Previously Perfect with Erika Ames

In this episode you'll learn about the effects of stigma on women with ADHD and hear Erika's hot take about the dreaded L-word: Lazy, complete with a soap box talk and sound effects. And most importantly, you'll learn a 4 step system to fight a case of the lazies.    The study referenced in this episode is The Strives, Struggles, and Successes of Women Diagnosed with ADHD as Adults by Mira Elise Glaser Holthe and Eva Langvik Full text available here: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017701799   ADHD Time Nemesis Quiz:  https://www.unruffle.com/quiz Instagram: @erikaameslcsw Tiktok: @erikaameslcsw Twitter: @erikaameslcsw

Getting to know your ADHD is essential if you want to get moving toward your goals. What exactly is executive functioning and how does ADHD mess with it? Get to know your ADHD brain and discover a hard truth about executive functioning. Plus, you'll learn the secret to getting what you really want when you're a woman with ADHD.    Take the ADHD Time Nemesis Quiz at https://www.unruffle.co/quiz. Follow Erika on Instagram, Twitter, & TikTok: @erikaameslcsw

What's perfectionism got to do with ADHD? Listen to the first episode of (Un)ruffle, a podcast for women with ADHD to learn about the relationship between perfectionism and ADHD as illustrated through social media posts you've almost certainly seen. As a bonus, Erika talks you through what the ADHD diagnosis process and alerts you to things to avoid when seeking a diagnosis.    Take the ADHD Time Nemesis Quiz Keep in touch:  Instagram: @erikaameslcsw Twitter: @erikaameslcsw TikTok: @erikaameslcsw

Introducing (Un)ruffle! The podcast is coming back in a new way! Listen in for an exciting announcement and a preview of the new season starting next week. 

In this episode of Previously Perfect, Erika is talking about toxic positivity. What exactly is it? Is positivity canceled? How can you spot toxic positivity and what you can do about it? She also confesses her own toxic positivity sins and explains why exactly it’s so pervasive.    Erika’s updated blog post on gratitude: https://tailwindscounseling.com/5-ways-gratitude-will-make-happier/ Instagram: @erikaameslcsw Twitter: @erikaameslcsw TikTok: @erikaameslcsw

Haven't made that vision board that you've been meaning to get to yet? Listen to this first. In the first episode of 2021, you'll learn why goals are overrated and what to do instead.    Connect with Erika on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter: @erikaameslcsw 

In the triumphantly imperfect return of the Previously Perfect Podcast, Erika Ames gives you some tips to manage your stress during election night, election week, or election months, whatever the case may be. She won't tell you who will win the election, but she will tell you how to stay grounded as you wait to find out.  Find Erika on social: IG: @tailwindscounseling Twitter: @erikaameslcsw

As coronavirus impacts the lives of nearly every single person on earth, everyone is struggling with some element of this new reality. For perfectionists, make us feel like we're not doing quarantine right, we're not being productive enough, and it can make us try to control things that we can't actually change.  In the season 2 debut, I chat about the realities of pandemic life and some strategies for self-care and coping. Snag the bonus mentioned in the episode at www.erikaames.com/covid.    Connect with Erika!    If you have a perfectionism related question, email it to podcast@erikaames.com Say hello on Instagram! You can find me @previouslyperfect.  Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Facebook page!  

A lot of times, people who struggle with perfectionism don’t call it that. They often believe that because they aren’t actually perfect, because they make mistakes, and because other people seem to have it more together than they do, they can’t possibly be a perfectionist. Basically, the thinking is, “I’m not perfect enough to be a perfectionist.” But no one is perfect. So In this episode, you’ll learn 7 signs you’re a perfectionist.  And because this is the last episode of 2019, we’ll also reduce that end of the year anxiety but putting the new year into perspective.  Read the full show notes at previouslyperfect.com/09

In part 1 of "What's shame got to do with it?" we talked about what shame is, where it comes from, and how it's related to perfectionism. In part 2, we dive deeper into the shame - perfectionism link and we learn how to handle shame in a productive way. 

