Have you ever tried to stick to a habit or routine, only to abandon it a week later and feel like you failed? If you’re neurodivergent (or just human, honestly), you’re not alone. For many people with ADHD, the words “habits”  and “routines”  carry a ton of emotional weight. They often come attached to pressure, perfectionism, and past experiences where sticking to something long-term felt impossible. And here’s the thing, I know I have said this only 3 million times, but... your brain isn’t...

The feeling you get as you replay the bad experience over and over again, in your head. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) describes intense emotional pain triggered by real or perceived  rejection, criticism, or failure. While it’s not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, it’s well recognized in ADHD communities because so many people with ADHD and neurodivergence experience it, often without having language for what’s happening. And that lack of language matters. Because when you don’t...

How RSD turns motivation into avoidance (and what actually helps) Perfectionism is often praised in our culture, or at the very least, looked at in a somewhat positive light. It gets labeled as “having high standards,” “being driven,” or “just wanting to do things well.” But in my work as an ADHD coach, I’ve learned something important: For many ADHDers, perfectionism has very little to do with excellence — and everything to do with emotional safety. More specifically, it’s often deeply...