What does it actually mean to live with ADHD, beyond focus, distraction, and the stereotypes?In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, Ann Thomas speaks with Ankita Jagtiani Dadachanji, an internationally trained ADHD coach and POSH Consultant who works with adults navigating executive dysfunction, procrastination, overwhelm, emotional regulation and the everyday realities of ADHD.Diagnosed with ADHD herself, Ankita brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the conversation. Together, they explore what ADHD can look like in adulthood, particularly in the Indian context, and why so much of it can remain invisible.From trying to force yourself into rigid routines to understanding why you can manage everyone else's life but struggle with your own, this conversation gets into the less visible parts of ADHD.We talk about:• Why ADHD can go undiagnosed for years• The Indian context of ADHD, stigma and access to support• Structure vs. rigidity• Why consistency may need a new definition• The all-or-nothing mindset and perfectionism• Procrastination, overwhelm and task initiation• Executive dysfunction and why knowing what to do doesn't always mean being able to do it• Masking, discipline and the hidden effort behind looking “organised”• The ADHD tax and the emotional cost of constantly feeling like you’ve failed• Interest-based motivation and mundane tasks• Emotional regulation and big feelings• Why women are often diagnosed later• The difference between a therapist, coach and psychiatrist• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)• Whether to disclose ADHD at work• ADHD and friendships, reminders and “out of sight, out of mind”• What to realistically expect from an ADHD coach• What neuro-affirming support can actually look likeMost importantly, this is a conversation about building fluid structures that work with your brain, rather than constantly trying to force your brain into someone else's definition of “normal.”Timestamps00:00 Meet Ankita ADHD Coach01:02 Career Pivot and Lockdown01:49 Diagnosis and Indian Context07:17 Why ADHD Feels Everywhere11:04 Who Seeks ADHD Coaching17:50 Structure vs Rigidity19:54 Self-Compassion and Delegating28:28 Redefining Consistency33:24 All or Nothing Mindset36:49 Task Initiation and Overwhelm39:27 Executive Dysfunction Explained43:15 Masking Discipline and Support49:28 ADHD at Work Impulsivity50:31 Stop Blurting Strategies52:31 Work Masking Burnout54:38 Notes That You Can Find56:20 ADHD Tax And PINCH58:21 Motivation Is Interest01:00:41 Mundane Tasks Systems01:04:44 Big Feelings Injustice01:07:33 Emotional Regulation Tools01:09:20 Why Women Diagnosed Late01:13:47 Therapist Coach Psychiatrist01:20:45 RSD And Medication01:22:47 Disclosing ADHD At Work01:25:03 Friendship And Reminders01:26:36 When To Hire A Coach01:29:52 Neuro Affirming Support01:36:10 Closing TakeawaysIf this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear that they aren't simply lazy, undisciplined or “bad at life.”Just Your Normal Missfit is a space for conversations around neurodivergence, identity, mental health, culture and the many ways human brains experience the world.Stream this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WULWnTOLgicFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justyournormalmissfit/And discover more about neurodivergent help, resources and tools with The Misfit Collaborative: https://www.instagram.com/themisfitcollaborative/#ADHD #ADHDIndia #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergence #ADHDHelp #ExecutiveDysfunction #ADHDAwareness

What happens when a child is told they don’t belong in a space meant for them?

For Kavita Gupta, that experience became the starting point for something very different. After moving back to India with her autistic son, she found herself repeatedly facing spaces that weren’t designed to include him. Instead of accepting that as the norm, Kavita and her sister Surbhi Gupta decided to build a space where every child could play, explore and simply belong.

In this episode, Ann Thomas speaks with Kavita and Surbhi, Co-Founders of GoGiggles Inclusive Play Center, about what inclusive play really looks like in practice.

We talk about why play is so much more than just play, how it can support communication, regulation, confidence, creativity, friendship and belonging. We also explore what it takes to design a space around children rather than expecting children to fit into the space.

The conversation covers:

• The story behind GoGiggles and how exclusion became the motivation to create an inclusive space

• Why play matters for communication, regulation, confidence and connection

• What makes a play space genuinely inclusive

• Designing spaces with the help of occupational therapists and psychologists

• Sensory needs, emotional regulation and creating calmer spaces

• The fears and concerns parents bring into inclusive spaces

• Stigma, late diagnosis and the fear of accepting neurodivergence

• Why parents sometimes don't need a solution — they just need to be heard

• Why neurodivergent and neurotypical children benefit from playing together

• Child safety, transparency and the systems GoGiggles has put in place

• Why independent play matters for both children and parents

• Giving children the freedom to explore, discover and be creative

• And what each of us can do to make the world a little kinder and more inclusive

📌 Timestamps

00:00 Why Play Matters

02:18 Go Giggles Origin Story

05:46 Designing an Inclusive Space

08:48 Parents vs Kids Challenges

13:10 Inside the Play Zones

18:17 Stigma and Late Diagnosis

25:59 Supporting Parents and Staff

28:59 Safety Rules and Transparency

32:20 Child Safety Guidelines

33:17 Therapist-Led Design

35:23 Sensory Tweaks and Calm Zone

36:35 Inclusive Play Advice

40:28 Design and Staffing Tips

41:22 Stories That Motivate

47:04 Kindness and Inclusion Message

51:55 Independent Play Policy

01:01:32 Host Closing Reflection

At its heart, this is a conversation about creating spaces where children don't have to prove that they belong.

Because inclusion isn't about making someone fit in.

It's about making sure there is room for everyone.

Stream this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/akXRDcnAutE

Follow Just Your Normal Missfit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justyournormalmissfit/

If this conversation made you think differently about inclusion, play or neurodiversity, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

What does neurodivergent burnout actually feel like?

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, Ann Thomas speaks with Melanie Lobo, a neurodivergent virtual assistant, spoonie, and systems strategist who helps neurodivergent individuals work in ways that support their brains instead of fighting them.

Melanie shares her journey of being diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult while simultaneously navigating chronic illness, burnout, and the loss of mobility. Together, Ann and Melanie explore what burnout really looks like, the difference between exhaustion and shutdowns, why self-awareness is critical for neurodivergent wellbeing, and how concepts like energy mapping and spoon theory can help people build more sustainable lives.

In this conversation:

• Receiving an autism and ADHD diagnosis as an adult
• Why diagnosis doesn't always feel like relief
• The early warning signs of burnout
• What autistic shutdowns can feel like
• Spoon theory and managing limited energy
• Working with your energy instead of forcing productivity
• Building support systems and neurodivergent community
• Learning to embrace your neurodivergent identity

📌Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:08 Melanie’s VA Work
01:47 What ND Affirming Means
03:24 Late Diagnosis Story
06:32 Labels and Identity Shift
10:53 Freelancing as Strength
12:33 Finding Community Support
14:07 Burnout Warning Signs
16:51 Shutdowns and Recovery
21:08 Energy Tracking Tools
24:39 Inward Looking Exercise
29:49 Spoon Theory Intro
30:10 Spoon Theory Basics
30:56 Building a Spoons Tracker
31:22 Tasks That Drain or Recharge
33:10 Anger as High Energy
33:54 Burnout and Emotional Regulation
35:21 Quitting a Misaligned Client
37:42 Rebuilding Routines After Burnout
39:28 Support Systems and Self Talk
41:30 Diagnosis and Reframing Labels
43:12 Change and Side Quests
45:38 Podcast Wrap and Recording Anxiety
47:56 Money, Side Hustles, and Book Editing
49:59 Final Goodbye

If you've ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, misunderstood, or like you're constantly pushing yourself beyond your limits, this episode is for you.

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