Living Beyond ADHD

How often do you do the prep work for your tasks?  Do you know what I mean by prep work?  Most people I know really dislike the prep work and just want to get down to doing the task.  They even feel that the prep work is a waste of their time because it isn't getting the job done.  And, they are short on time as it is, so this is just a non-essential thing to do.  But is it really?  Everything in life needs prep work and maintenance.  If you are the cook in your family or home, you need to prep the meal before you can make it and then eat it.  If you are going to work on an art project, you need to prep and make sure you have all the supplies you need for your project before you embark or you'll be running out to the store or aborting the project when you find out that you don't have what you need.  What about leading a meeting at work?  Do you just show up and talk, or do you need to prep for the meeting so you stay on topic for the purpose of the meeting and are clear on what you will present?  Like I said, prep work and maintenance is just part of life. Prep work can include many Executive Function skills or Executive Function pre-skills.  And, if you don't have solid pre-skills, then building your Executive Function skills on a flimsy foundation isn't going to get you sustainable results.  The 3 Executive Function pre-skills that I feel are essential are your relationship with time and how you manage yourself and time itself, procrastination and how you eliminate it from your life, and decision-making since you are making decisions every day, and sometimes all day long.  Do you trust yourself with time and the decisions you make?  Have you eliminated procrastination from your life? In this episode, I talk about:  Executive Function pre-skills development The importance of developing a dynamic plan with a strong foundation What it's like to work with Dr B And more!  Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life!  My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.    Episode Resources:  Get Sh*t Done Fundamentals + Essentials (GSD-FE) Program Information:  (previously known as the ADDventures In Achievement [AIA-FS] program) https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogram Grant assistance page for help with funding for GSD-FE program:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance    Book your complimentary discovery call with Dr B to get your questions answered, and determine together if GSD-FE is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/d/ywy-j5t-4jk    The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram   Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function   Book your complimentary discovery call to get your questions answered and determine if TTC is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/amygellerux/ttcdiscoverycall      Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more  Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show:  Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!    

Do you have the blueprints to build a new model of yourself?  One of my favorite quotes is by Buckminster Fuller, who said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”  Thinking along the same lines as Fuller, I realized years ago that with so much that happens on our journey from birth to adulthood, unless we build a new model of ourselves and then move into that new model, we will be fighting the existing reality and model of our earlier life and selves forever, and trying to “fix” the dysfunctional, rather than create anew.  If changing the outcomes in your life was as easy as learning some new skills or moving to a new place to start over again, then everyone who does it that way would be happy with their new outcomes.  It doesn't work that way.  Wherever you go, there you are.  You are taking the existing model of who you have become up to now and attempting to shove new tools into that existing, dysfunctional model of you, and there is no room for this to happen.  You are a closed system that has what it has and functions as it does within that closed system.  You have to be willing to build a new model of yourself, for who you need to be or want to be, take the best from your existing model and move it over into your new model, and then release the rest of that original model because it is obsolete.  My phrase for that release is borrowed from Star Trek and is “beam me up Scottie.”  Since energy never dies, I don't want to leave anything from the previous model of me, that is now obsolete, for me to slide back into at some point in time.  I am clear that model is obsolete and I have built a new healthy model and I want to live from the place of that new model, not the old, dysfunctional one.  This means we have to be able to let go of the old and embrace the new, and many have difficulty letting go of anything; especially the previous, outdated and dysfunction model of who they have been. In this episode, I talk about: Building a blueprint for a new model of yourself Why change is not just as easy as learning new skills Common barriers to transformation And more! Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Get Sh*t Done Fundamentals + Essentials (GSD-FE) Program Information:  (previously known as the ADDventures In Achievement [AIA-FS] program) https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogram Grant assistance page for help with funding for GSD-FE program: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance  Book your complimentary discovery call with Dr B to get your questions answered, and determine together if GSD-FE is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/d/ywy-j5t-4jk   The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram  Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function  Book your complimentary discovery call to get your questions answered and determine if TTC is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/amygellerux/ttcdiscoverycall     Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show:Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others! Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.  Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this! 

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria or RSD is a hot topic these days.  It is one manifestation of emotional dysregulation, which is a common but misunderstood and under-researched symptom of ADHD in adults.  Individuals with RSD feel unbearable pain (physical and emotional) as a result of actual or perceived rejection, teasing, or criticism.  And, this symptom is not alleviated with cognitive or dialectical behavior therapy.  I've read that this symptom is attributed to a different brain structure, a sensitivity that is different than just being a highly sensitive person, and as with the treatment of ADHD itself, medications such as ADHD medications or antidepressants are often given in the hopes that they will lessen the pain.    A significant percentage of adults never find any effective ways to manage or cope with the pain.  So, what do adults do when they are in unbearable pain?  What comes to mind is self-medicate the pain so they can at least do what needs doing in their life.  This could be drink, drug, spend, eat, etc., to escape the pain. When I read about rejection, it appears to be the intentional act of refusing to accept, approve or support something or someone such as refusal to show someone love or kindness; refusal to accept someone.  Rejection is the act of not giving someone the love and attention they want and/or expect. In this episode, I talk about: The unbearable physical or emotional pain of rejection The difference between RSD and ADHD What it takes to transform from the inside out And more!   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Get Sh*t Done Fundamentals + Essentials (GSD-FE) Program Information:  (previously known as the ADDventures In Achievement [AIA-FS] program) https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogram Grant assistance page for help with funding for GSD-FE program: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance   Book your complimentary discovery call with Dr B to get your questions answered, and determine together if GSD-FE is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/d/ywy-j5t-4jk   The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram  Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function  Book your complimentary discovery call to get your questions answered and determine if TTC is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/amygellerux/ttcdiscoverycall     Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show:Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others! Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.  Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this! 

I often hear from many accomplished adults that they feel like imposters.  They have been able to hold things together and advance in their career, yet the toll on them is huge.  They have created workarounds to get the job done but fear being found out.  Work takes so much time and leaves little if any time for pursuing their dreams, hobbies or even cherished time with family and friends.  Over time, their self-confidence and happiness has disappeared.  Enter… imposter syndrome.    In order to feel confident, you need to be competent in those areas of life you created workarounds for.  In other words, competence  confidence.    Many adults ramble when they speak.  I used to.  I didn't have a target; I just started talking and hoped I would make sense to those listening if I just said enough.  To ramble on is to speak or write at length and with many digressions, such as rambling on for a couple of hours and your listeners become restless.  Rambling uses up a lot of time, effort and energy – whether talking or writing.  Rambling on is an expression of disorganization or confusion in thinking.   Does it take you a while to get to the point in a conversation or presentation?  Do you feel the need to provide all the details you can possibly think of when you are explaining something to someone?  Have you ever thought your rambling or excessive explaining was a sign of executive function skill deficits?  In this episode, I talk about: Excessive rambling Strategies to improve your communication How to develop organized thinking and an organized mind And more! Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life!    My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.  Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life!   My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Get Sh*t Done Fundamentals + Essentials (GSD-FE) Program Information:(previously known as the ADDventures In Achievement [AIA-FS] program) https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogram Grant assistance page for help with funding for GSD-FE program: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance     Book your complimentary discovery call with Dr B to get your questions answered, and determine together if GSD-FE is right for you or not: https://calendly.com/d/ywy-j5t-4jk   The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram  Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function    Book your complimentary discovery call to get your questions answered and determine if TTC is right for you or not: coming soon Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show:Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others! Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.  Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!     

