ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast

"Why Can't I Remember Anything?" Understanding ADHD, Working Memory & Mental Load

Looking for ADHD self-empowerment, guidance and support? Look through my ADHD Women's Wellbeing resources here.I'm sure you relate to recalling an entire conversation from months ago or even song lyrics from the 80s, but forgetting why you walked into a room thirty seconds ago?On this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm joined by Dr Sarah Rudebeck, a clinical psychologist with a PhD in memory from the University of Oxford.Sarah specialises in working memory and executive function difficulties in adults, and is the co-founder of Recallify, an AI companion for memory support. She works clinically in the NHS, with a particular interest in bridging the gap between what research tells us about memory and what people are actually offered in terms of help.In this episode, we talk about the difference between memories that are simply hard to retrieve under pressure and genuine working memory difficulties, why so many ADHD adults share a similar cognitive profile of strong intellectual ability alongside weaker working memory and attention, and why working memory cannot be trained like a muscle, no matter how many crosswords or brain games we try. We also get into the practical side, from school admin and parenting reminders to household overwhelm and overbuying, and how Sarah's own frustration with the gap between research and everyday support led her to co-found Recallify.In this episode, we cover:The difference between memories that are "in there" and memories you can retrieve under pressureWhat working memory actually is, and how it differs from attention, executive function and long-term memoryThe common ADHD cognitive profile: strong intellectual ability alongside weaker working memory and processing speedWhat happens during a neuropsychological assessment, and what it reveals about your own pattern of strengths and difficultiesWhy working memory cannot be trained like a muscle, and what the research on brain training actually showsHow hormonal changes in midlife can affect word retrieval and confidenceWhere working memory difficulties show up day to day, from school admin to household overwhelmWhy so many of us overbuy and overcompensate rather than under-organiseSarah's own experience of dyslexia and learning to lean on her strengthsHow Recallify came about, and how its brain dump and task features workTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome, and introducing Dr Sarah Rudebeck01:23 - Sarah's background and her work in the NHS02:43 - Why memory can feel reliable in conversation but fail under pressure05:50 - What working memory actually is08:36 - What happens during a neuropsychological assessment12:21 - How working memory difficulties show up in children at school14:41 - Why working memory cannot be trained like a muscle19:44 - Everyday examples: parenting, school admin and household overwhelm24:38 - Why so many of us overbuy rather than under-organise29:31 - Using your strengths to work around your weaknesses32:01 - How the gap in NHS support led Sarah to create Recallify46:33 - Sarah's free trial offer for listenersThis week's episode is sponsored by elete, a simple way to support your hydration by adding essential electrolytes to the water you're already drinking. So many of us get completely absorbed in a task and forget to drink anything for hours, then wonder why we feel foggy or flat later in the day. Elete is sugar-free, with no artificial sweeteners or unnecessary additives, and it's trusted by health-conscious families, athletes and wellness professionals alike. Head to eletewater.co.uk and use the code WWP20 for an exclusive 20% listener discount.Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podVisit Recallify's website: recallify.aiConnect with Recallify on Instagram: instagram.com/recallify.ai, Facebook and LinkedInEmail Sarah's team for a free one-month trial of Recallify; each voucher is unique so you'll need to get in touch directly: info@recallify.aiKate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity.

Breaking the Cycle of 'Emotionally Immature' Parenting: Healing Insights from a Psychotherapist

