Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. This podcast is based on personal experience, education, and research, and is not a substitute for professional advice.

S1E2: What ADHD Actually Feels Like (Not the Stereotype)

ADHD isn’t just “can’t focus” or “easily distracted.

In this episode, I’m talking about what it actually feels like; we'll talk about the inconsistency, the gap between knowing and doing, and why some things feel weirdly impossible to start, even when you care.

We get into:

• why focus isn’t the real issue
• what that “I know what I need to do… so why am I not doing it?” feeling actually is
• how ADHD shows up in everyday life (not just the stereotype)
• why “just try harder” has never worked
• and that you're not lazy, just because your brain isn't built for something.

This isn’t a clinical breakdown; it’s a real one.

If you’ve ever felt like your brain works with you one day and against you the next, this episode is for you.

Sources and references:

Miserandino, C. (2003). The spoon theory. But You Don’t Look Sick.
https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/2020-05/Spoon%20theory%20by%20Christine%20Miserandino.pdf

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR).

Hartmann, T. (2019). ADHD: A hunter in a farmer's world (3rd ed.). Inner Traditions/Bear.

Welcome to the first episode of Keep In Mind.

In this episode, I introduce who I am, the story behind Keep-In-Mind Advocacy, and why I started this podcast.

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, and this podcast isn’t meant to diagnose,treat, or replace professional support in any way. I’m speaking as a psychology student, and as someone with lived experience, and I’m pulling from research and credible sources; but this is still just one perspective and one opinion. So take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and if something applies to you in a bigger way, it’s always worth talking to a professional.

This didn’t start as a podcast... it actually started years ago as a way to make mental health information more understandable and more accessible, especially for young people navigating things like ADHD and anxiety.

In this episode, I talk about:

- my background as a psychology student

- my experience navigating ADHD and anxiety- how Keep-In-Mind evolved from ADHD Teen Tips into a broader advocacy initiative

- and why conversations around mental health need to be more honest and accessible

This is a foundation episode. In it, we will be setting the tone for what this podcast will be moving forward.

If you’ve ever felt like mental health conversations don’t quite reflect your experience, this space is for you.

Follow along with Keep-In-Mind Advocacy:
https://linktr.ee/kimadvocacy