I've been giving a lot of thought to what is commonly believed to be the process we adults need to go through if we suspect ADHD.  That process takes time and money.  And depending on what part of the world you live in, your access to a specialist may be limited.  For that reason or others, many adults are self-diagnosing these days.  Some are questioning what having an official diagnosis will give them that a self-diagnosis won't.  The answer to that question is simple – potentially a lot of valuable information beyond just ADHD since by the time you are an adult, ADHD typically doesn't occur by itself.  There could be depression, anxiety, codependency, addictions, learning differences or challenges, Irlen syndrome, underdeveloped executive function skills, sensory challenges and more.  Medication may be appropriate for some of these additional conditions as well as for ADHD if the main ADHD challenges are inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.  If the main challenges are executive function skill challenges due to underdevelopment, I haven't seen medication alone be the answer without EF skill training. I have worked with many adults over the years who haven't sought an official diagnosis because they knew that their executive function skills were lacking development for various reasons, and they knew they could do something about that without waiting for a diagnosis...    If you're loving the podcast, you can get even more support by checking out the links in the show notes for free resources and transformative opportunities that are waiting for you. GSD or “Get Sh*t Done”, Because Your Life Won't Wait Forever Executive Function Skills Training & Coaching Program Information: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function The Transformation Club – the affordable community for EF training:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram An assortment of Free Resources, depending on your needs:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/free-resources Grant assistance page: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you found value in this episode, please leave me a review on Apple Podcasts! Our mission is to help as many people as possible transform their lives, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you! Personal transformation is waiting for you, if it's your time.  There are real solutions to the challenges you are experiencing, and they are available now.  Time is our most precious asset, and none of us have time to waste on solutions that don't work.  I would love to help you realize a new freedom, that is…if that's of interest to you.  Thanks for listening…  Until the next time…  Bye for now…

This episode is a little different than most.  It's kind of a public service announcement - a message in the public interest that is meant to raise awareness about an important issue and change behavior.  This episode is dedicated to you, my listeners. The topic was inspired by a few emails I received this week, and they brought back the strong feelings I have about what I have been called to do and why I continue to pour my heart and soul into this calling.  Every day someone emails me with information about their challenges, how hard their life is, and the help they are looking for. This worldwide pain and suffering must stop!  I know I talk about executive function skills a lot and point to them as the solution – and that is because they are.  The multitude of symptoms that you all are experiencing are coming from your underdeveloped EF skills and pre-skills plus your limiting beliefs and your outdated identities, and typically a mixture of all of this.  I say this with absolute conviction of this truth... Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. If you're loving the podcast, here's how to get even more support:  check out the links in the show notes for transformative opportunities that are waiting for you. AIA-FS Executive Function Program Information: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function The Transformation Club – the affordable community for EF training:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram Grant assistance page: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance Book your strategy call or call to get your questions answered: https://go.oncehub.com/AIAStrategyCall

Whether you are dating, are in a committed relationship, living together or married, your well-developed Executive Function Skills make a difference in many aspects of your relational life.  And, even though I focus on helping you develop your Executive Function Skills for yourself, that does not mean that their development isn't essential for a healthier and happier marriage.  Let me explain.  When we enter a relationship, we bring whoever we are and whatever is part of us with us.  If there is depression or anxiety or ADHD or an addiction or trauma or other issues, they come with us.  We are each an entity unto ourselves and a third entity is created when we come together, which is the relationship or marriage.  In order to maximize the opportunity for the best of ourselves to be what creates the relationship, we need well-developed Executive Function Skills... Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. If you're loving the podcast, here's how to get even more support:  check out the links in the show notes for transformative opportunities that are waiting for you. Executive Function Information List & AIA-FS Program Information: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function The Transformation Club – the affordable community for EF training:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram   Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you found value in this episode, please leave me a review on Apple Podcasts! Our mission is to help as many people as possible transform their lives, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you!   And, if you're ready to stop your needless suffering, I look forward to welcoming you into the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills program or seeing you inside The Transformation Club.  Be sure to check out these opportunities in the show notes.  Personal transformation is not exclusive to me; it's happening for my students every day.  There are real solutions to the challenges you are experiencing, and they are available now.  Time is our most precious asset, and none of us have time to waste on solutions that don't work.  I would love to help you realize a new freedom, that is…if that's of interest to you.  Thanks for listening…  Until the next time…  Bye for now…

Desmond Tutu once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” What he meant by this is that everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible can be accomplished gradually by taking on just a little at a time. Robert Maurer, Ph.D. tells us in his book, “One Small Step Can Change Your Life – The Kaizen Way” that small steps bypass your brain's built-in resistance to new behavior. Kaizen means improvement and moreover it means continuing improvement in personal life, home life, social life and working life. With one small step or 15-minutes a day every day, your brain doesn't react as if it's a threat but rather it's more like saying that you can't possibly achieve much with just one small step or just 15-minutes a day and the truth is you can if you are consistent every day with your 15-minutes or one small step. Yes, this way of life every day can change your life in big ways over time...  Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: The Transformation Club – the affordable community for Executive Function training:   https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram   Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Executive Function Information List & AIA-FS Program Information: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy relevant posts  Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!

Procrastination is simply the act of delaying or postponing something; nothing more. Most people think of procrastinating as a negative thing. We procrastinate on filing our taxes, paying our bills, keeping our homes tidy, returning phone messages and responding to important emails. We even procrastinate on making plans for our summer vacations. These are all just the act of delaying or postponing something; nothing more. It's just a behavior. And, we can use this behavior for good or harm; it's up to us. Most use it for harm. The issue isn't really about procrastinating – the act of delaying or postponing something – it is about when we do it and why. If you are a procrastinator, do you procrastinate at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a task or project? And, is the reason for your procrastination because you are missing information you need to start or continue or finish up? Or, is it because you can't get yourself to take action on things when you need to be taking action? You know what you need to do and even how to do it. You have all the resources to take action, and yet you don't. We are feeling-driven people and often don't take action because we don't feel like it. Translating this, I mean that the feeling we need to take action isn't there when we need it to be. And the advice isn't – “just do it” – because you would if you could and you can't. Instead, it's learning the EF skill of Shifting your state so that no matter what you are feeling when the time comes to take action, you can shift yourself into the state of being or feeling so you take action...  Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: The Transformation Club – the affordable community for Executive Function training:   https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram   Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Executive Function Information List & AIA-FS Program Information: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy relevant posts  Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!

Hi Aspiring Achievers,  There is a serious, widespread problem with the educational requirements in the mental health field.  Most professionals are studying the same outdated information about ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and Addictions in preparation for licensure. They aren't studying what happens to your executive function development because of those conditions.  The most common treatment recommended for adults with ADHD is medication, and the same is true for Depression and Anxiety.  Unfortunately, medication alone isn't the best solution, and for many of you, it isn't a good option at all.  Many of your life experiences pull the energy that is supposed to be going into the development of your executive function skills and channel it elsewhere.  This could have led to the diagnosis of depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, chronic illnesses as well as ADHD.  So, no matter what diagnoses you have collected along the way, there are no skills in pills, and we need to focus on developing our executive function skills if we hope to live a full and fulfilling life.  From the time we are born, we develop skills–we learn to walk and talk, to read and write, to bathe and dress.  These are all skills.  And as we get older, we learn more complex skills such as organizing our thinking as well as our possessions, planning our playdates and the time we need to complete our schoolwork... Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: The Transformation Club – the affordable community for Executive Function training:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram   Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Executive Function Information List & AIA-FS Program Information: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy relevant posts  Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!