🌟 Kate's opening a small number of 1-2-1 sessions, a chance to bring whatever's on your mind and get some focused time together. Book your session here.This week's episode:Some of the deepest childhood wounds don't come from parents who shouted or hurt us. Sometimes they come from parents who simply never had the tools to truly see us.On this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm joined by Sian Crossley, a London-trained psychotherapist, author and the founder of Break the Cycle Coaching.With a background in both private practice and the NHS, Sian specialises in helping adults understand and heal from the lasting impact of emotionally immature parenting. Through her writing, courses and online community, she helps thoughtful, self-aware people untangle patterns like people pleasing, self doubt and over responsibility, so they can build healthier boundaries and more authentic relationships. She's the author of How to Heal from Emotionally Immature Parents, and now lives in Malaysia with her two young children, working with clients and audiences around the world.In this episode, Sian and I talk about what emotionally immature parenting actually looks like, even in a childhood where all the practical boxes were ticked. We explore why feeling unseen can leave a lasting impact, how undiagnosed neurodivergence in a parent's generation often went unnamed and unsupported, and why grief and acceptance matter more than forgiveness when it comes to healing. Sian also shares the foundations of emotionally mature parenting, and how small, consistent changes, like simply asking a child how they feel, can start to break old patterns without anyone needing to be perfect.In this episode, we cover:What emotionally immature parenting really looks like, even in a "good enough" childhoodThe difference between big T and little T traumaHow undiagnosed neurodivergence in parents shapes the way love and connection are shownParentification, and what it means when a child becomes their parent's emotional supportWhy grief and acceptance matter more than forgiveness when healing childhood traumaThe "and, not but" technique for holding two truths about a parent at onceWhy childhood memories can feel fragmented after emotional neglectBreaking generational cycles without overcorrecting as a parentThe four foundations of emotionally mature parenting: regulation, self awareness, empathy and boundariesWhy asking a child how something made them feel can change everythingTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome, and introducing Sian Crossley and her book02:40 - What emotionally immature parenting actually looks like05:03 - Why feeling unseen can matter more than what was provided practically06:15 - Parentification and becoming a parent's emotional support07:51 - Kate's own story: a late ADHD diagnosis and family patterns11:34 - Where healing actually begins14:48 - Why too much empathy for parents can get in the way of healing17:16 - Breaking the cycle without overcorrecting as a parent22:41 - Why fragmented childhood memories are so common25:23 - Grief, acceptance and why forgiveness isn't the goal34:03 - The "and, not but" technique for holding two truths39:05 - The four foundations of emotionally mature parenting45:04 - How to work with Sian🌟 The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Audio Experience is here!My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right.Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to late-diagnosed women. Get lifetime access here!Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Audio Experience, you'll find:Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes nextDr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it doesHannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lensAdele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopauseUnderstand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve because every woman with ADHD deserves access to the knowledge, expertise and understanding that for too long hasn't been available to us.To get lifetime access for £44, click here.Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podVisit Sian's website: breakthecyclecoaching.co.ukConnect with Sian on Instagram: @sianmorgancrossleyCheck out Sian's book, How to Heal from Emotionally Immature ParentsStart a free trial of Sian's membership hereKate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity.With thanks to our Sponsor: This week's episode is sponsored by Elete, a simple way to support your hydration by adding essential electrolytes to the water you're already drinking. So many of us get completely absorbed in a task and forget to drink anything for hours, then wonder why we feel foggy or flat later in the day. Elete is sugar-free, with no artificial sweeteners or unnecessary additives, and it's trusted by health-conscious families, athletes and wellness professionals alike. Head to eletewater.co.uk and use the code WWP20 for an exclusive 20% listener discount.

Finding Calm: A Guide to Emotional Regulation at Home

🌟 Kate's opening a small number of 1-2-1 sessions, a chance to bring whatever's on your mind and get some focused time together. Book your session here.This week's episode:If you've ever wanted to scream into a pillow, shake out your whole body, or hide in the car just to feel something move through you, you are not broken. You are just finally listening to what your nervous system has been asking for all along.On this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm sharing a workshop I ran inside the More Yourself membership, where we go a little deeper into topics like this together, alongside guest experts and ongoing connection with other neurodivergent women.This episode is all about regulation, both ours and our children's, and why the small, consistent tweaks matter so much more than any big overhaul. We talk about identifying what's quietly dysregulating us before we even notice it, why co-regulating with our kids starts with regulating ourselves first, and why so many of us, especially as women, were never taught how to safely let emotion move through our bodies. I share some of the somatic tools I lean on, including EFT, and a few honest, real-life examples of what this can look like in practice.In this episode, we cover:Why self regulation always comes before co-regulating your childrenHow to identify your own dysregulation triggers, from sleep and hydration to screen timeWhy small, consistent tweaks matter more than big overhaulsHow to talk to your child about big emotions once things have calmed downThe hidden impact of constant phone notifications and micro-interruptions on your nervous systemWhy so many women have been conditioned to suppress their voice and emotionsUsing EFT and tapping as a release tool for emotional dysregulationSomatic ways to release stuck emotion, including shaking, dancing, singing and screamingWhy giving your child a safe space to release big feelings mattersThe importance of self compassion and validating your own experienceTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome, and introducing this week's More Yourself workshop episode00:33 - What this episode covers: dysregulation, family dynamics and emotional release02:21 - Today's episode begins02:23 - Why regulating yourself comes first03:30 - Working backwards to identify your own dysregulation triggers04:30 - Co-regulating with your child once things have calmed down05:30 - The impact of constant phone notifications on the nervous system06:30 - Why women have been conditioned to suppress emotion08:00 - Giving your child a safe space to release big feelings09:30 - EFT, tapping and other somatic release tools12:45 - Closing thoughts and where to find more support🌟 The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Audio Experience is here!My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right.Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to late-diagnosed women. Get lifetime access here!Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Audio Experience, you'll find:Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes nextDr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it doesHannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lensAdele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopauseUnderstand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve because every woman with ADHD deserves access to the knowledge, expertise and understanding that for too long hasn't been available to us.To get lifetime access for £44, click here.Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website hereFollow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podGrab your copy of my book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit hereKate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity.

