Messages From the Middle | Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Late Diagnosed ADHD, Undiagnosed Trauma, Neurodivergence, PTSD

Wendy Parrish
  • 5.0 (34)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Have you been asking yourself; “Why do I feel like this?” The anxiety, the exhaustion, the heaviness you can’t explain—all of it leaves you searching for answers you’re not even sure how to articulate. You want relief, guidance, and a way forward, but you don’t yet have the right questions, let alone the solutions. I know that place intimately, because I’m not speaking from the top of the mountain looking back. I’m Wendy Parrish, and I’m still in the middle of my story. From here—right in the thick of the confusion, healing, setbacks, and growth—I’ve learned how to name what’s happening, navigate the messiness, and build tools that actually help. And I want to bring you into that process, not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone walking it with you.

  1. 5d ago

    The Invisible Pain of ADHD: The Emotional Cost of ADHD

    ADHD is often portrayed as quirky, funny, and sometimes even a superpower. But there is another side to ADHD that doesn't get nearly enough attention—the side that hurts. In this episode of Messages from the Middle, I'm talking about the invisible emotional cost of living with ADHD, especially for women who weren't diagnosed until adulthood. From rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and executive dysfunction to anxiety, depression, and the overwhelming weight of never feeling good enough, ADHD can affect so much more than our ability to focus or remember where we put our keys. I'm sharing some of my own experiences and exploring how years of seemingly small struggles can turn into deeply held beliefs about who we are and what we're capable of. But this episode isn't about making ADHD an excuse or believing we're destined to struggle forever. It's about understanding why things have been so hard and recognizing that our struggles don't define our worth. Sometimes the first step toward healing isn't another strategy, planner, or productivity hack. Sometimes it's finally understanding what's been happening in our brains and offering ourselves a little compassion. If you've spent years wondering why life seems harder for you than it does for everyone else, this episode is for you. You're not alone, you're not broken, and understanding your story might just be the place where hope begins.   Free guide: Why a Normal Day Takes Everything Out of You. For the woman who has done the work and is still this tired. Instagram: @wendyparrishcoaching Email: wendy@wendyparrish.com website: http://wendyparrish.com

  2. Sep 15

    You Are Not Your Thoughts: How to Quiet Your Inner Mean Girl

    What if that mean voice in your head—the one telling you that you’re not good enough, you’re going to fail, or everyone is judging you—isn’t actually you? In this episode of Messages from the Middle, I’m talking about the inner critic (or, as I like to call mine, Regina George), why that voice may actually be trying to protect us, and how our attempts to avoid pain and discomfort can end up creating even more suffering. We’ll talk about what it means to be the “watcher” of your thoughts, why you don’t have to believe everything your brain tells you, and what can happen when you stop organizing your life around avoiding discomfort. Because freedom isn’t about creating a life where nothing hurts. It’s about building the strength and capacity to stay open when it does. You are not the voice in your head. You are the one listening—and you get to decide what happens next. Instagram: @wendyparrishcoaching Email: wendy@wendyparrish.com Website: wendyparrish.com

  3. May 1

    The Hidden Battles We All Carry

    Everyone you meet is carrying something you can’t see. In this episode, we explore the quiet reality that people are often walking through battles they never speak about—and how easy it is to misjudge, react, or add weight to someone who is already struggling. Through personal reflection and everyday examples, this conversation invites you to pause, soften, and consider what might be happening beneath the surface. We also dive into the role of grace—what it really means, why it matters for your mental health, and how choosing compassion over judgment doesn’t just change how you treat others, but how you experience your own life. Because when you don’t know someone’s story, grace isn’t just kind… it’s necessary. contact me: wendy@wenyparrish.com instagram: @wendyparrishcoaching wendyparrish.com

  4. Apr 24

    Worry Is Not Control: The Illusion That Keeps Us stuck

    We spend so much of our lives trying to feel in control—of our kids, our relationships, our decisions, and even how others see us. But what if the very thing we’re clinging to for safety is actually what’s keeping us stuck? In this episode, I’m unpacking the illusion of control and the subtle ways it shows up in our everyday lives—from parenting and relationships to overthinking and needing to explain ourselves. Because the truth is, worry isn’t control… it’s just exhausting. This conversation is a gentle invitation to loosen your grip and come back to what is actually yours. You’ll learn how trying to control outcomes, people, and perceptions creates more anxiety—not less—and what it looks like to shift into a more grounded, compassionate way of living. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or responsible for everything and everyone around you, this episode will help you find a little more space to breathe. Calm Connection Parenting Summit:  https://link.calmconnectionparent.com/ccp-2026/parrish contact me:  wendy@wendyparrish.com Instagram: @wendyparrishcoaching