Toxic shame is a killer. It's an internal message that tells you that you are defective, bad, wrong, and not valuable. Toxic shame isn't personal; it's like poison. It doesn't matter who gives you the poison or who does the shaming, either one will eat away at you and take you down. And, when shame comes flooding in and causes us to retreat into ourselves, our transformation is put on hold while we navigate the toxic shame. Shame and guilt are different: Guilt tells me that I made a mistake. Shame tells me that I am a mistake. I definitely used to feel a lot of shame and wanted to erase myself from life. Over time, I learned how to change my mindset and develop the skills to eliminate the hold that shame had over me. Now, my life's work is to pull others out of that same dark place and into a calm and competent life by sharing the exact roadmap I followed. Episode Resources: The Transformation Club – A unique membership that helps adults with underdeveloped Executive Function skills (with or without ADHD) increase competence in days without overwhelm, moral judgements, or self-doubt so they can feel calm and in control. CLICK HERE to opt-in for the free training and learn more about The Transformation Club.    Get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help the Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

Executive function skills are important for us to function well as an adult, whether this means raising children, running a household, working for a company or ourselves, or being in healthy relationships. These skills are necessary so that we can get things done and not be in a constant state of overwhelm or frustration because we can't keep up with our adult responsibilities. We all need to be competent in Executive Function skills in order to feel confident in our adult life. In this podcast episode, Dr B talks about: The importance of developing your Executive Function skills Some examples of underdeveloped Executive Function skills Adult ADHD symptoms and diagnosis A brand new way you can work with Dr B for less than $1 a day    Episode Resources: The Transformation Club – A unique membership that helps adults with underdeveloped Executive Function skills (with or without ADHD) increase competence in days without overwhelm, moral judgements, or self-doubt so they can feel calm and in control. CLICK HERE to opt-in for the free training and learn more about The Transformation Club.   Get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help the Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this!  

Hi Aspiring Achievers! Do you have any or all of the following challenges? Limiting beliefs that hold you back and make it impossible for you to succeed? An outdated sense of yourself or identity that is a limited version of you; not a version that is able to move forward with confidence and conviction? A disempowering relationship with time, where you find it difficult to manage yourself within the time you have? An ongoing struggle with procrastination, where you can't seem to eliminate it from your work and personal lives? A difficult time trusting yourself or your decisions, where you are regularly filled with self-doubt in personal or professional situations? If you're like most of my listeners, then yes, you may struggle with these challenges! Since I am all about eliminating obstacles by creating solutions, we just created a new opportunity – The Transformation Club – where you can work with me now on all the pre-skills taught in the first part of the AIA-FS program - while you plan your finances and/or apply for financial assistance with any of the financial resources shared on my website for enrollment in the complete AIA-FS program when it opens again in 2023.    In this episode, Dr B talks about: What is coaching vs transformation How coaching and transformation are not the same What makes The Transformation Club and ADDventures In Achievement transformational programs How you can start your transformation today by enrolling in The Transformation Club   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: The Transformation Club – 9-weeks of foundational work releasing limiting beliefs, upgrading outdated identities, and developing key pre-skills.  Click the link to see the details of this new opportunity – offer ends Oct. 12th at midnight Pacific time: https://bit.ly/thetransformationclub   Get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help the Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

In this podcast episode, Dr B answers the question from Christine in Florida: "Does Codependency often play a role in executive function deficit?"   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.    Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help the Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

In this episode, we're doing something a little different. I was on a call a few days back with a couple of my team members. And I realized that that conversation would make a great mini podcast that I wanted to share with you my listener, because it's how I feel about the work that I'm honored to do with you, and why it matters so much to me. So, here's a brief bit of that conversation. Enjoy. Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this!

What if we're doing it all backwards and wrong? People start identifying that they have ADHD and they want to fix it.  Or people start identifying they have underdeveloped executive function skills and they want to fix it.  And everything is oriented towards fixing something that's deemed to be broken. But what if it's not broken?  What if what we're identifying is the cause; the underlying cause?  And let's say it's underdeveloped executive function skills.  The effect is everything we're seeing in life – all the challenges and chaos.   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this!  

There's a difference between what you say you want and what you say you intend to have.  One is “desire” and the other is “it will happen.”  When we set our intention, we are willing to go to any lengths for it to happen.  We are willing to become a better or upgraded version of ourselves; to take with us the best of who we are and leave the rest behind.  Are you willing to go to any lengths?  I wasn't 40 years ago and I learned in codependency recovery that I would need to be willing to go to any lengths so what I intended for myself would occur.  Some 35+ years ago that meant eliminating everything non-essential from my life and focusing on my recovery from codependency or else I was going to die.  I went from no recovery work to 9 meetings a week for my first year.  I learned that half measures availed us nothing.  Not half results, but nothing!  No results!  And that if I wanted to experience the miracles that recovery offers, I needed to be all in – 100%.  So, have you been “all in” on anything in your life? This may have been the first significant time for me.  Yes, I worked hard on other things in my lifetime but to dedicate myself with a powerful, intentional focus on healing from my codependent ways of living was a first for being all in. What about you?  Are you a quitter? Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this!  

Let's jump straight to what's important here.  You definitely need certain capabilities to succeed in life.  These capabilities help you to get and keep a job, provide appropriate care for children, manage a household and contribute meaningfully to your community.  They also enable you having a satisfying personal life with whatever is most important to you.  And based on what you are sharing with me when you complete the Information List form, you are in desperate need of the EF skills to be able to perform the basics of adult life.  I'm not talking about anything fancy here; just the basics.  So many of you are stressed, overwhelmed, and emotionally maxed out.  The smallest thing can set you off and send you down a dysregulated path that lasts for days.  That is not what is supposed to happen if you get triggered.  Your nervous system is supposed to reset itself and bring you back to a calm and well-regulated state pretty quickly.    Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.  Episode Resources: First - register and join me for 3 FREE live days of transformation - June 3, 6 and 8 - "Meeting You Where You're At and Moving Forward From There": https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/3-day-live-training-registration Second - get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:   https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Third - find out what you can do to change your situation and how AIA-FS can help you:   https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

If you're on the Information List for ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, then you've been receiving some exclusive emails this week. As I was reviewing the emails you've been receiving again, I was thinking of how easy it would be very easy for you to not believe what I'm saying in the emails, and maybe not even believe what I say in my podcast show because after all. If you're in your 30s or 40s, or 50s or older like me, you've had a lot of years of experiences in which things haven't really worked well. Because otherwise, I can't imagine that you would be looking for more help.  For this podcast episode, I've decided to keep it casual this week and just talk with you guys. Enjoy! Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.  Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

Have you been suffering long enough? Whether your suffering is due to your limiting beliefs or outdated identities or missing pre-skills or underdeveloped EF skills – if you're suffering, then you're suffering – no matter which of these are the source of your suffering. In this episode, I talk about: Suppressing emotions Stories you tell yourself that keep you suffering How to break free from suffering And more!   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

Hello, everyone. This is not Dr B. This is Maya Brewer, and it is Dr B's 100th podcast episode for Living Beyond ADHD.   So, I am here with Dr B.  I'm a student and a freelance writer.  And when I say student, I mean student of Dr B's ADDventures In Achievement Program.  So welcome to your own show, Dr B. Well, are you ready?  I'm ready.  Let's do it. Awesome.  So, it is your 100th podcast episode. Wow, that's quite a milestone. So, Dr B, how do you feel about reaching this milestone? In this episode Dr B talks about: Her 100th episode milestone Her background and educational journey Attempting to get a diagnosis of ADHD The separation of ADHD and Executive Function Skills The importance of getting a "knowing" not knowledge The best way to achieve what you want in life The 5 elements woven into AIA-FS Real hope and transformation Gifted Underachievers become Empowered Achievers   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

