If sex sometimes feels confusing, overstimulating, or just... a lot, you’re not alone. ADHD and sensory issues can show up during sex and in our physical relationships.

This week, psychologist Dr. Lyne Piché joins us to discuss how ADHD and sensory challenges can shape our sex lives, and how to talk about it. From touch sensitivity to struggling to focus, we dive into why things might feel like “too much” one minute and “not enough” the next—and how to figure it all out.

Related resources

• Dr. Piché’s website, drlynepiche.com
• Dr. Piché’s ADHD and Sex workbook
• An earlier Sorry, I Missed This episode: ADHD, sensory systems, and communication

Timestamps

(2:07) What is a sensory issue?

(05:16) How do we build awareness and language about our sensory issues in the bedroom?

(09:45) How do we tell the difference between sensory overload and just not being in the mood for sex?

(12:15) The importance of trust in your partner, and not “enduring” something just for someone else

(15:22) How kink can help with sensory issues in sex

(16:42) Letting go of the shame over not liking the things that you’re “supposed” to like

(19:07) How can we talk to our partners about our sensory needs if we’re scared of hurting their feelings or disappointing them?

(22:47) Building “yes” spaces and talking to our partners about our sexy sensory dos and don’ts—without feeling unsexy

(27:44) Trying things out more than once to determine whether it’s a sensory issue or a preference

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Sorry, I Missed This show page on Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Some women with ADHD turn to self-medicating to cope with their symptoms. At first, it may seem to help. But over time, it can make ADHD harder to manage.

In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson explains self-medicating and breaks down why some women with ADHD turn to it. Find out how self-medicating can be harmful and what healthier ways to cope might look like.

Related resources

• Tips from an ADHD Coach: Coping skills with consequences
• Experts weigh in: Marijuana and ADHD
• MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel

Timestamps

(00:59) What does self-medicating look like?

(02:34) Ways self-medicating can be harmful

(07:53) Healthier ways to cope with ADHD

For a transcript and more resources, visit the MissUnderstood channel page on Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at podcast@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

On this very special episode of Hyperfocus, host Rae Jacobson interviews three of these women — Sari Solden, Terry Matlen, and Dr. Ellen Littman — along with Dr. Michelle Frank, a psychologist taking up the torch for a new generation.

Together, they discuss how they met, their journey to legitimize ADHD in women, and what they hope for the future.

Related resources:

• Climbing the Walls
• MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel

Timestamps:

(06:22) Discovering you aren’t alone

(13:18) The disconnect between academia and the rest of the world

(21:22) The benefits of treatment and community

(28:05) ADHD isn’t always a superpower

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Hyperfocus page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at hyperfocus@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Are there parts of your personality that seem to contradict each other? Do you struggle to set expectations for yourself because your reactions, behavior, or emotions can be unpredictable?

This week on Tips from an ADHD Coach, Jaye talks about how, with ADHD, we can be consistently inconsistent—often showing extreme behaviors that seem to contradict each other. Listen for insights and tips that can help!

Related resources

• How to get motivated with ADHD

Timestamps

(00:40) Tanica’s quote

(01:30) ADHDers can often feel full of contradictions

(03:32) Common reasons ADHD can make us less consistent

(08:42) What can we do to be more reliable going forward?

(11:10) Recap

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Tips from an ADHD Coach show page on Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at adhdcoachtips@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Being a caregiver to a friend or loved one is hard—add ADHD to the mix, and it’s a whole different challenge.

Self-care and ADHD Coach Stephanie Antoine joins us to talk about what it’s like caring for our loved ones while managing executive dysfunction, burnout, and more. She also offers a few mindfulness practices to help us recenter when the stress feels like too much. If you’ve ever struggled to care for someone else while trying to keep yourself afloat, this one’s for you.

Related resources

• Stephanie’s website, stephanieantoine.com
• Download: Feeling stressed? Try the 5-4-3-2-1 mindfulness technique
• From the ADHD Aha! podcast, Jessica McCabe on motherhood, social anxiety, and ADHD medication

Timestamps

(02:59) Why did Stephanie start helping others in caregiving roles?

(04:52) Executive function and caregiving, and beating yourself up

(07:51) How do we manage big feelings like frustration and resentment while caregiving?

(12:33) Perfectionism and caregiving

(17:14) The one thing Stephanie wants you to hear today

(19:09) A short guided meditation exercise from Stephanie

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Sorry, I Missed This show page on Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson dives into how ADHD makes setting boundaries difficult. Listen as she breaks down why women with ADHD often struggle to say no. And get simple strategies to help protect your peace and improve your mental health.

Related resources

• ADHD and: Oversharing
• Setting boundaries in relationships with ADHD
• Tips from an ADHD Coach: People-pleasing everyone but ourselves

Timestamps

(01:43) How ADHD affects setting boundaries

(04:18) Why setting boundaries is a challenge for some women with ADHD

(06:28) Strategies for setting boundaries

For a transcript and more resources, visit the MissUnderstood page on Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at podcast@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.

In honor of Mother’s Day weekend, we’re sharing an episode of our sibling podcast from Understood.org, ADHD Aha! The episode features our very own Rae Jacobson and, appropriately, it’s a conversation about motherhood. More specifically, it’s about being a mom (and a woman) with ADHD. Hope you enjoy, and see you in two weeks.

What makes being a mom with ADHD so hard? Navigating executive functions and emotional labor, for one. And feeling burned out when burnout isn’t an option — because there’s always something else that needs your very limited attention!

Talking about it with someone who just “gets it” is such a relief. In this episode, Laura talks to her friend and colleague Rae Jacobson, also a mom with ADHD. Listen to their conversation and insights on this bonus Mother’s Day episode.

Related resources

• Rolling with my ADHD Mom Brain
• Building self-compassion skills
• 3 things I’m learning as a new mom with ADHD

To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the ADHD Aha! podcast page at Understood.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at hyperfocus@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Have you had a bad experience talking about your ADHD with friends or family? Or, are you worried about sharing your ADHD diagnosis with friends and family, out of fear of how they would react?

This week on Tips from an ADHD Coach, Jaye talks about sharing our ADHD diagnoses with the people we love and what we can do to make those conversations go better.

Related resources

• What to do when someone doubts your ADHD diagnosis
• I’m letting go of the shame I felt about my ADHD and learning disabilities

Timestamps

(00:42) Kirby’s quote

(02:51) Unfortunately, it’s common to have a bad experience when sharing that you have ADHD

(05:36) Questions to ask yourself before having this conversation

(06:59) Setting time aside for this conversation, or asking for their full attention, not just a passing chat

(07:58) Front-loading our expectations for their response

(12:06) Work through the raw emotions of a diagnosis before having these conversations by doing some practice runs

(13:13) You don’t have to share your ADHD with someone if you don’t think they’ll respond well

(15:00) Recap

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Tips from an ADHD Coach show page on Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at adhdcoachtips@understood.org.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give