and why it feels so unsettling • Why ADHD brains rely on routine for regulation, not productivity • Time blindness, low motivation and emotional flatness during this period • Why struggling to rest or start things isn’t laziness or burnout • How scrolling and comparison make this week feel worse • Why this week isn’t being wasted, even if it feels messy • Small, predictable anchors that help your nervous system settle • How the Weird Week changes once you’re a parent • Why rest doesn’t always feel restful for ADHD brains • Letting this week be weird without trying to optimise it 💬 Quotes to remember: “This isn’t laziness or burnout.” “This week is not being wasted.” “We need predictability, not freedom.” “You’re not behind. You’re just in between things.” “This isn’t rest. It’s the sudden removal of the thing holding everything together.” 🧠 Takeaway The Weird Week isn’t a failure, a slump, or a productivity issue. It’s a transition. ADHD brains notice transitions more sharply, especially when structure disappears overnight. Feeling unsettled here is expected. You don’t need to reset, optimise, or come out of this week refreshed and sorted. Small anchors, familiarity, and a bit of self-compassion go a lot further than pressure ever will. Let it be weird. January will bring structure back soon enough.

9 min
2025-12-15

The Anxious ADHDer Christmas Special

Ever head into December feeling oddly confident, only for Christmas to immediately prove you wrong? One minute you’re convinced this is the year you’ll be organised, calm and festive. The next, you’re overstimulated, surrounded by half wrapped gifts, and wondering why everything feels so loud. In this episode, I’m talking about what Christmas looks like when you have ADHD and anxiety in the mix. The sensory overload. The emotional whiplash. The way one “simple” task somehow turns into twelve separate ones. And why feeling behind in December isn’t a personal failure, it’s a completely predictable brain response. ✨ What I cover: Why December hits ADHD brains harder than any other month How sensory overload builds fast during Christmas Why gift giving is never just one task The dopamine spikes and crashes that make everything feel more intense Why feeling behind is basically part of the festive package Tiny survival strategies that actually help Decision fatigue and how to reduce it Why rest is regulation, not laziness Letting go of the idea that Christmas is a performance Normalising messy, chaotic, imperfect festive seasons 💬 Quotes to remember: “Dopamine goes absolutely feral.” “Christmas tasks are not one task.” “Sensory stacking equals chaotic brain soup.” “December is not a productivity test.” “Resting is not quitting, it’s regulation.” 🧠 Takeaway: Christmas with ADHD and anxiety isn’t supposed to look calm, polished or effortless. It’s louder, messier and more emotional, and that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Once you understand what your brain is up against, the guilt eases and the season becomes a little more manageable. You don’t need to win Christmas. You just need to survive it kindly. #ADHD #ADHDChristmas #Anxiety #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #TheAnxiousADHDer #MentalHealth #ADHDLife

10 min
2025-12-01

The Time Episode

Ever feel like time just slips away from you without warning? One minute you’re replying to one email, the next the whole morning has vanished and you’re staring at the clock like it has personally betrayed you. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m talking about what ADHD time blindness actually feels like. The disappearing hours, the shock at the clock, the chaotic Tuesday that summed up my entire personality, and why none of this is about laziness. It’s wiring, not willpower. ✨ What I cover: • What ADHD time blindness really is and why it isn’t poor time management • Why the brain doesn’t register time passing until it is too late • How one quick task spirals into a full morning • The Tuesday story that explains the entire ADHD timeline • The classic leaving the house scavenger hunt • Working memory and why time information deletes instantly • How dopamine impacts motivation, initiation and duration • Why urgency is the only thing loud enough to cut through • Time paralysis and why wanting to start isn’t enough • Tools that actually help: visible timers, start times, body doubling, playlists 💬 Quotes to remember: "ADHD time blindness isn’t poor time management. It’s not about responsibility. It’s not about caring." "My brain is like, we have been productive. The clock is like, it’s 8.45." "Earlier isn’t a real place for ADHD people." "Then begins the ADHD scavenger hunt." "Energy yeah. Anxiety quite high. Intention missing, hope missing, will to live also missing." "I leave the house looking like a woman who has been chased by wild dogs." "I will check the time five times in one minute just to retain it for half a second." "You know exactly what you need to do. You even want to do it. But the body just says no." 🧠 Takeaway: Time blindness isn’t a moral failure. It isn’t a lack of effort. It is a brain that does not track time the way other brains do. Once you understand that, the guilt softens. With the right tools and a bit of self-compassion, your days get easier and the pressure feels lighter. #ADHD #TimeBlindness #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #ExecutiveFunction #ADHDLife #MentalHealth