In episode 098, I talked about being the Gifted Underachiever and the 5 pivotal elements to become the Empowered Achiever.  While I was creating that episode, it occurred to me that there are many traumatic life experiences, big and small, when we don't have well-developed EF skills.  We need to acknowledge them, in light of our underdeveloped EF skills, so that we can embark on our extraordinary healing journey, and manifest the pure potential contained within us. It's not enough for us to develop our EF skills and strategies.  That's one piece of the puzzle.  The other pieces have shown themselves to me over the past 5 years and are now essentials in the program.  The 5 elements woven into the AIA-FS journey are:  an EF Assessment, identifying and releasing limiting beliefs and outdated identities, acquiring pre-skills, developing EF skills and strategies, and maintaining your achievements for a lifetime, because everything in life requires maintenance.  This unique, transformative 7-month journey flushes out traumatic experiences and facilitates the healing ones by training our core EF foundational skills within the safety of our closed communities. I studied with Jim Rohn back in the 1980s, and when he said, “for things to change, you have to change”, I didn't understand this concept to the depth I do today.  He was talking about changing from the inside out, and that we can't remain as the current version of ourselves if we are to expand into the pure potential of our being. In this episode Dr B talks about: Our many traumas, big and small We are the meaning makers Reframing your meanings Common traumatic experiences Practice exercise for you Learn about 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back Find out what you can do about your weak executive function skills even without a diagnosis Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

When I refer to “gifted” adults, I am not talking about I.Q.  I am talking about something more important, which is gifted temperament.  Additionally, a lot of the challenges you experience could be due to being a gifted adult, since there are many similar challenges with ADHD as with giftedness. According to Reis and McCoach (2000), gifted underachievers typically have low self-esteem, low self-concept, and low self-efficacy, which refers to your belief in your capacity to implement behaviors necessary to produce specific performance outcomes.  Put another way, it's your belief in your ability vs. your actual ability.  And, whatever you believe is true about you, is true, whether or not it really is.  Can you relate? I've worked with thousands of adults over the past 30+ years and most of them are “Gifted Underachievers.”  Many are professionals, working in various industries, such as law, medicine, research, project management, entertainment, creative arts, social sciences, education, biological sciences, business, history and more.  And, when you are a “Gifted Underachiever” the gap is much bigger because your performance is way below your potential. If you're tired of psychological labels, and just want to get to the core of what's going on and resolve it, keep listening.  In this episode Dr B talks about: How we become a Gifted Underachiever Some of the challenges of being a Gifted Underachiever Some examples of maladaptive strategies of Gifted Underachievers Similarities between adults with ADHD and Giftedness Learn about 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back Find out what you can do about your weak executive function skills even without a diagnosis Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

Did you get up this morning and have to stop and remember who you are?  Like in the movie “50 First Dates” where Lucy had to watch a video of her life every morning because her memory was damaged from an accident?  Most likely not how your mornings start.  Habits are great when they are shortcuts that save us time and benefit our lives.  When they are destructive and remnants from the past, we need to get out of the habit of doing them. It's the same with who we are and how we are.  We are in the habit of being us.  And that means it saves us time and we don't have to consciously think about who we are and what we will be doing or not doing.  It just happens automatically courtesy of our subconscious mind and all the habits stored there. In this episode Dr B talks about: Gaining awareness about yourself Human systems ICD-11 codes for impaired executive functioning Playful exercises Learn about 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back Find out what you can do about your weak executive function skills even without a diagnosis Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

If you've ever been disappointed or frustrated with the information or care you've received for your mental health and well-being, stay tuned. Carl Jung said, “I feel it is the duty of one who goes his own way to inform society of what he finds on his voyage of discovery.” Jung's quote inspired this episode.  I feel it is both my duty and moral obligation to share with you what I've found out that I trust will benefit you and help you create a better quality of life.  So, here's some hard truths here in the USA:  In this episode Dr B talks about: DSM-5 for diagnoses ICD-11 for insurance billing and diagnoses Lack of appropriate training in mental health field Learn about 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back Find out what you can do about your weak executive function skills even without a diagnosis Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: First, get your copy of 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning is Holding You Back:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Next, find out what you can do to change this for yourself and how AIA-FS can help you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

The title of this episode is a real question I am posing to all of my listeners.  If you knew that you would not fail once again to achieve your desired outcome, what would you do?  Would you tell yourself that's not possible because you always fail?  Or, would you be curious about what makes that opportunity different from all the other ones – to wonder how is it possible that failing isn't an option? If you're curious to know more, please listen carefully.  And after you do, if you want to know even more, take action and go look at the link in the show notes.  And after that, take one more action which is reach out to me with any questions you have.  Please don't wait for this opportunity of a lifetime to pass you by because you weren't curious enough to take the next couple of steps In this episode Dr B talks about: How you can avoid failing and succeed The right scaffolding support and guidance Timing is essential for change Act now so you don't miss the AIA opportunity that ends January 20, 2022 - link below Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Click the link:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  so you are informed.  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

Achieving your goals is connected to how well-developed your EF skills and strategies are, and if they're not well-developed, well, you know the rest of the story. And I get it.  Getting the right help for yourself is a Catch-22.  It's challenging because the very skills you need to help yourself are the skills you're missing.  And, there's plenty of resources in the world that offer you a piece of what you need, but not all of it.  How do I know?  Because I was offered a piece here and there for years, and I just got fed-up with the absence of a solution – not a band-aid or a quick fix – but an actual solution to what I was missing and wanting to achieve.  A real solution after so many failed attempts at improving the quality of my life - and none of those pieces helped me get where I am today.  I am not the exception here.  It's not like “oh, you could do it Dr B because of all your training and education in psychology.”  No - It was my curiosity and my absolute determination that drove me to find the answers for myself and then for others. In this episode Dr B talks about: Transforming your life and maintaining your achievements  Life habits that hold you back and feed underachieving You are more than you think Act now so you don't miss the AIA opportunity that ends January 20, 2022 - link below Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Click the link:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  so you are informed.  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

Hearing that ADHD is a gift is hurtful and confusing to many adults.  In my Facebook group, whenever we create a post about ADHD being a gift, many members are angry because they don't experience their ADHD as a gift at all. And, they are right.  Without well-developed Executive Functions skills, the gifts of ADHD aren't available.  If you don't take steps to more fully develop your EF skills, you could be locking yourself out of access to your creativity, unique problem-solving abilities, associative thinking, and seeing the possibilities in so many things in life.  And, you could be locking yourself into a lifetime sentence of underachieving, overwhelm, poor relationships, and so many other quality of life-threatening experiences. Whether you are self-diagnosing or have received a diagnosis, there is so much that you have the power and control to change about the quality of your life IF someone would just tell you so.  Well, that someone is me.  If you want to leverage your ADHD, keep listening. In this episode Dr B talks about: How to leverage your ADHD as your super power Life with well-developed Executive Function skills Training your mind/brain to help you express your best self Early bird enrollment open now - special bonuses available Get on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills (AIA-FS) program if you want to know more Skip the Waitlist if you know you're ready to enroll now and claim your bonuses Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Put yourself on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we've written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/elephant-in-the-room  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

80% of the new students coming into the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills program feel powerless over their current behaviors, are filled with self-loathing, and feel like an impostor - having lived with so many challenges their entire life.  They constantly look over their shoulder least they be found out. In today's episode, I'm focusing on feelings you're probably familiar with, and how shining a light on these feelings, and the beliefs that feed them leads you to heal your needless suffering.  Hiding your challenges and feelings only makes things worse, not better.  You feel bad about what you aren't yet able to do and feel worse because you're hiding.  You've turned this into a moral issue when it is just the under-development of some of your EF skills.  And being able to share what you are thinking and feeling about yourself in the safety of our program community provides you with the opportunity to release the shame and guilt you've been carrying for years and kept to yourself.  The love and support inside our private community is priceless. In this episode Dr B talks about: Feeling powerless and hopeless Covering up your challenges Strategy to start helping yourself 4 action steps to take now Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Click the link:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  so you are informed.  There is no obligation to being informed about an amazing opportunity that changes lives! 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

