Authentically ADHD with Carmen

In this episode of Authentically ADHD , Carmen breaks down why AuDHD recovery is so much deeper than simply lying down, sleeping, or taking a “lazy day.” For autistic ADHD brains, exhaustion is often not just physical — it can be sensory, cognitive, emotional, social, demand-based, transition-based, or masking-related. Still Exhausted After Rest: Why AuDHD Recovery Is Not Just Lying Down explores...

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Tom Owens I did answer the question you left on my post! In this episode of Authentically ADHD , Carmen turns a Substack Live AuDHD Ask Me Anything into a clear, compassionate, and deeply relatable conversation about what it actually means to be both autistic and ADHD. This episode breaks down the bigges...

In this episode of Authentically ADHD , Carmen gets into the nervous-system chaos of being AuDHD around unpredictable people, last-minute plan changes, emotional demands, masking, and the soul-deep exhaustion that comes from confusing love with constant availability. “Dear AuDHDer, Your Nervous System Is Not a Group Project” breaks down why boundaries are not selfish, cold, dramatic, or rude — the...

Your AuDHD brain does not need more discipline. It needs better ramps . In this episode of Authentically ADHD , we’re breaking down why willpower is the crusty old motivational poster of nervous system support — and why accommodations, scaffolding, visual supports, sensory tools, body doubling, timers, scripts, and low-capacity plans are not cheating. They’re access. For AuDHD adults, tasks are no...

Medication is not a morality test. It is a tool — and for AuDHD brains, that tool needs nuance. In this episode, we’re unpacking stimulants, non-stimulants, off-label meds, comorbid medication combos, misdiagnosis, and why treating anxiety or depression without recognizing ADHD/autism can leave people stuck in the same nervous system fire drill. Disclaimer: Educational only. Not medical advice. Ta...

In this episode of Authentically ADHD , we unpack the “right way” curse: that very AuDHD experience of needing the perfect plan, perfect instructions, perfect timing, perfect method, and maybe a tiny sacrifice to the executive function gods before starting literally anything. This episode reframes perfectionism as more than just being “too hard on yourself.” For many AuDHD brains, perfectionism is...

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app, to be scheduled soon! Drop questions/Topics in the comments! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenauthenticallyadhd.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Authentically ADHD , Carmen explores why so many late-diagnosed ADHD, autistic, and AuDHD adults struggle to trust themselves. This isn’t about being indecisive, dramatic, or “bad at life.” It’s about years of being misunderstood, corrected, dismissed, and trained to doubt your own nervous system. Carmen breaks down how self-trust is built through validation — and how many neuro...

Show Notes: Hello and welcome to Authentically ADHD – I’m Carmen, and I’m so glad you’re tuning in. Today we’re exploring a topic I know many of us grapple with: why you’re still exhausted even after resting, especially when you’re both autistic and ADHD (often called AuDHD). If you’ve ever wondered, “I took a break, so why do I still feel drained?” this episode is for you. We often hear about the...

If you’re AuDHD (autism + ADHD), life can feel like a constant contradiction: craving routine but rebelling against it, needing stimulation but getting overwhelmed, wanting connection but burning out socially. In this episode, Carmen breaks down what neurodivergence actually means (not a personality test), explains ADHD vs autism vs AuDHD, and gives practical, nervous-system-friendly strategies to...

Hello and welcome to another episode of Authentically ADHD . I’m Carmen, and today we’re diving into how the holiday season feels through the eyes (and brain) of someone with AuDHD – that is, co-occurring autism and ADHD. For many of us, the holidays can feel less “holly jolly” and more like a perfect storm of stress. In this episode we’ll explore why the season can be extra hard, what it looks an...

Introduction Imagine trying to swim while holding a beach ball underwater – you might pull it off for a bit, but sooner or later that ball is bobbing to the surface. Masking ADHD can feel just like that. Many of us with ADHD learn early that our brains and behaviors can stand out, so we develop a “socially acceptable” persona to blend in. We smile, sit still, and force focus – all to hide our natu...

In this episode of Authentically ADHD , we’re cracking open one of the most misunderstood struggles of AuDHD life: transitions . Whether it’s getting out of bed, switching tasks, or handling major life shifts like job changes or breakups—transitions can feel like full-body earthquakes that knock us off our axis. Join Carmen as she unpacks the neuroscience behind why transitions are so hard when yo...

