Be Kind to your Mind
Stories. Science. Strategies.
For people with ADHD.
Articles and Blog Posts
https://youtu.be/wvZ80qPJ4Ks In this video, I help you understand and navigate an incredible resource for people with ADHD who struggle with complex health issues. Created by a working group of experts, it guides doctors in assessing and treating a specific constellation…
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is sh*t. I used to experience it all. the. freakin. time. But, amazingly, I almost never do anymore, aside from tiny, momentary remnants I can easily handle. This is something I’m so grateful for… If you…
Do you have difficulty tearing your kids away from something they love doing without a battle? If this is an all too familiar scenario, don't despair! I have two super simple ADHD parenting tools for reducing meltdowns that make transitions so…
As it's R U OK? Day, I'm sharing Lifeline's number - 131114 - and some other ways to get support 24/7 because the stats are beyond confronting. Adults with ADHD are five times more likely to attempt suicide, according to some research.…
When you have ADHD, project planning becomes a whole other level of really bloody hard... I was recently asked by one of the fabulous women doing The Ultimate ADHD Reboot for tips for project management, so I thought I’d also create a…
Halleluhia! I know this may seem too good to be true - we’ve become accustomed to nothing being subsidised when it comes to ADHD and instead having to pay heavily due to the ADHD tax! However, I’m very pleased to say…
ADHD symptoms in adults can have a huge impact on day-to-day functioning. Mine certainly do despite them being so much better thanks to stimulant medication. (Thx peri and health problems for making them worse than ever over the last decade…💩)…
If you’re a parent with an atypical brain and you parent kid/s with atypical brains, you know all too well that it can be super challenging. It was a complete nightmare for us for the longest time, but once I…
SSRI's are one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and a huge number of people with ADHD are prescribed them to help with both depression and anxiety. So I was shocked when I heard more than one very highly regarded…
I want to tell you a story about the journey I’m on to healing from terrible chronic pain and a whole host of other symptoms that have been robbing me of joy for nine whole years - and share my…
Regardless of what you may have heard, the science is clear. For most people, nothing improves symptoms as much as stimulant medication. However, getting ADHD medications for adults right is a process that all too often ends too soon and…
Are you prejudiced against people with disabilities? If you’re like most people your response is likely, ‘Of course not!!’
The lived experience testimony given by Susie Hopkins at the ADHD Senate Inquiry.
As we all know by now, those of us with brains that differ from the majority, the outliers if you like, are referred to as neurodivergent these days. It’s hard to believe that only five years ago, I had barely…
It’s easy to spend a small fortune on supplements, so you want to make sure they’re worthwhile. The good news is, there’s some robust evidence that certain supplements can reduce ADHD symptoms and other health problems we experience. Despite this,…
I know it can be hard to make ends meet, especially in the lead up to Christmas. There are times when spending really isn't possible and that to stay afloat, let alone get ahead, you need to be disciplined (and…
There’s absolutely no way, in my opinion, that ADHD is a superpower. That's because it causes far more distress and, very often, total despair as opposed to a positive experience for the majority of people. That's not to say that…
When I say you can design your life to live in your strengths and minimise your challenges, this is not some theoretical idea, it’s the way to live well with ADHD. Over the last two months, I have had the…
Being a late diagnosed woman with ADHD is such a mind-blowing experience. In case you missed it, I’m going to leave the link to Em Rusciano’s amazing address at the National Press Club about adult ADHD here. But be prepared, you’ll likely be…
It’s a common experience that when people with ADHD start medication, they can’t believe how much their medication helps. Most of us find we can tackle tasks we’ve been meaning to do forever, complete jobs that have seemed impossible to…
Earlier this year a TikTok that I posted for International Women's Day went viral! 🤯 It’s my most popular post at 24.0k views. This post is about this important topic.
Coming to terms with our own and our kid's neurodivergent brains is a process. And this process can be easy or really hard. It all comes down to acceptance which is all well and good but let’s face it, this…
It is possible to be free of distressing thoughts even if you're an adult with ADHD. Here's how I did it. And I can help you do it too.