I have something a little different for you today.  I did a live video last Friday, and people said it was great, so I turned it into a podcast episode so you all could benefit as well. As you may have heard me say before, you don't have to have a diagnosis or even suspect ADHD to have under-developed EF skills.  The developmental energy that was intended for their development could have gotten derailed by depression, anxiety, addictions, traumas, illnesses and more.  All of these conditions, including ADHD can create a developmental derailment that leaves you with the EF skills of a much younger person, and all the responsibilities of an adult who needs well-developed EF skills to create the quality of life we all deserve.  I trust you will find the following information beneficial, and if you do, you will find an important link in the show notes that you will definitely want to click and take advantage of right away.  A great opportunity awaits you, that is, if that's of interest to you. In this episode Dr B talks about: How Executive Function Skills develop growing up What causes Executive Function Skills to derail Rebooting your Executive Function Skills done methodically Early enrollment open now and special bonuses available Get on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills (AIA-FS) program if you need to know more Skip the Waitlist if you know you're ready to enroll now Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Get on the informational Waitlist for the AIA-FS Program, to receive emails to educate yourself about EF skills as well as the details of the program; there's no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA If you're ready to enroll in the program after listening to this episode, skip the Waitlist - go straight to enrollment: I'm Ready To Enroll Now and Start Changing my Life! 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/elephant-in-the-room  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

It's true – goal setting can be detrimental to your success…if you set goals the way most of us have been taught to set them.  If you're intrigued, stay tuned. Goal setting is typically an external process, where you are targeting something outside of yourself that you want to achieve or change.  All of your focus and attention is on achieving your external goal.  One example could be, “You want to lose 10 pounds in 10 days.”  Your focus is on the scale and what you are eating and your exercise routine; all things outside of you because what you want to achieve is outside of you – right?  Nope.  It isn't.  What you want to achieve comes from inside of you and that's where you need to focus.  That's where your goal setting needs to be focused, otherwise, you won't be able to achieve or keep the achievement of your external goal.  One reason this happens is because your goal isn't congruent with your identity.  Your goal is for your behavior or a tangible thing, and not for your being or identity.  Your goal doesn't consider the characteristics for being, performance and achievement.  Simply put – your goal doesn't consider who you need to be first, to achieve your external goal. In this episode Dr B talks about: How typical goal setting is backwards Where your focus needs to be to achieve your goals  The importance of celebrating your wins Like-minded community and monthly live Q & A in the Living Beyond ADHD FB Group Getting on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills program Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Put yourself on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we've written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIAWaitlist  Learn more about our newest program, Living Beyond ADHD 2.0 Training and Coaching Mini-Series. Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/elephant-in-the-room  13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

When you set a goal, you are setting a direction for yourself.  And setting a direction can change the course of your life; it depends on the goal that you set. In my 50s, I wrote a goal on my flipchart one day that I wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of at least a million people in my lifetime.  I had no idea what that goal really meant nor how it would unfold when I wrote it that day. Then, many years ago, I found an anonymous quote online – “Set a goal so big that you can't achieve it until you grow into the person who can.”  Okay…  I had set a goal so big that I couldn't even imagine how I could achieve it, however, the quote said that I needed to grow into the person who could.  At the time, I had no idea what that meant – grow into who and how? Looking back, I can see that the combination of the goal I wrote and the quote I found were the stimulus for me to grow into who I have become and am BEING, which is allowing me to fulfill my goal.  As Steve Jobs said, “we can only connect the dots looking backwards, not forward.”   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Put yourself on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we've written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIAWaitlist    Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/elephant-in-the-room  13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode   A Favorite Quote of Mine: “Set a goal so big that it scares you” - Dr B Big goals require much more of you than small goals. To reach big goals, you must be intentional and plan your approach; there are steps to take and this will take time.  Small goals can be immediate gratification.  However, you can plan out a big goal so that there are consistent, small achievements to celebrate.  You can't wing it with a big goal.  This means I am 100% responsible, 100% of the time for the outcomes in my life with my big goals.  It's up to me to decide what I will do.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

If you could get yourself to focus when and where you need to AND could shift your state or feelings so you feel like doing things you've planned, when it's time to take action, would having those skills change your life?  If you're like other adults I've asked over the years, the answer is a resounding yes.  But how? You are where your attention is.  What you focus on grows.  You are the meaning maker in your life.  Your feelings are a direct result of your thinking.  You create your own reality; we all do.  So…are you ready to harness your focus before your dreams gently slip through your fingers or you run out of steam and just quit?  I hope so. Today I'm talking about one aspect of embracing your Superpower and becoming the visionary of your life.  That's right - developing your Foresight and Conscious Focusing so you can connect with your ideas about how things can be different for you; how they can actually improve.          Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Put yourself on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we've written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIAWaitlist    Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/elephant-in-the-room  13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode   Some Favorite Quotes About Focus:  Alexander Bell said, “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” Will Durant said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Bruce Lee said, “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” Zig Ziglar said, “I don't care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don't harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there, you're never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.” Steve Jobs said, “Focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex:  You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.  But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” Mike Hawkins said, “you don't get results by focusing on results. You get results by focusing on the actions that produce results.” Jacqueline Leo said, “One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message can destroy your schedule, forcing you to move meetings, or blow off really important things, like love and friendship.” Ralph Marston said, “Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So, choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful.  Your life is always moving toward something.” Oprah Winfrey said, “Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.” John Carmack said, “Focus is a matter of deciding what things you're not going to do.” Anthony D'Angelo said, “Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems.” Og Mandino said, “It is those who concentrate on but one things at a time who advance in this world. The great man or woman is the one who never steps outside his or her specialty or foolishly dissipates his or her individuality.” All of these quotes say to me that because I am 100% responsible, 100% of the time for the outcomes in my life, it's up to me to develop my abilities to consciously focus and have foresight so that I end up where I want to be in my life.  And because I am a solutions-focused person, I always ask myself “HOW” can I” rather than thinking that I can't; that there's no way forward.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

I pursued an ADHD diagnosis with many professionals, only to be refused an assessment with two and granted an assessment with one who decided there was nothing significantly amiss with me – just a little anxiety. Seriously?!  The two that turned me away said it would be a waste of time (whose time?) to assess me and the one that did, asked questions and did testing that would never have confirmed a diagnosis because they weren't properly trained to assess me as an adult woman.  It was very discouraging. Peri-menopause was the great equalizer.  When my brain function went offline, all the skills and strategies I had successfully used prior to that hormonal shift stopped working for me.  I had developed my EF skills well enough to get my education and successfully serve clients in my private practice, however, my skills weren't developed in the methodical manner I developed them after “my cognitive fall.”  What a gift that time in my life was for me, and what was to transpire as a result.   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Put yourself on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we've written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIAWaitlist    Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/elephant-in-the-room  13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode   Favorite Quote: A favorite quote of mine is from Nick Webb, who said, “We inhabit a world in which we tend to put labels on each other and expect that we will then march through life wearing them like permanent sandwich boards." I know that I live in a world that uses labels freely.  However, labels easily become identity statements about WHO we are instead of WHAT is challenging to us.  Therefore, I prefer to keep the WHAT as the challenge and the WHO as the sacred, precious child I am and you are.  I choose to BE me; not a label.  How about you?  What do you choose?   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

You may not know if being free of negative self-talk is going to be right for you.  You may not know if you're going to be SO happy with your new-found freedom that you'll have to email me and tell me about it.  You may not know if this transformation is going to be really fun and exciting.  And, if it's not as wonderful as others have experienced and you want your previous negative self-talk life back, you can re-create that life again – although you may want to give your new-found freedom a little time before you decide.   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Episode Resources: Put yourself on the informational Waitlist for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we've written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the Waitlist.  You'll thank yourself for getting informed:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIAWaitlist    13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Take Control of Your Life with MasterClasses: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on InstaGram and enjoy relevant resources Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode   Favorite Quote: A favorite quote of mine is from Lisa Hayes, who said, “Be careful how you talk to yourself because you are always listening.”    What this quote says to me is that the many parts of myself are always listening – that they are each sensitive to something I say, whether it's encouraging or abusive.  And since I never know who is listening at any given time, and I am 100% responsible, 100% of the time for what I say to myself, it's up to me to do what I can do to evict the negative and feed the positive in everything I will BE and DO.  So, I ask myself daily - “how can I” and I do that.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  We can do this!  

