ADHD Her Way

In this solo episode of ADHD Her Way, psychologist Johanna Badenhorst shares a recent conversation with her ADHD coach that challenged how she thinks about hobbies, identity and the pressure to find that one thing.
We explore:
Why ADHDers can experience intense interest and hyperfixation when starting new hobbies.

How years of being told we don't stick with things can contribute to shame.

Why novelty, motivation and changing capacity can influence our interests.

The pressure to master a skill, be consistent or turn every hobby into something productive.

Why having multiple changing interests doesn't mean you lack identity or commitment.

How to rediscover activities that genuinely fill your cup, without the pressure to be good at them.

Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@johanna_badenhorst⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠@adhdherway⁠⁠⁠⁠
Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.johannabadenhorst.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ways to work with Johanna, her resources, programs, and upcoming events.

In this episode of ADHD Her Way, clinical psychologist Johanna joined by Dr Emma-Leigh Senyard to explore the complex relationship between trauma, neurodivergence and the nervous system.
We unpack why trauma doesn’t always look the way we expect it to, how chronic dysregulation can show up in the body, and why recognising our patterns and early warning signs can be so important, particularly for neurodivergent people who may not notice what their body needs until they’re already running on empty.

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that nervous system regulation isn’t about being calm all the time.
It’s about becoming more aware of what your nervous system is communicating, recognising your patterns earlier, and building a toolkit that helps you respond to what you actually need.
If you’ve ever wondered “Is this my ADHD? Is this trauma? Am I burnt out? Or is my nervous system just completely cooked?” this conversation is for you.
You can find Dr Emma-Senyard here
You can find Johanna and her podcast ADHD Her Way here:

In this solo episode of ADHD Her Way, Johanna Badenhorst, Clinical Psychologist and neurodivergent mum, explores why interruptions can trigger such intense irritation, overwhelm and even rage, particularly during the school holidays.
Johanna covers the role of ADHD and autistic traits, including task switching, working memory, sensory overload, cognitive load, autistic inertia and the added challenge of losing the predictability of your usual routine.
She also shares what this has looked like in her own school holidays, from juggling work and parenting to noticing when her own patience is wearing thin, plus practical strategies that have helped.
In this episode:
• Why interruptions can feel disproportionately hard for neurodivergent parents
• The link between cognitive load, sensory overload and rage
• ADHD task switching and autistic inertia
• Why school holidays can amplify overwhelm
• Creating predictability without needing a perfect routine
• Activities that can help regulate both you and your kids
• Recognising the build-up before you reach breaking point
• Repairing after you lose your cool without getting stuck in guilt and shame
• When additional support from a psychologist or ADHD coach may be helpful
A relatable reminder that you can love being with your kids and still find the constant interruptions, noise and demands incredibly hard.
Want more practical strategies to use in those moments? 💛

If you liked the regulation strategies in the episode, my Nervous System Reset Guide for ADHDers has even more practical tools for those moments when you’re overstimulated, snappy or everyone in the house needs a reset.
It’s an inexpensive 20-page downloadable guide you can access instantly, with grounding exercises, DBT-inspired tools, check-ins and gentle strategies designed with ADHD/AuDHD brains in mind.
👉 Download the Nervous System Reset Guide for ADHDers here

Have you ever wondered why you can thrive when life has structure… but completely unravel when you suddenly have too much freedom?
In this episode of ADHD Her Way, I’m joined by TV presenter, Women’s Health Coach and founder of My Daily Ritual, Liv Phyland.
Liv has spent more than 15 years working across television and media, alongside studying Psychology and Health Coaching and creating Girls Who Glow, Liv Your Life and, most recently, My Daily Ritual.
We chat about Liv’s own experience of questioning ADHD and beginning to understand the way her brain works, including hyperfocus, time blindness, procrastination, perfectionism, rejection sensitivity and that familiar feeling of having a LOT going on internally, even when you might look like you’re coping pretty well from the outside.
We also talk about the interesting relationship ADHDers can have with structure. Liv reflects on thriving in environments like television where there were clear expectations and deadlines, compared with the overwhelm that could come with freelance work and having complete freedom over her time.
And then we get into purpose.
Liv shares how her career has moved through television, working with teenage girls, coaching, wellness, building an app and now motherhood, but how there has actually been a common thread running through all of it.
You can find Liv and My Daily Ritual via this link.
You can find Johanna and her podcast ADHD Her Way on: https://www.holisticwellnesspsychology.com.au/adhdherwaypodcast

Johanna shares her personal journey with ADHD, motherhood, and managing capacity during pregnancy and postpartum, emphasizing self-awareness, boundaries, and seasonal self-care. As well as a pregnancy announcement!

keywords
ADHD, motherhood, capacity, self-care, pregnancy, neurodiversity, mental health, self-acceptance

key topics

The difference between motivation and capacity in ADHD
The impact of pregnancy and postpartum on mental health
The importance of self-compassion and boundaries
Adjusting business and personal goals seasonally
The role of self-awareness in managing neurodiversity

takeaways

Capacity, not motivation, often limits us during challenging seasons.
Self-acceptance and boundaries are crucial for mental health.
Slowing down and honoring your current season can enhance well-being.
Digital detox and social media breaks are vital for self-care.
Seasonal adjustments in work and life can prevent burnout.