It might not be obvious, but perfectionism and shame are closely linked. And beating perfectionism once and for all requires we take a look at our shame stories. Shame is a universal emotion, and perfectionism is a way of coping with it. In part 1 of 2 episodes on shame and perfectionism, you’ll learn exactly what shame is and where it comes from. You’ll also learn some useful questions to ask yourself to examine where your own shame comes from. People and References Mentioned in the Show The Stuck on Perfect: Overcome Perfectionism and Get Shit Done Ebook with accompanying audio is our sponsor. Grab it for FREE at www.erikaames.com/ebook Episode 5 - The Perfectionism Big 3: People-pleasing, procrastination, and fear Connect with Erika!  If you have a perfectionism related question, email it to podcast@erikaames.com Say hello on Instagram! You can find me @previouslyperfect.  Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Facebook page! 

Tis the season to be jolly, but when our standards are impossibly high, we’re unlikely to be feeling joyous. Instead, perfectionists feel overwhelmed, anxious and a little bit miserable during the holiday season. In this episode, you’ll learn exactly how to navigate the holiday season without having a perfectionism fueled meltdown.

On this podcast, we talk a lot about what to do about the problems that come along with perfectionism. In this episode, we’re giving context to perfectionistic behaviors. You’ll learn about the Perfectionism Big Three - people-pleasing, procrastinating, and fear - what drives these perfectionists, and how to cope with the challenges that come along with each type.  In This Episode… [06:56] Why it’s important to recognize your style of perfectionism. [09.40] People-pleasing [14.10] Procrastination [19.08]  How to grow your grit   People and References Mentioned in the Show The Stuck on Perfect: Overcome Perfectionism and Get Shit Done Ebook with accompanying audio is our sponsor. Grab it for FREE at www.erikaames.com/ebook Episode Length: 25:41 Thanks so much for tuning in. Join me again next week for another episode! Connect with Erika!    If you have a perfectionism related question, email it to podcast@erikaames.com Say hello on Instagram! You can find me @previouslyperfect.  Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Facebook page! 

So you stopped procrastinating, you started saying no instead of people-pleasing, you conquered your fear of judgment. So you’re home free now, right? Think again, recovering perfectionist. In this episode, Erika talks about overcoming setbacks with one very important quality. Grit.  In This Episode… [01.13] Why I’ve been gone as it relates to the perfectionism struggle. [05.12] Why grit is important to a recovering perfectionist. [10.00] Defining grit [13.47]  How to grow your grit   People and References Mentioned in the Show The Stuck on Perfect: Overcome Perfectionism and Get Shit Done Ebook with accompanying audio is our sponsor. Grab it for FREE at www.erikaames.com/ebook The definitions and strategies for growing grit were adapted from Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. You can purchase it here: https://amzn.to/2NW9ECC (affl. link) Episode Length: 25:48 Thanks so much for tuning in. Join me again next week for another episode! Connect with Erika!    If you have a perfectionism related question, email it to podcast@erikaames.com Say hello on Instagram! You can find me @previouslyperfect.  Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Facebook page!  Thanks for listening! – Erika

Social media and perfectionism can be like oil and water and how we can smooth out that rocky relationship. Perfectionist or not, these tips can help because Instagram has a nasty way of making us all feel like we’ll never be good enough. It’s true that social media can be fuel for the perfectionist’s insecurities, but if we can learn to remember the context, value ourselves, and be our own cheerleaders, we can stop feeling like crap every time we open our social apps. Listen up to find out how!   Snag your Stuck on Perfect: Break through your perfectionism and get sh*t done ebook with accompanying audio at http://erikaames.com/ebook.

One of the biggest blocks perfectionists face is all or nothing thinking. In this episode Erika teaches you how that “go big or go home” mentality is holding you back and three actionable steps to make the shift to a healthier mindset. In this episode, you’ll learn How the “Go Big or Go Home” mindset hurts What happens when it’s all or nothing What it looks like when you start to embrace done is better than perfect (spoiler alert: It’s good!) And three actionable tips to go from all or nothing thinking to a healthier and more productive state of mind Download the Stuck on Perfect ebook with accompanying audio mentioned in the podcast at www.erikaames.com/ebook. And follow Erika on Instagram @previouslyperfect! You can also connect via email at podcast@erikaames.com

In this first episode, we dive into what Perfectionism really means and why we should learn to overcome it. Be sure to send your questions about perfectionism to Erika at podcast@erikaames.com and download your Stuck on Perfect: Break through your Perfectionism and Get Shit Done ebook with audio at www.erikaames.com/ebook

The Previously Perfect Podcast for recovering perfectionists will debut on May 6th! To learn more about the project and your host, visit www.erikaames.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram, both @previouslyperfect!