We can do a great deal to ensure autistic kids have a positive transition to school. This article contains step-by-step recommendations that have been tried and tested.
Oh, to be one of those people that thrive on stress! Or that just don’t generally get stressed. They really do exist - and it would seem they absolutely do have a major advantage in this crazy world. (Slighty envious over here!)
Creativity in all its forms can be therapy. It can bring connection, purpose, reduce stress and allow us to achieve a state of flow.
I figured, if I can help just one other person by sharing about my ADHD diagnosis, I’d be stoked! And I did. I helped many, many women.
I am an expert at saying no. It’s been my default for a really long time.
While I’m a big advocate of self-care, there are a few problems with this idea.
Avoiding putting ‘junk’ into our bodies is not just about the food we eat.
The title of this post might sound a bit dramatic, but hear me out.
Bite-sized Insights
Questions answered on ADHD medication, stimulants, side effects and finding your sweet spot.
Questions answered on ADHD medication, stimulants, side effects and finding your sweet spot.
Questions answered on ADHD diagnosis and how to avoid setacks.
Let's dismantle the BS that destroys the self-worth of women with ADHD
Questions answered on ADHD medication and what Susie finds most helpful.
Tips on ADHD medication and getting your dose right.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Practices
Learn how to do simple deep breathing for relaxation to help manage ADHD in the comfort of your own home. Perfect for beginners.
A healing guided meditation. Send loving kindness to yourself, your loved ones, and all people everywhere.
This relaxation exercise involved clenching and releasing the muscle groups in the body. Research shows that it is an effective relaxation technique.
A seriously relaxing meditation that guides you on a trip around the body as you feel into each body part. A mindfulness meditation suitable for beginners.
This 7 minute meditation is an opportunity to just simply stop and take stock, and 'come to your senses' giving you an opportunity for a usually much needed break from the go go go of life.
This relaxation exercise involved clenching and releasing the muscle groups in the body. Research shows that it is an effective relaxation technique.
Articles Featured On Other Websites
It’s well documented that the mental load of motherhood is overwhelming, especially when you're a sole parent.
If you add ADHD it becomes so much harder to stay on top of everything.
With the strain of caring for kids with complex needs falling mainly on mums, it’s hardly surprising that we experience mental health problems at much higher levels than most people.
You would have to have been living under a rock to have not heard over the last few years that meditation is good for your mental health. And I’m yet to meet someone who has given regular meditation a really good go who hasn’t found it really beneficial.
Should. Sometimes I wish the word should were banned from the English language.
Let’s face it, stress isn’t going anywhere. It’s a part of life for everyone, but as a mama of one or more children with disabilities stress is a part of life most days, and often every day.
Parenting a child by yourself is tough. Parenting a child with special needs by yourself is even more so. People often ask me how I do it. They even call me a super mum and generally admire how, for the most part, things are going really well. But they only seeing part of the story. Naturally, I have my moments, as we all do.
There was a week back when my son, Harry, was two when I was pretty much unable to talk to anyone because if they asked how I was doing I would burst into tears. It was such a traumatic time that it’s still difficult to talk about and makes me teary to write about almost five years later, even though we’re both doing great these days (for the most part).
From surviving (just) to thriving.
There is nothing scarier than your baby going stiff and turning blue as they gasp for air. This seizure was how I first found out that there was something wrong with my beautiful 5 y.o. boy Harry. When I decided to have a baby solo, I knew it would be hard but I certainly didn’t realise just how hard.
It’s a heart-breaking reality that as humans we tend to behave in ways that push others away when we need them most. As mums of kids with neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism, we see this all too often. Before I learned about autism and how to meet my son’s ever-changing needs, we had so much conflict in our little family.
My journey to motherhood was a long and lonely one. I’m so grateful that I am one; being a mum is the best in so many ways. But I don’t pretend for a moment that parenting an autistic child solo is a walk in the park. It’s tough, regularly. Somehow though, despite this, most of the time we’re both thriving, finally. Thanks for reading my story on how we got here.
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