12 min
2025-11-24

The ADHD & Anxiety Friendship Files

Ever feel like you’re really good at making friends but accidentally terrible at keeping up with them? One minute it’s instant connection, the next you’ve slipped into silence without meaning to. If that sounds familiar, you’re not the only one. In this episode, I’m talking about what friendship looks like when you’ve got ADHD and anxiety in the mix. The fast bonding, the overthinking, the unintentional disappearing acts, and the kind of loyalty that stays even when your messages don’t. ✨ What I cover: How ADHD makes friendships feel easy and intense at the startHow anxiety turns small moments into big worriesThe reality of typing a message and never pressing sendHyper-empathy and why it can be drainingParallel play as a calm, comfortable way to connectFriendship gaps and why they’re not personal failingsFinding people who understand your rhythmWhy connection doesn’t require perfect communication💬 Quotes to remember: 'Think like detective board, red strings everywhere, me in the middle connecting the dots that probably do not need to be connected.' 'ADHD friendship energy is honestly unmatched.' 'You meet someone and your brain is like yes, this is my person, soulmate, done, we ride at dawn.' 'You overshare, you laugh, you message twenty voice notes, you plan a holiday, you’re ready to adopt a houseplant together.' 'Then your executive function evaporates in broad daylight.' 'You see their message, you feel the love, and you think I’ll reply… later. And later becomes never.' 'Typed the message. Laughed at it. Forgot to send it. Classic ADHD friendship behaviour.' 🧠 Takeaway: Friendships with ADHD and anxiety aren’t broken, they’re just a different rhythm. Once you understand how your brain works, the guilt softens and the connections feel easier. The right people won’t be thrown off by the gaps. They’ll know you always come back. #ADHD #ADHDFriendship #Anxiety #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #FriendshipEnergy #MentalHealth #ADHDLife

11 min
2025-11-13

The Dopamine Dose: ADHD, Medication & Motivation

Ever feel like your brain is running five tabs of chaos, two of inspiration, and one that just keeps buffering? Welcome to the world of dopamine, the Beyoncé of brain chemicals, where ADHD turns everyday motivation into a full-blown group chat argument between serotonin, cortisol, and a very tired prefrontal cortex. In this episode, I’m diving into the messy, funny, and painfully relatable reality of ADHD, dopamine, and medication. From the chemistry behind motivation to the chaos of UK med shortages, we’ll unpack what’s actually happening when your brain can’t "just focus," and why it’s not a character flaw, it’s chemistry doing its best. ✨ What I cover: What dopamine really does (spoiler: it’s not the happy chemical, it’s the potential happiness chemical)Why ADHD brains chase novelty, urgency, and deadlines like limited-edition dopamine dropsHow stimulant meds don’t "fix" you, they just give Beyoncé better lightingThe messy reality of medication shortages, trial and error, and the guilt that shouldn’t existWhy your motivation disappears mid-task (hello, dopamine depletion)The difference between chasing dopamine and cultivating it, turning chaos into creativityPractical ways to feed your dopamine: movement, music, novelty, and rest that’s actually restful💬 Quotes to remember: “Dopamine isn’t about happiness, it’s about the promise of happiness.” “Our brains aren’t lazy; they’re just wired to chase possibility, not the finish line.” “ADHD meds don’t make you someone else, they just give you access to the version of you that was always there.” “It’s not about becoming more productive. It’s about becoming more you.” “Your dopamine system isn’t broken. It’s improvising.” 🧠 Takeaway: ADHD isn’t a lack of discipline, it’s a different rhythm. Dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, cortisol, they’re all just trying to harmonize in a band that sometimes forgets rehearsal. When you stop punishing your brain for missing the beat, you start hearing the full song. Structure, kindness, and a few small dopamine snacks can turn the chaos into creativity, because your brain isn’t the problem. It’s just wired to play jazz. #ADHD #Dopamine #ADHDMedication #ADHDLife #Neurodivergent #MentalHealth #ADHDPodcast #Motivation #ADHDCommunity

16 min
2025-11-06

Denial & Masking: The ADHD & Anxiety Act

Ever feel like you’re performing a version of yourself just to get through the day? Like you’re acting out “Normal Person Energy” on loop? That’s masking. It’s the quiet effort of hiding your ADHD, anxiety, or other neurodivergent traits to fit in. In this episode, I'm diving into my own experiences with masking, the toll it takes on mental health, and how honesty and self-acceptance can lighten the load. Masking often begins as a survival mechanism, but it can quickly turn into burnout if left unchecked. ✨ What I cover: What masking actually looks like and why it feels exhaustingHow anxiety shapes ADHD symptoms and fuels overcompensationThe different types of masks we wear, from perfectionism to the helper maskHow micro-honesty can make life easier without oversharingWhy being open about ADHD and anxiety can create more supportive environmentsLearning to balance being capable and chaotic without burning out💬 Quotes to remember: "Masking was never really about pretending to be someone else. It was more about me trying to make life easier for everyone else." "You can be capable and chaotic. Professional and neurodivergent, anxious and confident, they can go hand in hand." "Micro-honesty, tiny truths like 'I process better if I could just jot notes while you talk,' is disclosure without a crazy long essay." "You don't have to shrink your ADHD or anxiety to make other people comfortable." "Since being honest, I don’t mask as heavily, and when I do, it’s lighter—less armor, more filter." 🧠 Takeaway: Masking helps you survive, but it can also exhaust your mind and body. Small acts of honesty, supportive allies, and clear boundaries make it possible to navigate life as your true self without burning out. You can show up fully, chaotic and capable, and still be enough. #ADHD #Masking #ADHDAnxiety #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #MentalHealth #Unmasking #SelfAcceptance #ADHDLife

