Research Recap with Skye: Default Mode Network

Hey team! This week I’m talking with Jamie Cutino, a licensed Occupational Therapist, TEDx Speaker, ADHD Coach and a fervent advocate for the ADHD community. In today's episode, Jamie shares her insightful and empowering journey from discovering their ADHD diagnosis to utilizing skills she learned as an occupational therapist to enhance daily life. Jamie has her own podcast, Outsmart ADHD, where she and her guests go over the latest research, share stories and look to provide you with actionable advice. In our conversation today we talk about what occupational therapy is and how it can help with ADHD management, how sensory issues can impact our ADHD and get into some of the tips and strategies that can help with these issues. And since Jamie is also a podcaster we get into some stuff about the podcast and things I’m looking to improve. Sign up for my Newsletter Any And All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show notes at HackingYourADHD.com/176 This Episode's Top Tips  Occupational therapy can provide strategies for improving executive functioning, task initiation, and completion, as well as transitioning between tasks. It is designed to help you develop and maintain the meaningful activities that are hard for your ADHD brain. Since needs can vary daily, having a range of strategies to address different challenges is crucial for effective ADHD management. Tools like noise-canceling headphones and well-lit environments can drastically improve focus and comfort but will work differently for different people. Recognizing that you can't do everything alone and leveraging support can lead to more enjoyment and success in both personal and professional life. When you can, it is great to outsource and delegate the things that are hard for you to complete.

25 Mars 202436min

Hey Team! I’ve got an exciting interview today that I’ve been hoping to do for a while now. Dr. Roberto Olivardia is a clinical psychologist and a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in the treatment of ADHD and within the field of ADHD, he further specializes in comorbid disorders, such as OCD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and body dysmorphic disorder. However, in true ADHD, fashion during our pre-interview chat we decided to switch the direction of the podcast to instead deal with sleep. In our conversation we talk about Dr. Olivardia’s own issues with sleep and how sleep is just one of those issues that seems to plague everyone with ADHD. We get into some of what underpins ADHD sleep issues and some of the things that we can do to try and get ourselves a good night’s sleep. I had a blast recording this and I hope you enjoy just as much as I did. Sign up for my Newsletter Any And All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/175 This Episode's Top Tips  Establish a pre-sleep routine that signals to your brain that it's time for bed. This might include changing into comfortable sleepwear, dimming the lights, and engaging in a relaxing activity like reading or listening to music. Or, as was the case for Dr. Olivardia, going and getting a workout in. Remember that sometimes to calm your ADHD brain down, you need a bit more stimulation. Underpinning that last point again, not everything that is typically recommended for getting a good night's sleep always works for our ADHD. It’s important to experiment with different techniques to see what works and doesn’t work for you. If sleep problems persist despite your best efforts it’s always good to consider consulting with a sleep specialist. We often don’t know what we don’t know when it comes to sleep and a specialist can help identify any underlying issues and recommend additional treatments.

18 Mars 202452min

Hey Team! With us today is Mattia Maurée and we’re going to be diving into the experiences of living with both autism and ADHD, also known as AuDHD. I was recently on Mattia’s podcast, AuDHD Flourishing, to talk about subclinical autism (which I was diagnosed with in 2022) so if you want to hear more about that head on over to their show, links in the shownotes. In our conversation today, Mattia shared their story and the insights they've gained through their journey. Our conversation aimed to shed light on the similarities, differences, and unique challenges faced by individuals navigating both conditions. And just for a little background on the connection of ADHD and autism, we do see quite a lot of this comorbid condition, with about 50% of people diagnosed with autism also getting an ADHD diagnosis (and just as a note, that percentage doesn’t go the other way because of the difference in population sizes, there are a lot more people with ADHD than those diagnosed with autism). Also interesting to note that before 2013 the DSM didn’t allow for a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD. And that just gives a little insight into how recently the idea of the two of them being intertwined became and because of that there aren’t a ton of resources out there for AuDHD individuals. So I hope this episode can help start bridging more of that gap. Be sure to check out Mattia's Podcast AuDHD Flourishing Sign up for my Newsletter Any And All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/174 This Episode's Top Tips  Monotropism is our tendency to narrow our focus and is a characteristic of both ADHD and autism and can lead us to miss things outside of this attention tunnel. By learning about attention tunnels, we can work on creating more effective coping strategies that take into account our narrow band of focus. Simplifying one's environment and commitments to minimize overwhelming stimuli and demands can help maintain focus and reduce anxiety. Regularly reflecting on what works and what doesn't can help tailor our personal strategies for managing symptoms and challenges, acknowledging that what works may evolve over time. When seeking a proper diagnosis, it is important to find a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about the nuances of ADHD and autism spectrum disorders to make sure that you’re getting an accurate diagnosis. Who is assessing you can make all of the difference.

