ADHD Aha! | The pressure to be productive with ADHD (Dani Donovan’s story)

People with ADHD know what it’s like to be called lazy. Is that because they don’t seem “productive”? Who better to talk about this with than the creator of “The Anti-Planner: How to Get Sh*t When You Don’t Feel Like It,” Dani Donovan. Dani shares her ADHD “aha” moments and what drove her to create an activity book designed for procrastinators.

Dani and host Laura Key chat about what it means to be productive with ADHD. Dani shares how she would criticize herself intensely so that others wouldn’t. They also talk about analysis paralysis, rejection sensitivity, friendship, and how understanding neurodiversity can change the game.

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.

[jmh]

Liked, subscribed!!! Newish DX and probably old enough to be her mother😢and deal with regret for decades of “wasted life” feelings. It’s tough. Relate bigly to ALL of this.

[the_drose]

As a recently diagnosed freelance artist who struggles with perfectionism, I think I shouted "How DARE you!" 4 separate times when Dani started just describing my life back to me as her own experience.

(to be clear, I was happy about this)

[i_kissed_a_pixie]

Dani you are adorable. I have my assessment on the 9th November and I can’t wait now. 42 years with undiagnosed ADHD and a massive trail of broken dreams behind me. This sort of content gives me hope.

[ivtecfun]

looking back, one of my first aha moments that I never noticed was when my school asked me "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I just thought "wow, how would anyone ever ACTUALLY decide this?".... not to mention, who would want to lock themselves down like that? Hmmm. I'm 33 now.

[marcyselover]

Just finally got diagnosed at the age of 34 and Only because I was looking into it for my son and I pushed for an evaluation for myself and was even told at that point that even if I was confirmed I’d have to have references such as family and school reports throughout my childhood to prove snuggling before I could be medicated. I told this to my new psych and she was like no if I can see that you have it then I can diagnose you and not need those things to help. Been on medicine for a few months now and holy poop bat man the difference is huge. I feel terrible that I got robbed of the help I needed as a kid but I’m happy that I’m finally getting the help I need now. Obviously I still have lots to work on but I’m doing the best I can.