Adult ADHD & How to Get Things Done with KC Davis

Right as therapist KC Davis gave birth to her second baby, Covid-19 began shutting down normal life. Not only that, but KC had just moved to a new city, her husband began a demanding new job, and pandemic restrictions caused their carefully planned support system to crumble. All of a sudden it was just her - and her two babies - home alone. Everyday.

In the chaos that ensued, KC began an unexpected new journey. From grappling with mental health barriers to becoming TikTok famous and writing a best-selling book - KC has ventured out on a quest. Her goal? To connect the dots between mental health and the daily care tasks we tend to take for granted.

So on today’s episode, we’ll talk with KC about the last few years - focusing specifically on the ADHD diagnosis that answered so many questions about her past. Along the way, we will learn her signature workarounds for completing tasks that feel impossible.

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KC Davis

[meagana]

Listening to KC tell her story about listening to the lecture, not doing homework, and then getting an A on the quiz or test was my highschool life. Unbelievable how many females go undiagnosed because we learn all these coping mechanisms.

[shellbhouse]

52 years old - diagnosed ADHD (inattentive) about 40, then later Anxiety, when Major Depressive Disorder had been diagnosed at the end of college-ish... and everything KC said about school years on - made complete sense. Studying/coping/memorizing - all of it. Again having been diagnosed ADHD, I still have never had a doctor go so in depth with me as hers did understanding all of these things. All of this is one big light bulb going off for me, which makes me incredibly sad and angry because all along felt like I've still failed - like I'm lazy and crazy. Especially entering menopause within the last couple of years everything has been horrible and amped up to 11 with depression, and a general feeling of "what does it matter?" I have sat in a psychiatrist's office telling him my whole thought is "What is the point?" (I think some of that happens to go along for me at least - because I've still never been married, no kids, and not much dating - so the extreme loneliness of being left behind by society's standards - is an entirely different sense of not belonging/isolating - even from friends and family)
Seriously- this is the first time in years that I have any hope of being understood or pulling myself up through the depths of despair and confusion. I'll be listening to this again to take actual notes comma but I have gone through a lot of tissues crying/nodding my head at what she said, also, I am so greatful that the host ask asked such thorough, sensitive, direct questions almost like bullet points being added to the presentation. I can't extend my gratitude enough for this.

[BerniceBell-uumf]

She describes some of me to a “T”. I’m 70 and wish I had this knowledge decades ago.

[emkstr]

In theory I love the freeing idea of doing things half-assed. But I also have OCD where good enough is not good enough. I don’t know what to do.

[NoThanku]

28 minute mark explains how she got things done. Medication and accommodations.

[BrookeJolynne]

Talking about how we have to work 10xs harder to accomplish the same things, like walking through mud reminded me of this:

Bitter Pudding

Stuck in the midst of life's chaotic race,
My limbs, like heavy anchors, in their place.
But it's not sweet chocolate that surrounds my soul,
More like a bitter pudding, taking its toll.

A deep heat rises from my core within,
Not comforting warmth, but a restless spin.
It tingles through my shoulders and up my chest,
Drowning me in sensations, leaving me distressed.

The world buzzes on, its lively song,
Yet I'm engulfed in pudding, and everything feels wrong.
Because this isn't the tasty treat we know,
It's emptiness, a disconnect that continues to grow.

In the pudding, I'm suspended, sinking low,
Yearning for sweetness, a comforting flow.
But my skin feels hot, my head gets light,
Dizzy in this pudding, not an enjoyable sight.

Like inhaling pudding - no that's not the way,
To find the sweetness in each passing day.
But I'll search for solace in a world so wide,
Where even bitter pudding can't always hide

[audreydunn]

This was so enlightening for me! Almost everything KC experienced was true for me too and it all started to make more sense for me. I’m so grateful God brought me to this podcast!

[relaniprudhomme]

I love how KC explains the way that the self-assessment missed her with questions about external behavior versus what is happening in your head.

[sweetangel]

😭😭😭i am 46 years old and this is the first time I am hearing my problems from someone who has been through it like this! I cant believe all these years all the lables 😭😭😭 they put on me might and might be for ADHD 😭😭 I will call someone on Monday to get help! Unbelievable! I might’ve been someone with Adhd to have such a difficult time in life 😭😭😭 I can’t stop my tears 😭

[tankgrl]

Really enjoyed this but i would argue we don't know enough about "female ADHD" to say females are more likely to have inattentive type. I have combined and its pretty severe but i always had an interest in psychology and am trained in all the tests so i paid attention and didnt come off ADHD. School pegged my inattentiveness as giftedness (thank goodness). Everyone assumes i have inattentive, I've even see it mislabeled on my charts but ask anyone who knows me and i tick every box for hyperactive. My husband argued once about the climbing a tree example in the DSM and I asked how many times have we pulled the car over ir interrupted a hike so I can climb a rock or ridge or a tree and he was like oh yeah ok yup you do that, 😂.

[brendalg]

47 minute video for ADHD... No chapters?!

[lakerly]

Thank you KC Davis, I'm curios, what is the name of the test they did to determine whether you had ADHD?

[mckennacreative]

I’m 17 minutes in. We’re you going to talk about how to get things done.

[jare]

Ahhh, the bliss and the bluff of psychology and all their made up terms. It's call human.