11 Mars 202442min

In today’s episode, we have a listener question dealing with the root cause of ADHD and whether or not ADHD comes from trauma or it's something we're born with. I’m sure a lot of people have had similar thoughts on what the root cause of ADHD and sometimes it’s hard to find accurate information because so much of it can conflict. In today’s episode, we’re going to be looking into the issue of whether or not ADHD is an issue of genetics or if it is one of trauma - but I also want to be upfront about this and be clear that this isn’t really a both side issue, all of our best research supports the idea that ADHD is a genetic condition. Just as a note before we get started, I do talk a good deal about trauma in this episode, so if that’s not your thing, feel free to skip this episode. Sign up for my Newsletter Any And All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/173 This Episode's Top Tips  Just in case I didn’t make this clear enough in the episode, ADHD is a genetic condition, and while trauma may play a role in the severity of ADHD, it is not a cause of ADHD. The mix-up between the conditions comes from the overlap in symptoms between ADHD and trauma, such as difficulty concentrating, disorganization, and inattention, which can complicate diagnosis and management. Trauma can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, potentially pushing subclinical ADHD diagnoses into clinical ADHD territory. We also have to acknowledge the validity of individual experiences and perspectives regarding ADHD and trauma, recognizing that different factors may contribute to symptom manifestation and severity. If you want to better understand what’s happening with you, it is best to consult with an ADHD specialist or mental health professional who can conduct a comprehensive assessment to untangle the complexities of ADHD and trauma, aiding in accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans.

4 Mars 202412min

Hey team! No interview today - getting back to some monologue episodes - and completely off topic here, but I just have this negative connotation to the word monologue, like, in my head it sounds like it’s supposed to be something boring? Maybe that’s just me. In today’s episode we’re tackling the complex reality of ADHD management. Forget about finding a silver bullet; it's about piecing together a puzzle of habits, routines, and strategies that work for you. We’ll be exploring the mosaic of strategies that can help us navigate our days more effectively and how we can build our own personalized way to help us manage our ADHD. Sign up for my Newsletter Any and All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/172 This Episode's Top Tips  Embrace small changes and focus on incremental improvements in your daily routines that can collectively impact managing ADHD. We don’t need that silver bullet that is going to fix everything. Just because our ADHD management is going to rely on a lot of different strategies it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a plan of action - it’s still important for us to be focusing on those strategies that are going to be giving us our biggest bang for our buck like getting better sleep. Adaptability is key; it’s important to understand that not every strategy will work all the time, and be open to adjusting your approach as needed. We’re not always in control of everything going on in our day and we have to work around that as best we can.