12 min
2025-10-30

Hyperfixations: It’s Not Obsession, It’s Dopamine

Ever convinced yourself this time it’s different? That new hobby, skill, or random obsession is definitely your life’s purpose? Yeah. That’s hyperfixation. ADHD’s version of a two-week love affair with a side of existential overcommitment. In this episode, I’m talking about the beautiful chaos that is hyperfixation: why it feels like a rush, how anxiety crashes the party, and what actually happens when the dopamine runs out. Because hyperfixations aren’t failures. They’re just proof that our brains care deeply, sometimes for two weeks, sometimes for two months, always dramatically. 💛 ✨ What I cover: What hyperfixation actually is (and how it’s different from hyperfocus)Why your brain treats every new hobby like a soulmateThe “glow phase,” when you swear you’ve found your purposeThe crash, when dopamine ghosts you mid-projectHow anxiety turns rest into guiltLearning to pause before you chase the next shiny thingTips for working with your brain, not against it💬 Quotes to remember: “Hyperfixation is ADHD’s version of falling in love. The dopamine hits hard, and reality hits harder.” “Your brain isn’t flaky, it’s just chasing a feeling that makes everything else quiet for a while.” “When the spark fades, it’s not failure. It’s your brain taking a nap, not quitting on you.” “You don’t need to build a house in every new obsession. Sometimes it’s enough to just visit.” 🧠 Takeaway: Hyperfixations aren’t proof of inconsistency. They’re little bursts of joy, curiosity, and meaning. The trick isn’t to stop them. It’s to stop shaming yourself when they end. So ride the wave, don’t build a house there, and remember: when the buzz fades, it’s not the end. It’s just intermission. #ADHD #Hyperfixation #ADHDAnxiety #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #MentalHealth #HyperfixationCrash #ADHDLife

17 min
2025-10-23

Hyperfocus: The Double-Edged Superpower

Ever sit down to tweak one tiny thing… and six hours later you’ve redesigned your entire life, your tea’s cold, and your leg’s gone completely numb? Yeah. That’s hyperfocus, the best and worst part of the ADHD brain. In this episode, I’m unpacking how hyperfocus can be both a creative high and an emotional crash. We’ll look at what’s really happening in your brain, how anxiety hijacks it, and how to land softly before the burnout hits. Because hyperfocus isn’t a flaw, it’s just a superpower that needs gentler boundaries. 💛 ✨ What I cover: What hyperfocus really is and why it feels so goodHow anxiety turns passion into pressureRecognising when creativity becomes controlThe “soft landing” - ending before you’re emptyHow to de-shame the crash and treat it as recoveryCommunication whiplash and learning to re-engage gently💬 Quotes to remember: “Hyperfocus is when our brains flood with dopamine - finally something stimulating enough to lock in everything else. Hunger, thirst, time… they all just disappear.” “Anxiety sees the burst and goes, ‘Perfect, let’s live here forever.’ And suddenly it’s not creative anymore - it’s about control.” “You didn’t lose momentum, you just ran out of battery.” #ADHD #Anxiety #Hyperfocus #ADHDPodcast #Neurodivergent #MentalHealth #ADHDAnxiety #HyperfocusHangover

9 min

TRAILER

Welcome to the Anxious ADHDer Podcast

Overthinking? Same. I’m Jess, your anxious, tea-fuelled ADHDer figuring life out one impulsive decision (and mild panic) at a time. The Anxious ADHDer is a podcast for brains that don’t always play by the rules. And if I dare so say myself, honest, funny, and a little chaotic in all the right ways. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Grab your brew, press play, and feel a little more understood. 💜

S1

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1 min

Overthinking? Same. I’m Jess, your anxious, tea-fuelled ADHDer figuring life out one impulsive decision (and mild panic) at a time. The Anxious ADHDer is a podcast for brains that don’t always play by the rules. And if I dare so say myself, honest, funny, and a little chaotic in all the right ways. New episodes every Monday. Grab your brew, press play, and feel a little more understood. 💜

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