So many of us grew up without the opportunity to become the person we want to be.  Whether our homes were filled with trauma or addictions or those who raised us were just missing the essential executive function skills to be able to pass them on to us, we didn’t get them.  And so, it goes.  Generation after generation of kids are growing up with under-developed executive function skills; the very life skills that are necessary for successful “adulting.” Some of you believe it’s too late for you to develop these skills or that it will take too long.  The fact is, it’s never too late and in our 7-month journey together you will make significant changes – from the inside out - that will change your life.  To me, that’s a relatively short period of time considering the lifetime many of us have spent without these skills and the difference that having them makes. Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Enrollment for the final 2021 group for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program closes on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 10 pm PDT.   If you think this could be your time to make the changes you’ve wanted for years and you’re just wondering about the contents of the program, the time commitment and the financial investment, I highly recommend you at least take a look at the information on the enrollment page to fully understand what this opportunity holds for you, in the event you decide to embrace it before the deadline: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/aia-may-enrollment   13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Getting Unstuck: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/procrastination-opt-in  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode Favorite Quote: A favorite quote of mine is from Jim Rohn, who said, “The only way it gets better for you is when you get better. Better is not something you wish, it’s something you become.”    What this quote says to me is to be mindful of who you are becoming on the way to where it is that you are going.  And to take stock every night to make sure that you are better tonight than you were last night.  I suggest you make this a nightly practice for yourself. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

There's a lot of trauma that occurs as a result of not knowing what the source of our challenges are. And then so many mixed feelings when and if we get diagnosed, everything from a huge sense of relief, and having an explanation for entire life experiences, to a deep sadness over the missed opportunities. And we're left wondering what could have happened if we had known sooner?  What if the bigger issue with all the problems that we adults with or without ADHD have is because of the not knowing - the lack of a diagnosis and all the trauma that results from living with the unknown, or the unnamed explanation? Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Getting Unstuck: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/procrastination-opt-in  Enrollment open now for the final 2021 group for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you, be sure to complete the program application and receive the email series educating you about the program as well as the link to early enrollment.  Complete the application now: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode Favorite Quotes: Three of my favorite quotes by Socrates are: An unexamined life is not worth living. It is better to change an opinion than to persist in a wrong one, and Know thyself. What these three quotes say to me, is that we need to be curious about ourself, and understand that life is happening for us, not to us. Lessons abound, it is up to each of us to accept or reject our lessons and change accordingly. My wish for all of you is that you can learn to feel the same about your lessons in life, and set yourself free. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

Forgiveness is a gift.  We can give this gift at any time - to ourselves or to others.  It’s our “get out of jail” gift card – releasing each of us from a prison of our own making.  When we refuse to forgive, and choose to hold onto mistakes and use them against ourselves or others, we are setting ourselves up for a miserable life.  How many times do we need to relive the pain of the past before we’ve experienced enough pain or misery? To forgive is to stop feeling angry or resentful toward ourselves or to others for a mistake or harm caused.  To forgive doesn’t mean I forget or condone; it simply means that I stop poisoning myself with my past mistakes or the harms done to me by others.  And, as I said in the previous episode, “for things to change, you have to change.”  I had to learn how to forgive, let go and move on.  You also have to learn how to forgive, let go and move on.  If not, you could stay stuck forever. In this episode Dr B talks about: What is the point in forgiving myself, the damage is already done? What’s the point in apologizing to others for the mistakes I’ve made in the past; they continue to bring up my past mistakes and punish me with them. Forgiving myself or others is like me saying that what happened was okay, and it’s not okay. The importance of celebrating your wins Enrollment opens March 7th for the ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program  Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Enrollment opens March 7, 2021 for the ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you, be sure to get on the Waitlist and receive the new email series to educate and inform:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode A Favorite Quote: Oprah Winfrey said, “True forgiveness is when you can say ‘Thank you for that experience'."   What this quote says to me is that everything that is happening in my life is happening “for me” not “to me” – I am not a victim.  When I am grateful every day for the lessons in my life that are helping me to become more of the person I am intended to be, and I truly forgive myself and others, I take a huge step forward and set myself free.  My wish for all of you is that you can learn to feel the same about your lessons in life and truly forgive yourself and others – and set yourself free. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

Jim Rohn said - "For things to change, you have to change." It seems very obvious when you think about it, for things to change, you have to change. I've been thinking about this quote a lot lately. And it's taken on a much deeper meaning for me, because he didn't say, for things to change, you have to change things. What he said is for things to change, you have to change. I understand now that means that I have to change in whatever ways are necessary for things to change for me, whatever those things are; and if I don't change, which is an inside job, then things in the outside world are not going to change for me. So, for things to change, you have to change. In this episode Dr B talks about: Common limiting beliefs Counter-examples to limiting beliefs Upgrading your identity or sense of self The importance of celebrating your wins Enrollment opening in March for the ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program  Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function  Enrollment opening soon for the March 2021 ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you, get on the Waitlist and start receiving the newest email series to educate and inform you:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode A Favorite Quote: John wooden said, "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."   What this quote says to me is that there is always something I can do in any situation, because I am always 100% responsible, 100% of the time for the outcomes in my life. And it's up to me to do what I can do. So, I asked myself continuously, how can I, and I do it, whatever it is.  To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

Feeling overwhelmed isn’t automatically a positive or a negative experience; it depends on the emotion and on the meaning you give to the emotion you’re feeling.  You could be overwhelmed with gratitude and self-love or overwhelmed with grief and shame. The meaning I give overwhelmed is that it implies “too much” or “more than someone can comfortably handle.”  Is that you? Every time I imagine what life is like WITHOUT well-developed executive function skills before the pandemic, and then imagine it during this pandemic, the impact just 10x’d itself in terms of the negative overwhelm and impact that it is having on your lives.  And so many of you are telling me exactly that. The good news? Executive Function skills can be learned, no matter what age you are.  No matter where you are located in the world.  All it takes is the right training, strategies and support.  In this episode Dr B talks about: What it takes to stay out of overwhelming feelings Strategies for shifting your feelings The importance of celebrating your wins Enrollment opening in January for the ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills  Free Executive Function Training Series coming very soon Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life! My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function  Enrollment opening soon for the January 2021 ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you, get on the Waitlist:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode A Favorite Quote: Mother Teresa said,  “Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.  Life is beauty, admire it.  Life is a dream, realize it.  Life is a challenge, meet it.  Life is a duty, complete it.  Life is a game, play it.  Life is a promise fulfill it.  Life is sorrow, overcome it.  Life is a song, sing it.  Life is a struggle, accept it.  Life is a tragedy, confront it.  Life is an adventure, dare it.  Life is luck, make it.  Life is too precious, do not destroy it.  Life is life, fight for it.” The question I have for you at this point of our journey together is, “Are you willing to go to any lengths and be all in so you can get what you need and want for your life?” I hope so – it’s a much better use of your energy. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