26 Feb 202412min

Hey team! Welcome back to the second part of my conversation with Saman Kesh - In part one of the conversation we covered a lot of the ground around Saman’s ketamine treatment and how that influenced his ADHD. And just as a quick reminder, this is not a condemnation nor a defense against ketamine-based treatment, the conversation is simply about what his experience was. And if ketamine treatment is something that has piqued your interest, be sure that you are following up on that under proper medical supervision, this isn’t stuff to play around with. In this second part of the conversation, we switch gears a bit and talk more about our identities with ADHD and the acceptance of our ADHD. We also get into some other therapy techniques like EMDR and other ways that we can work on supporting our ADHD brains. Sign up for my Newsletter Any and All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/171 This Episode's Top Tips  Recognizing and accepting ADHD as a part of your identity can be a powerful step toward managing everyday challenges. That acceptance is a huge piece in how we are able to navigate problem-solving and finding solutions that work for our brains. Therapy is a great way to help work with our ADHD brains and we there are a lot of options for what we can do - CBT, DBT, EMDR and talk therapy are all ways that we can approach to understand our brains better. There are a lot of ways that we can help ourselves work with our ADHD like physical activity, meditation, and other forms of self-care that can help reduce our ADHD symptoms and increase our overall well-being.

19 Feb 202427min

Hey Team! We’ve got a returning guest this week who was a real hit last time, Saman Kesh - Saman is an Iranian-American filmmaker who has worked with artists such as Basement Jaxx, Calvin Harris, Kygo, Placebo, !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk) Anyway, we’re not here to discuss any of that today, instead we’re going to be talking about his recent ketamine treatment. A while ago, Saman reached out to me asking if this was something that I’d like to cover on the show, and yeah, this is absolutely something I think would make for a really interesting show. Now, with that said, I do want to emphasize that we are talking about Saman’s treatment here, and this is neither a defense nor a condemnation of ketamine treatments. I also want to emphasize that this is not something that is for treating ADHD but has been proven to be effective as an off-label treatment for a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. If ketamine treatment is something of interest to you I also strongly advise that you do so with medical supervision. This isn’t stuff to play around with, and we still have a lot to learn despite the fact that ketamine has over 50 years of clinical use and research behind it. Perhaps at some point, I’ll work on an episode from more of a treatment perspective, but for now, we’re just talking about Saman’s experience. Also to note from this episode is that we talked for quite a long time and so I decided that we could split the episode into two parts. Sign up for my Newsletter Any and All Distractions Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/170 This Episode's Top Tips  It’s important for us to understand that the way we treat our ADHD is not one size fits all and that there are a variety of ways that we can treat our ADHD. While medication is an effective step, we also want to be looking at other ways that we can improve our mental functions with things like exercise, diet and stuff like mediation. Recognize and celebrate the strengths and perspectives ADHD adds to your life, rather than focusing solely on its challenges. And while there is no question that there are challenges if we can recognize the unique way ADHD brains navigate the world we can celebrate the strengths and perspectives ADHD adds to our life and work. Understand the importance of allowing flexibility in routines to accommodate the ADHD brain's need for variation and stimulation.

12 Feb 202436min

Hey Team!This week we’re joined by Ying Deng, known as ADHD Asian Girl across social media. I was able to get to know Ying a bit at the recent International ADHD Conference and thought she’d be a great guest for the show. Meditation is something that I’ve wanted to discuss on the show for quite a while now, but it also isn’t something I’m super knowledgeable about so it was great to have a chance for this discussion.In our conversation today we get into what mindfulness and mediation actually is - and some about what it isn’t, since meditation isn’t exactly something we get an accurate picture of from popular media. We talk about some of the reasons that mediation can be beneficial for ADHD as well as some of the strategies to help bring meditation into our lives because ADHD can also make it a hard habit to start. Be sure to check out all of Ying's Mindfulness Course or checkout where she's on the web with her Linktree Feel free to ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the full show note at HackingYourADHD.com/169 This Episode's Top Tips  We can engage in mindfulness during daily activities like putting on socks or brewing coffee. By focusing on the sensations we can work on being present in the moment. ADHD can make it hard for us to build our practice so we can mix up our routine with guided and unguided meditations, sit outside to connect with nature or engage in mindful movements to cater to how we’re feeling on any given day. We don’t need to meditate for long periods and if we find that challenging, start with shorter, more manageable sessions and gradually increase the duration as we build the habit. Body doubling can be a great way for us to get into a meditation practice. Partner up with someone or join a community for meditation sessions to make the practice more engaging and accountable.

5 Feb 202427min