Fighting for an Autism Diagnosis: What the System Still Gets Wrong About AuDHD Women with Dr Samantha Hiew

🌟 Kate's opening a small number of 1-2-1 sessions, a chance to bring whatever's on your mind and get some focused time together. Book your session here.This week's episode: When we finally receive a diagnosis, it can feel like the missing piece. But for so many AuDHD women, it's only the beginning of a much longer journey — one that takes us back through everything we thought we knew about ourselves.This week on The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm welcoming back Dr Samantha Hiew, AuDHDer, scientist, and founder of ADHD Girls. Diagnosed with ADHD at 40, Sam has since received a working autism diagnosis after a seven-month struggle with clinicians who focused on developmental delays and trauma, rather than listening to her experiences.Since we last spoke, Sam has launched a major lived experience survey, and the findings are both validating and hard to sit with. This is a rich and honest conversation about what it really means to be a neurodivergent woman navigating identity, relationships, midlife, and a healthcare system that still doesn't fully see us.In this episode, we explore:Sam's seven-month fight for an autism diagnosis and what it reveals about how the system fails womenWhat a lived experience survey of 400+ AuDHD women found about masking, identity and emotional safetyWhy AuDHD women are predisposed to abandon themselves and how masking becomes survivalRelational trauma, sexual trauma, and patterns of conditioning in neurodivergent womenPerimenopause, unmasking, and what the hormonal shift revealsRebuilding self-trust and building community after a lifetime of masking as an AuDHD womanThe seasons of womanhood framework and how perimenopause represents autumnThe neuroscience of RSD and the salience network in ADHD and autismWhy psychiatry prescribes without brain scans, genetic testing, or hormonal context and the harm this causesSelf-advocacy tool for ND women navigating healthcare systemsSam's AuDHD women's advanced practitioner programmeListen to our previous episodes with Samantha below:Episode 28: Advocating For Your Neurodiversity In The Workplace with Samantha HiewEpisode 108: The Intersection Between ADHD and Autism with Dr Samantha HiewSupport and information on topics raised in today's episode: Refuge website and support linkWomen's Aid WebsiteThe ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Recording is here!My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right.Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to late-diagnosed women. Get lifetime access here!Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Recording, you'll find:Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes nextDr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it doesHannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lensAdele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopauseUnderstand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve because every woman with ADHD deserves access to the knowledge, expertise and understanding that for too long hasn't been available to us.To get lifetime access for £44, click here.Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podVisit Samantha's website (samanthahiew.com) or connect with Samantha on LinkedInSamantha's AuDHD women's advanced practitioner programmeSamantha's self-advocacy tool for ND women navigating healthcare systemsMaster's Event: Transform Trauma OxfordKate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.This week's episode is sponsored by Elete, a simple way to support your hydration by adding essential electrolytes to the water you're already drinking. So many of us get completely absorbed in a task and forget to drink anything for hours, then wonder why we feel foggy or flat later in the day. Elete is sugar-free, with no artificial sweeteners or unnecessary additives, and it's trusted by health-conscious families, athletes and wellness professionals alike. Head to eletewater.co.uk and use the code WWP20 for an exclusive 20% listener discount.

ADHD Sleep Expert: How to Work With Your Neurodivergent Nocturnal Patterns

🌟 Kate's opening a small number of 1-2-1 sessions, a chance to bring whatever's on your mind and get some focused time together. Book your session here.This week's episode: How often do you feel completely exhausted all day, yet when you get yourself to bed early, your brain switches on, and you're unable to sleep?You do everything you're told to: no screens, no caffeine, a cool dark room, yet your brain is still filled with thoughts, to-do lists and the things you said 5 years ago.But the reality is, for ADHD brains, sleep isn't a habit problem... It's a neurological problem. And the standard advice around skeeo hygiene and behaviour was never built with us in mind.This week on The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, I'm joined by ADHD sleep expert, Heather Darwall-Smith, a psychotherapist specialising in sleep, with a particular focus on adults with ADHD.Heather was herself diagnosed with ADHD late in life, and that lived experience sits alongside her clinical expertise in everything she does. Her new book, The ADHD Sleep Book: A Compassionate Guide for the Wired and Overtired Brain, is the first book dedicated specifically to ADHD and sleep.In this episode, we explore:Why 75% of people with ADHD experience chronic sleep problemsChronotypes, body clocks, and ADHD sleep disorders explainedHeather's late ADHD diagnosis: from panic attacks and bipolar misdiagnosis to clarityHow the ADHD stress response causes hyperarousal and disrupted sleep at nightADHD medication timing and sleep: why getting both right is so complexHow family sleep beliefs and intergenerational patterns affect ADHD restPhone addiction, sleep, and navigating different sleep needs as a coupleThe hidden link between ADHD, binge eating, and sleep apneaWhy perfectionism and insomnia feed each other in the ADHD brainHormones, perimenopause, and ADHD, sleep, and when to get your bloods checkedHeather brings a unique blend of neuroscience, psychology, personal experience and genuine compassion to a topic that so many of us have struggled with in silence. If you have ever felt like you're the only one who can't sleep or just need to try harder, this episode is for you.The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Recording is here!My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right.Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to women diagnosed late. Get lifetime access here!Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Recording, you'll find:Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes nextDr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it doesHannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lensAdele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopauseUnderstand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve. Because every woman with ADHD deserves access to the knowledge, expertise and understanding that for too long simply hasn't been available to us.To get lifetime access for £44, click here.Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_podVisit Heather's website: heatherdarwallsmith.com or adhdsleepclub.comConnect with Heather on Instagram @thesleeppsychotherapist and @adhdsleepclubCheck out Heather's book, The ADHD Sleep BookKate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed women with ADHD find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity, and clarity.