Being an Achiever isn’t just about developing your EF Skills; you also need to become the person who is the Achiever, instead of thinking of yourself as the person who is the ADDer.  Saying “I am an Achiever” is the first step to taking on an empowering new Identity, just as saying “I am an ADDer, is a step that reinforces keeping the same old disempowering Identity.     Are you telling yourself stories or reliving your past failed attempts and making that your reality today?  You’re probably not doing this consciously, however, many of us base our current reality on possibilities of what you’ve done in the past.  Statements like, “this is just how I am” or “this doesn’t feel like me” or “I can’t see myself living that way” are common.   The good news? Executive Function skills can be learned, no matter what age you are.  No matter where you are located in the world.  All it takes is the right training, strategies and support.  In this episode Dr B talks about: What can happen when ADHD and under-developed executive function skills are lumped together for diagnosis and treatment Giving a new meaning to ADHD and under-developed executive function skills The importance of celebrating your wins Enrollment opening now for the January 2021 ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program   Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life!   My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: 13 EF Skills:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function  Enrollment opening now for the January 2021 ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you, get on the Waitlist:  https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA  Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hangout with your peeps Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the transcript for this episode A Favorite Quote: Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” The question I have for you at this point of our journey together is, “Are you ready to build your new life and move into it, rather than continually trying to remodel your old life?” I hope so – it’s a much better use of your energy. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

I have something a little different for you today.  In case you missed listening to my interview with Meredith for Real:  The Curious Introvert, she was kind enough to share the episode with me, so I could share it with you all directly.  I love responding to questions and thoroughly enjoyed my interview with Meredith. If my podcast show is the first time you’ve been hearing about the difference between ADHD and executive function skills, you're not alone.  If you’re an adult who received a diagnosis of adult ADHD, executive function skills should also have been assessed and discussed with you, in my humble opinion.  The odds of having under-developed executive function skills along with ADHD are very high; in fact, almost a given that you will.  It's also highly probable that you will have under-developed executive function skills if you've lived with chronic depression, chronic anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illness. Today’s episode is about offering you hope; real hope that you can change your life.  How much time do we have?  Not much.  So let’s get to it. In this episode Dr B talks about: Understanding what ADHD is The difference between ADHD and executive function skills Strategies based on my responses to questions from Meredith's listeners The importance of celebrating your wins Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and a newfound freedom in your life!  

I love responding to questions and enjoyed being interviewed by Meredith for Real so much that I decided to change the format of my show to focusing on a topic and responding to questions about it.  So, if you have a topic you’d like me to talk about and half a dozen questions you’d like answered on that topic, submit your topic and 6 questions to me directly at: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ask-dr-b If my podcast show is the first time you’ve been hearing about executive function skills and strategies, you are not alone.  If you’re an adult who received a diagnosis of adult ADHD, executive function skills should also have been assessed and discussed with you, in my humble opinion.  The odds of having executive function deficits along with ADHD are very high; in fact, almost a given that you will.  Today’s episode is about the executive function skill of Initiating and some strategies to get you started on developing this important skill, as well as offering you hope; real hope that you can change your life.  How much time do we have?  Not much.  So let’s get to it. In this episode Dr B talks about: The simplest, bare-bones definition of Initiating that I could give How Initiating and Procrastination relate to each other The insult of "lazy" A few quick strategies to help you start developing your Initiating skillset A testimonial from a student on this topic If you don't believe this can work for you, listen up The importance of celebrating your wins My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the episode transcript if that's important for you. Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group and hangout with your community. Follow me on my Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Free Resources and opportunities to learn from Dr B Questions for me - Ask Dr B Enrollment opening in June 2020 for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you:  Waitlist for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program A Favorite Quote: Carl Bard said, “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”  So, the question I have for you at this point in our journey together is, will you make a fresh start today, so you can make a new ending? To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

For those of you who don’t know me yet … Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” That was me; living the majority of my academic life believing I was stupid, and chasing degrees to prove I wasn’t. The degrees never resolved the feelings; only accepting the truth did. I was smart; just differently. I wasn’t broken. I didn’t need fixing. I needed to understand what was great about me and build on that. I have, and so can you! The meanings you give the events of your life is so important.  They can either empower or destroy you.  In this episode Dr B talks about: Defining what ADDulting will look like for you Success comes from building a strong foundation and continuing to practice the basics Six important concepts that have radically transformed my life and others who apply these concepts The importance of celebrating your wins My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the episode transcript if that's important for you. Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group and hangout with your community. Follow me on my Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Free Resources and opportunities to learn from Dr B Questions for me - Ask Dr B Enrollment opening in June 2020 for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you:  Waitlist for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program A Favorite Quote: Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”  So, the question I have for you at this point of our journey together is, are you longing for what was, so much so that you are missing what can be?  I hope you will release any regret about the closed door, so you can fully embrace the doors that are opening for you, even now. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a review so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

We have a multi-dimensional mental health problem in the world.  Many professionals aren’t trained to recognize nor address issues with ADHD or executive function training.  Our family members might have had the same challenges we experience and just made the best of them.  And of course, whatever they modeled for us is what we learned.  Plus, nowhere along the way was it ever mentioned that we could do something about these challenges ourselves – even without a diagnosis! Prescribers aren’t recommending executive function skills training.  Therapists aren’t recommending executive function skills training.  Colleges aren’t recommending or offering executive function skills training; neither are employers.  So, if all the main people in your life weren’t making these recommendations, why would you even know or consider this as something you can do for yourself?  In this episode Dr B talks about: Multi-dimensional mental health problem in the world Importance of executive function skills training with scaffolding support Self-care beyond skills training - hydration, nutrients, movement, and more The importance of celebrating your wins My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering. Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the episode transcript if that's important for you. Join the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group and hangout with your community. Follow me on my Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Free Resources and opportunities to learn from Dr B Questions for me - Ask Dr B Enrollment opening in June 2020 for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you:  Waitlist for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program A Favorite Quote: Kahlil Gibran said, “Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” We can only control ourselves, no matter how much training we undertake; not other people, places or things. We need to cultivate a mindset of acceptance for that which we cannot control and take action on that which we can, without hesitation, least the window of opportunity pass us by. Are you willing to accept what is outside of your control, so you can focus your time, effort and energy on being mindful of who you are becoming on the way to where it is that you are going? I hope so. To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!  Please rate the show and leave a review so I know you're benefiting from the episodes.  The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

The topic of menopause and ADHD is an important one and not often talked about. It’s important if you’re pre-menopause, peri-menopause, going through menopause or post-menopause, and wondering at any point what hit you! And it’s important even if you’re a male listener, since you most likely live with or work with such women. In this episode Dr B talks about: Drops in estrogen and cognitive functioning Importance of gut health for brain health Not turning your behaviors into your identity The importance of celebrating your wins My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions or chronic illnesses.  And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these EF skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.   Free Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like Download the episode transcript if that's important to you Join me in the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook group for community, support, live videos and more Check out my Dr B page on Facebook Click HERE for lots of free resources to serve your needs   Enrollment opening in June 2020 for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program.  If it's of interest to you:  Waitlist for ADDventures in Achievement Foundational Skills program   A Favorite Quote: From the character Socrates in the movie Peaceful Warrior: "I call myself a Peaceful Warrior because the battles we fight are on the inside. This moment is the only thing that matters." I love this quote; it’s so powerful. This moment is the only thing that matters; it’s the only time that we can make a change that will impact how the future unfolds for each of us. And we have this power in every moment of our lives. If you believe you can or you believe you can’t, you are right either way. Are you willing to compassionately challenge your beliefs and peacefully tackle your insides?   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot Rate the show if you want to do something quick and easy - click Stars to rate Leave a review so I know how you are benefiting from my show Help me in my mission to end the needless suffering of adults who have under-developed executive function skills as a result of ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions and more.  Please share with your friends and family so that all adults can be helped to live a happier, more productive and wildly successful life.   Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together!  

