Episode Details

This conversation is a powerful reminder of the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of community during the grieving process.

In this week's episode of the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, Kate is joined by Alex Spencer for a deeply moving conversation regarding her experience of grief and ADHD, following the death of her beloved son, Declan, in 2023.

Alex is a holistic therapist, bereavement coach-in-training, and host of The Functioning Griefster podcast. Alex was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, after years of being labelled “ditzy,” “stupid,” or “the class clown” at school due to undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia. Alex now uses her lived experience to speak openly about neurodiversity, grief, and resilience and has channelled her energy into creating a safe space for honest conversations about loss, mental health, and carrying on while still carrying grief.

This conversation is a powerful reminder of the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of community during the grieving process.

In this episode, we explore:

1. Alex's experience of ADHD, including misunderstanding as a child
2. How being Declan's Mum changed Alex's mindset and understanding of neurodivergence
3. Why Alex never related to her ADHD diagnosis until one TV programme changed everything
4. How being Declan's Mum supported Alex's ADHD without her even knowing it at the time
5. Alex's fierce sense of right and wrong and her love for Declan drove her to advocate for his needs
6. The impact of grief and losing Declan on Alex's day-to-day life, ADHD and career
7. How Alex is finding her place in the world again and using her voice to make Declan proud
8. The role of RSD in ADHD and the desire to help others instead of self
9. More information regarding Alex's podcast,
10. Why creative outlets like Alex's podcast, The Functioning Griefster, can be so powerful when navigating loss and ADHD

Timestamps:

1. 00:01 - Introduction to ADHD Women's Wellbeing
2. 01:46 - Navigating Grief and ADHD
3. 12:15 - The Impact of Acceptance on ADHD and Parenting
4. 18:25 - The Impact of Advocacy and Exhaustion
5. 21:59 - Personal Reflections on Navigating Grief and ADHD
6. 29:40 - Finding Purpose Again During Grief
7. 39:59 - Regaining Structure in Grief
8. 45:23 - Exploring Grief and Connection

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Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Recording, you'll find:

1. Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes next
2. Dr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it does
3. Hannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lens
4. Adele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopause

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