Ep. 59: Understanding and Living With ADHD; AI as a Tool for Managing ADHD
October is ADHD Awareness Month. Kirby Hansen-McNulty, CEO and founder of Calibrate ADHD, joins me for a conversation about what it means to understand and live with ADHD, not simply recognizing symptoms, but understanding how ADHD shows up in our lives, what support we need and how we can build systems that work with our brains rather than against them.
Kirby and I will talk about self-awareness, self-support, burnout and why so many people wait until things reach a crisis before seeking help. I’ll also share how I’ve been using AI as one tool to help manage my work with ADHD.
Join us Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. PT for Ep. 59, “Understanding and Living With ADHD; AI as a Tool for Managing ADHD.”
Dawn Neuburg won’t be able to join us for this episode. She’ll be supporting former guest Cyrena Martin and attending “Survivor Like Me: 100 Survivor Takeover,” an event bringing together survivors to celebrate who they are and who they are becoming, not simply what happened to them. We’re glad she’ll be there and send our support to Dawn and everyone taking part.
Watch the live show or recording on this website or watch and comment on social media: Facebook* | Twitter** | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram**
*Facebook will delete the video in 30 days. **We won't know the exact urls for Twitter and Instagram until we go live.
For now, these links go to Neil's Twitter and Instagram.
The ADHD “Would Be Nice” List: Why Self-Care Should Come First
In a blog post written for this episode, Kirby writes about the ADHD “would be nice” list, the things we know could help us but continually push behind whatever feels more urgent. That can include getting evaluated, understanding a diagnosis, finding support or simply taking time to understand how ADHD shows up in our lives.
Kirby argues that ADHD awareness is about more than recognizing symptoms. It means getting curious about our own patterns, approaching roadblocks with less judgment and building supports that work with our brains rather than against them. She also challenges the idea that we have to reach a breaking point before our struggles are worthy of support.
AI as a Tool for Managing ADHD
I was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago and have spent much of that time learning how it affects the way I work and how I think about productivity. In my own blog post, I write about what I’ve learned since being diagnosed, the systems I’ve developed around that understanding and how ChatGPT has become one tool I use to put those lessons into practice.
I use it to help with planning, prioritization, time management and keeping track of information across multiple projects. It has also helped me with something I didn’t necessarily expect: making work feel finite. If I know the work has been accounted for, I can sometimes focus on what’s in front of me, recognize when I’ve done enough and stop working even though there will always be more to do.
I also write about its limitations. ChatGPT makes mistakes, can misunderstand context and can become another task in itself. I don’t want it making decisions for me or replacing my own judgment. The larger lesson isn’t that ChatGPT is managing my ADHD for me. I’ve adapted a tool to support the ways I’m learning to manage ADHD myself.
Programming Notes
Ep. 58, “Processing Cornell: A Space to Share, Listen and Find Community”
Pradnya Haldipur and Sage Gray (Prof. Walter Greason) joined us for a special episode reflecting on the allegations made by Jane Doe, a student at Cornell University, the district attorney's decision not to file charges and the Administration’s response.
Background
Dawn and I launched this twice-a-month show to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Thank you for being part of our community.
We are proud to be in Year 3 of the show. If you are interested in being a guest on the show or know someone who might be interested, please let us know. We’re looking for people who would be willing to share their story, advocates and people who work in the field of mental health.
We hope you can watch the show and share your own thoughts in the comments.
Resources / Relevant Links
Calibrate ADHD calibrateadhd.com
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline
800-950-6264 Or text "HelpLine" to 6264; nami.org
Mental Health America Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org; mhanational.org Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673); rainn.org
Comments