Today’s episode is part 4 of 4 of my interview with Danny, a writer and director who has been sharing the ups and downs of his life with ADHD. We begin this section discussing the use of alcohol or other substances to slow down what Danny calls the “cacophony” going on in his head. And then we dive into all the ways your brain can be retrained so that you can get better outcomes for your life. That is, how to work with your unique brain, how to love it’s quirkiness and how to envision a positive future. Free Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like Download the episode transcript if that's important to you Join me in the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook group for community, support, live videos and more Check out my Dr B page on Facebook Click HERE for lots of free resources to serve your needs   Thanks for listening to my first podcast interview. I had a lot of fun with this format and will hopefully be doing more of them. If you’re just catching this last episode, I definitely recommend going back and starting with Part 1 so you get the full picture of Danny’s story and how he overcame a lot of struggles that were rooted in his undiagnosed ADHD. As always, I want to encourage YOU to celebrate all YOUR wins no matter the size, so that you can promote a positive outlook for your life and for Living Beyond ADHD.   Coming May 24, 2020: Click HERE for information about "Procrastination Banished" MasterClass, which includes 90-minute MasterClass, replay of MasterClass, comprehensive Workbook and 30-days working with me in a private community forum on banishing your procrastination.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot Rate the show if you want to do something quick and easy - click Stars to rate Leave a review so I know how you are benefiting from my show Help me in my mission to end the needless suffering of adults who have under-developed executive function skills as a result of ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions and more.  Please share with your friends and family so that all adults can be helped to live a happier, more productive and wildly successful life.

Today I’m continuing my interview with Danny, who, in the last episode, described how getting diagnosed with ADHD and learning about wins from something I taught at our local MeetUp group pulled him out of darkness and started him on a bright new path. In Part 3 of this interview I discuss “cognitive hyperactivity,” which is barely being talked about even though it causes huge problems for people. And then we start talking about solutions. So settle in for some great tips as we continue Danny’s interview…   Free Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like Download the episode transcript if that's important to you Join me in the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook group for community, support, live videos and more Check out my Dr B page on Facebook Click HERE for lots of free resources to serve your needs   It doesn’t feel good when your brain isn’t running the show well. In the last episode of this 4-part interview, we’ll talk about the unhealthy coping mechanisms people sometimes use and we’ll present ideas for finding healthy coping strategies instead.   Coming May 24, 2020: Click HERE for information about "Procrastination Banished" MasterClass, which includes 90-minute MasterClass, replay of MasterClass, comprehensive Workbook and 30-days working with me in a private community forum on banishing your procrastination.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot Rate the show if you want to do something quick and easy - click Stars to rate Leave a review so I know how you are benefiting from my show Help me in my mission to end the needless suffering of adults who have under-developed executive function skills as a result of ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions and more.  Please share with your friends and family so that all adults can be helped to live a happier, more productive and wildly successful life.

Today I’m continuing my interview with Danny, an artistic soul who was diagnosed with ADHD in his 40s. When we left off at the end of the last episode, Danny had just experienced an epiphany that ADHD might be the source of many of his struggles in life. This episode starts with Danny’s revelations from listening to an audio book on ADHD and then he describes a very dark time in his life and where he found a lifeline. Let’s jump right in.  Free Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like Download the episode transcript if that's important to you Join me in the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook group for community, support, live videos and more Check out my Dr B page on Facebook Click HERE for lots of free resources to serve your needs   Coming May 24, 2020: Click HERE for information about "Procrastination Banished" MasterClass, which includes 90-minute MasterClass, replay of MasterClass, comprehensive Workbook and 30-days working with me in a private community forum on banishing your procrastination.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot Rate the show if you want to do something quick and easy - click Stars to rate Leave a review so I know how you are benefiting from my show Help me in my mission to end the needless suffering of adults who have under-developed executive function skills as a result of ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions and more.  Please share with your friends and family so that all adults can be helped to live a happier, more productive and wildly successful life.

Are you someone who struggled with ADHD your whole life and finally received a diagnosis later in life?  If so, then you're not alone.  Today I'm interviewing Danny, a writer and director whose story is similar to a lot of folks. We met at a local ADHD MeetUp group back in 2013 and have been friends ever since. He’s come a long way, and I want you to hear from him how ADHD almost ruined his life, and he overcame his depression and addictions by working on unique ways to retrain his brain. In this first part (Part 1 of 4), we discuss Danny’s childhood, how he discovered his ADHD later in life and what cognitive hyperactivity can look like. Let’s jump right in. The conversation starts with Danny describing himself as we chat a little about our MeetUp days… Free Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like Download the episode transcript if that's important to you Join me in the Living Beyond ADHD Facebook group for community, support, live videos and more Check out my Dr B page on Facebook Click HERE for lots of free resources to serve your needs   Coming May 24, 2020: Click HERE for information about "Procrastination Banished" MasterClass, which includes 90-minute MasterClass, replay of MasterClass, comprehensive Workbook and 30-days working with me in a private community forum on banishing your procrastination.   To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot Rate the show if you want to do something quick and easy - click Stars to rate Leave a review so I know how you are benefiting from my show Help me in my mission to end the needless suffering of adults who have under-developed executive function skills as a result of ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions and more.  Please share with your friends and family so that all adults can be helped to live a happier, more productive and wildly successful life.

Hey ADDers!  So glad you could join me for today’s episode – ADHD and Executive Function Skills Through Dr B’s Eyes.   Back in the late 1970’s I had Graves Disease, which simply put is an overactive or hyperactive thyroid gland.  ...Being an options thinker, I explored acupuncture, which addresses issues of energy directly and visualization techniques, which have been researched as very effective in the treatment of cancer. Plus, some reading in Louise Hay’s book “Healing Your Body” helped me to understand the metaphysical aspects of my thyroid, which is about speaking my truth.  So, between the use of the medication, acupuncture, and visualization techniques with self-dialogue, I was able to release the hyperactive energy from my thyroid gland without the need for surgery or radiation.  Everything that had happened to my eyes and thyroid gland went back to normal and you couldn’t tell it ever happened.     I share the stories in this episode with you, so you have a little sense of my worldview on wellness and how the limited options we are often given are just that – limited and limiting. In this episode Dr B talks about 3 action steps: Self-Care Lifework Persistence The importance of celebrating your wins Free Live Masterclass, January 2020:  "The #1 Way to Move Beyond the Years of Damage from Undiagnosed ADHD and Executive Function Dysfunction."    Free Episode Resources: Download the mp3 audio file and listen whenever you like. Download the episode transcript if that's important for you. Living Beyond ADHD group on Facebook where I'm around to help you as a community member; reach out to me with a friend request, answer the 3 questions posed for group members, and I'll welcome you into the community group so we can interact and learn together. Live videos on my Facebook page, Dr B Click HERE for Clutter-Free Living guide Click HERE for The Elephant in the Room Click HERE for Weak Executive Function Click HERE for Decision-Making Click HERE for Interview with Dr B Free Live Masterclass, January 2020:  "The #1 Way to Move Beyond the Years of Damage from Undiagnosed ADHD and Executive Function Dysfunction."   Newest Resource: 3-Part Masterclass Series starting in March 2020 on Decision-Making, Time Management and Procrastination.  For more information about topics, bonuses and to sign up, go to: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses2020 A Favorite Quote: Germany Kent said, “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” Do you believe you have the power to take your life in a new direction?  If yes, great!  If not, then start with changing your negative belief so that you can make the changes that are indeed possible for you! I hope one of your steps toward a fresh beginning includes joining me in March 2020, for my 3-Part Masterclass Series: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/MasterClasses2020 To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot Rate the show if you want to do something quick and simple - click Stars to rate Leave a review so I know if you like what I'm sharing     Help me in my mission to make sure that all adults with focus, follow through, self-management or executive function challenges have the information and skills to help them live a happier, more productive and wildly successful life - please share with your friends and family.