In this episode: It's all about letting go of self-esteem as a goal. It's vague, unmeasurable, and often just makes things worse—especially for people with ADHD/AuDHD. But self-efficacy is EVERYTHING. Simply put: it’s the realistic belief that you have the skills to do a task or handle a situation. Your self-efficacy can be improved (thanks to neuroplasticity) and there is irrefutable science and studies that support its life-changing results. I’ll explain more about the findings on self-efficacy, how it works, and give you some ways to start focusing on your self-efficacy today so that you can start projects, and actually follow through. Let’s go!

SHOW NOTES

"This is A Lot" Resources

Sign up for my “This Is A Lot” Newsletter: sent every 10 days

Call The “A Lot” Line at (347) 674-2201

Send an email to the podcast at alotadhdpod at gmail dot com

More Neurodivergent Friendly Resources

30 FREE DAYS to BRAIN FM Wire Your Brain For Focus!

15% Off HUGIMALS weighted stuffed animals with code JENKIRKMAN

15% off APPOINTED planners & notebooks with code JENKIRKMAN

Sources

Why Self-Efficacy Is More Important Than Self-Esteem; YouTube

Dr. Albert Bandura Quotes

Self-Efficacy Theory Of Motivation Explained; YouTube

Self-Efficacy and Agentic Positive Psychology

Self-Efficacy And Why Believing In Yourself Matters; VeryWell Mind

In this episode: Most people don’t associate ADHD with hope — but they should. This episode explores the science behind hope as a cognitive process. Drawing on research I look at how hope is built, how it functions in the brain, and how it can get eroded by chronic adversity — especially for people with ADHD and AuDHD. If you’ve been struggling with follow-through, feeling stuck, or wondering why things feel harder than they “should,” this is an episode that explains why — and how you can cultivate hope!

SHOW NOTES

Jen's Every 10 Day Newsletter: “This Is A Lot”

Call The “A Lot” Line at (347) 674-2201

Send an email to the podcast at alotadhdpod at gmail dot com

30 FREE DAYS to BRAIN FM Wire Your Brain For Focus!

15% Off HUGIMALS weighted stuffed animals with code JENKIRKMAN

15% off APPOINTED planners & notebooks with code JENKIRKMAN

SOURCES

Build Resilience By Learning To Hope; ADDitude Magazine

Promoting Hope in ADHD; Dr. Hallowell

The Gift of Hope; Dig Coaching

The Science And Power Of Hope; Dr. Chan Hellman

EPISODE 49: An ADHD Guide To Cortisol + 13 Tips To Lower Your Cortisol Levels

In this episode: Exhaustion during the day, racing thoughts at night, sleep problems, anxiety, and unexplained inflammation can all be signs of a nervous system stuck in high-alert mode. While dopamine gets most of the attention in ADHD conversations, cortisol — the body’s primary stress hormone — plays a major role in how energy, focus, and fatigue are regulated. High cortisol, not low, is often behind chronic stress patterns in people with ADHD and AuDHD. I give tips on how to interrupt your long-term stress loop in ways your nervous system can actually handle.

SOURCES

The Intersection of ADHD and Hormones, CHADD

The WorkOut Witch

The Complex PTSD Workbook

SHOW NOTES

1. "You Are A LOT" Podcast on Patreon

2. "You Are A LOT" Podcast Website

3. Jen's Every 10 Day Newsletter: “This Is A Lot”

4. Call The “A Lot” Line at (347) 674-2201

5. Send an email to the podcast at alotadhdpod at gmail dot com

6. 30 FREE DAYS to BRAIN FM Wire Your Brain For Focus!

7. $50 Group ADHD Coaching (Jen's Coach)

8. 15% Off HUGIMALS weighted stuffed animals with code JENKIRKMAN