🎙️ Episode Title: Too Positive? Deep Dive on Toxic Positivity – Part 1 💥 Podcast: Authentically ADHD with Carmen Episode Summary: In this powerful Part 1 episode, Carmen unpacks the surprisingly harmful impact of toxic positivity —that relentless “good vibes only” energy that floods our feeds and conversations but often leaves us feeling invalidated, misunderstood, or just plain unseen. We’re div...

🎙️ Episode Title: ADHD & Energy Management: The Spoon Theory, Explained 💥 Summary: In this episode of Authentically ADHD , we're digging deep into something that hits WAY too close to home for many of us: energy management . You know that frustrating gap between what you want to do and what your brain/body will actually let you do? Yeah, that. Enter: The Spoon Theory —a simple yet powerful metaph...

In this episode of Authentically ADHD , host Carmen dives into the powerful productivity hack of body doubling – a strategy that can help ADHDers stay focused, overcome procrastination, and actually get stuff done. Body doubling isn’t just about sitting next to a friend while you work (though that definitely helps!); it’s about harnessing the presence of another person, tool, or environment to pro...

BONUS EPISODE Back-to-School Brain: Why This Season Feels Like a Mental Marathon and 7 Strategies to Survive It The back-to-school season is here, and if you have ADHD (or love someone who does), you might already feel that familiar cocktail of excitement, dread, and complete mental overload. This isn’t just about buying supplies or setting the alarm earlier — for ADHD brains, this transition is a...

Ever found yourself blurting something out, making a random decision, or spiraling into shame after a hyperfocus bender — only to ask yourself later, “What was I even thinking?” You’re not broken — but you might be missing a critical executive function skill that ADHD brains often struggle with: metacognition. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the skill of “thinking about thinking” — what it...

Summary: Ever feel like you're running late to your own life? Same. In this hilariously honest episode, Carmen dives headfirst into the whirlwind world of ADHD time anxiety — that all-too-familiar panic that shows up when a deadline is looming… or already passed. 🫠 We explore why ADHD brains experience time differently , how "Now vs. Not Now" becomes our default scheduling system (thanks, executi...

ADHD & Self-Awareness: Understanding Your Unique Brain Carmen (voice-over): Hey everyone, it’s Carmen here from Authentically ADHD. Have you ever felt like you just don’t know yourself? Like your brain is a mystery you can’t solve? (I see your hand – yes, you too!) You’re not alone. Today we’re talking about ADHD and self-awareness – what that even means, why it’s so tricky for us ADHDers, and how...

Welcome to another episode of Authentically ADHD! Today, we're diving into a topic close to many of our hearts: choosing a career that aligns with our ADHD strengths and passions. Navigating career paths can be overwhelming, especially with ADHD traits like creativity, hyperfocus, and unconventional thinking. We'll explore how these qualities can be superpowers in the right career. Join us as we d...

Welcome or welcome back to Authentically ADHD , the podcast where we embrace the chaos and magic of the ADHD brain. Im carmen and today we're diving into a topic that's as complex as my filing system (which is to say, very): ADHD and its common co-occurring mood and learning disorders. Fasten your seatbelts (and if you're like me, try not to get distracted by the shiny window view) – we're talking...

Authentically ADHD – ADHD, Alexithymia, and Anhedonia: Understanding Emotions and Motivation Hello and welcome to Authentically ADHD! I’m Carmen, your host. Today, we’re diving into a topic that might hit very close to home for a lot of us: the confusing intersection of ADHD, alexithymia, and anhedonia. Now, those are some big, clinical-sounding words – but don’t worry. We’re going to break them d...

Hey there, welcome back to Authentically ADHD! I'm so glad you pressed play on this episode today, because its on a topic that when I learned it, i found out it was the work i never knew i was missing and this skill has given me so much more access to my authentic self. Today, we're diving into a big, messy, important topic: self-trust – or as I like to call it, the tangled web of self-trust. Now,...

In this deep-dive episode, Carmen explores the constant inner conflict many adults with ADHD experience—what psychology calls cognitive dissonance . It's that mental tug-of-war between what we intend to do and what we actually do, often amplified in ADHD brains due to emotional dysregulation, executive dysfunction, masking, and rejection sensitivity. Using real-life examples, neuroscience, and hum...