  5. Apr 17

    Clean Pain Vs. Dirty Pain: The Stories That Keep Us Stuck

    In this episode, we explore the powerful difference between clean pain and dirty pain—two concepts that can transform how you understand your emotions and mental health. Clean pain is the natural emotional response to difficult life experiences like loss, betrayal, or disappointment. Dirty pain, on the other hand, is the ongoing suffering created by the stories we tell ourselves—stories that often lead to resentment, anxiety, and emotional stuckness. If you’ve ever struggled with letting go, overthinking, or feeling trapped in cycles of hurt, this episode will help you recognize what’s really keeping you there. Through personal storytelling and practical tools, you’ll learn how to identify the thoughts that turn pain into prolonged suffering and how to begin shifting them. This episode is especially helpful for anyone navigating grief, emotional healing, trauma, or personal growth. You’ll walk away with a simple but powerful journaling practice—“The story I’m telling myself is…”—that can help you process emotions, build self-awareness, and move toward lasting emotional resilience. Calm in the Chaos: Free Parenting Summit link: https://link.calmconnectionparent.com/ccp-2026/parrish Contact me: email: wendy@wendyparrish.com Instagram: @wendyparrishcoaching

  6. Apr 3

    Grief and Unexpected Losss

    Grief doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. In this episode, I share a personal moment that caught me completely off guard—sitting in church, listening to little kids sing, and suddenly being overwhelmed by emotion. Not because of a major loss, but because of a quiet, tender one: the passing of a season, the shift from little kids to growing ones. We often think grief only belongs to death, but the truth is, any unmet expectation or change can carry grief with it—and when we don’t recognize it, it can feel confusing and heavy. In this conversation, I walk through what grief really looks like, why we can’t logic our way out of it, and how learning to name it can be incredibly healing. I talk about letting go of judgment, allowing emotions to move through us, and recognizing the many ways grief can show up—like fatigue, anger, or even forgetfulness. If you’ve ever felt sadness you couldn’t quite explain, this episode will help you understand what might be underneath it—and remind you that grief isn’t a weakness, it’s a reflection of how deeply you’ve loved.

  7. Mar 20

    ADHD BBurnout: From Hyperfocus To Shutdown

    In this episode, I’m talking about something I’ve been hearing everywhere lately—and feeling myself—burnout. But not just any burnout… ADHD burnout. That deep, overwhelming exhaustion that comes from trying to manage a brain that doesn’t always want to cooperate. I walk through what ADHD burnout actually is, why it happens, and the cycle so many of us find ourselves stuck in—from the excitement of a new idea, to the overwhelm, to the shutdown, and then starting all over again. I also share my own experience with this cycle (hello, a lifetime of hyperfixations) and offer a gentler, more compassionate way to approach it. If you’ve ever felt stuck, scattered, or like you just can’t follow through no matter how hard you try, this episode is for you. We’ll talk about letting go of shame, getting curious about how your brain works, and learning how to support yourself instead of fighting against who you are. contact me: wendy@wendyparrish.com Instagram: @wendyparrishcoaching

  8. Mar 13

    From Breaking to Healing: Four Years Later

    What happens after everything falls apart—and how do you slowly find your way back? Four years ago, I walked through the hardest season of my life. In 2022, after years of holding things together through stress, isolation, and the quiet weight of struggling mental health, everything finally fell apart. I found myself withdrawing from the world, barely functioning, and eventually leaving home for two months to enter a residential treatment program. In this special 100th episode, I’m looking back on that year and sharing honestly about what the last four years of healing have really looked like. Recovery didn’t happen quickly, and it definitely wasn’t a straight line. In this episode I talk about the tools, treatments, and lessons that helped me find my way forward—therapy, community, TMS, learning about hormones and ADHD, and the surprising role faith played in keeping me afloat. Most of all, I share what I’ve learned about the messy, imperfect process of healing. If you’re in a hard season yourself, this episode is a reminder that even when progress feels slow or uncertain, change and hope are still possible.

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About

Have you been asking yourself; “Why do I feel like this?” The anxiety, the exhaustion, the heaviness you can’t explain—all of it leaves you searching for answers you’re not even sure how to articulate. You want relief, guidance, and a way forward, but you don’t yet have the right questions, let alone the solutions. I know that place intimately, because I’m not speaking from the top of the mountain looking back. I’m Wendy Parrish, and I’m still in the middle of my story. From here—right in the thick of the confusion, healing, setbacks, and growth—I’ve learned how to name what’s happening, navigate the messiness, and build tools that actually help. And I want to bring you into that process, not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone walking it with you.

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