Pause Purpose Play

Maybe no one saw the signs when you were a child.

Maybe you didn’t either - not until the burnout hit, the wheels came off, and everything started to feel unmanageable with the school admin, your next big work deadline and the brain fog of perimenopause.

This episode is for the women who have spent years masking, pushing through, and wondering why life still feels so hard.

You got the grades.

You looked like you were coping.

You held it all together on the outside.

But inside?

You were overwhelmed. Overthinking. Hiding the chaos.

And no one ever called it ADHD.

In this episode, I talk about the fear so many women bring into ADHD assessments — the worry that it won’t “count” if nobody noticed it when you were a child.

We’ll explore:

1. What childhood ADHD symptoms actually look like — especially in girls and high achievers

2. Why ADHD often goes undiagnosed until adulthood

3. The emotional rollercoaster of being “on it” one day and burnt out the next

4. How masking makes it harder to recognise (even in yourself)

5. Why it’s not too late — and you’re not too much

Because this isn’t about how well you performed.

It’s about how you felt.

And if the signs were there all along - you deserve to understand them now.

Book a call with Michaela to talk about ADHD assessment, therapy or coaching:

Michaela Thomas - ADHD Assessment clarity call | TidyCal

DM Michaela on Instagram with your questions: www.instagram.com/the_thomas_connection

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas interviews Dr. Kara Davey, an award-winning clinical psychologist, discussing the complex relationship between ADHD and trauma. They explore how trauma is both common in ADHD and can be distinguished from it, emphasising the importance of a thorough assessment. Dr. Davey shares her own experiences with late ADHD diagnosis following a traumatic stillbirth and how both personal and professional paths led to her passion for this field. They also discuss the challenges late-diagnosed adults face, especially women, and how postnatal periods can trigger or exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Michaela and Kara underline the significance of a compassionate and detailed assessment process and delve into the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for trauma, particularly within the neurodivergent community.

https://linktr.ee/drdaveyADHDcoaching

https://linktr.ee/alwaysinmyheart

https://www.drdaveycoaching.com/adhd

https://www.karaclinicalpsychologistinsussex.co.uk/about-us/

Ever felt like you can run a team, lead a business, or write a book - yet somehow can’t manage to return a library book or put your laundry away?

In this episode of Pause Purpose Play, I’m digging into the hidden paradox so many women with ADHD face: outward success with chaos underneath the surface.

You’ll hear personal reflections and real client stories that reveal how executive dysfunction can sit alongside brilliance, not in opposition to it.

I’ll walk you through:

• Why some of the smartest, most capable women struggle with the "simplest" tasks

• The emotional toll of being misunderstood (by others and yourself)

• How I approach ADHD assessments with both compassion and clinical conscientiousness

If you’ve ever wondered, “How can I be this competent and still feel like I can't do adulting?” - this one’s for you. Let’s explore what’s really going on beneath the surface, and why a deeper, more personalised understanding of ADHD can be a game changer...  because you can be smart and successful, and still ADHD. 

www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub to join other brilliant ADHD women

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas welcomes the founders of the Evolve Journal, Sam and Freddie Titcombe. They discuss the development of the Evolve Journal, a tool designed to help people live with more intention, clarity, and consistency by focusing on manageable progress rather than perfection. Sam and Freddie share insights on building healthy journaling habits, the importance of self-kindness, and the value of stoicism in daily life. The conversation highlights the balance of emotional reflection with practical goal-setting, addressing how to manage ADHD traits and the challenges of maintaining consistency. They also touch on the four fundamental pillars of happiness—health, wealth, relationships, and freedom—and provide practical tips for integrating them into daily life. The episode concludes with advice on giving yourself permission to make mistakes and continue striving for growth.

 

Join the waitlist for the next Burn Bright cohort here: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright

Find the Evolve Journal here: https://www.evolvejourney.co.uk/

In this solo episode, Michaela explores the discomfort many of us feel when receiving compliments - especially when we’re wired for self-criticism, perfectionism, or modesty.

Sharing a personal story from LinkedIn, she unpacks why our inner critics hate being seen and how we can respond with compassionate curiosity instead of avoidance. This episode is for anyone who’s ever cringed at being praised and wants to learn how to receive kindness more fully - without shame or self-doubt.

You’ll hear about:

• Why compliments can trigger our inner critic

• How upbringing and culture shape our ability to receive kindness

• Michaela’s personal experience of public praise on LinkedIn

• The two-step process of compassion: sense-making + action-taking

• How to lead with vulnerability while staying grounded in your values

Resources mentioned:

• Follow Lauren O’Carroll on LinkedIn

• Learn more about ADHD coaching for women: The Thomas Connection

Work with Michaela:
Feeling called to be more visible  - but scared of the inner backlash? Get in touch for 1:1 coaching or find out more about my programmes for neurodivergent women leaders.

When You Can’t “Just Do It”: Motivation, Self-Discipline & Self-Compassion

You want to do the thing. You care. You’ve got the vision, the list, the intention, and proof that you have done stuff like this before, because you DO achieve things.

And still… nothing. You get stuck procrastafaffing with some irrelevant stuff until you've nearly run out of time. Maybe even feeling ashamed of how hard it feels to "just" start.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “Why can’t I just do it?”, then this episode is for you.

 

Inside, Michaela explores:

1. Why motivation is so unpredictable for ADHD and burnout-prone brains

2. The limits of “just push through” thinking and the myth of self-discipline as force

3. Why self-compassion is not weakness, but a legit performance strategy

4. What’s actually happening in your nervous system when resistance takes over

5. Practical ways to get moving again, encouraging yourself with kindness, not shame

 

You’ll get some evidence-based reframes here:

1. You don’t need to hustle harder or push through

2. You need to feel safer - in your body and your brain

 

Because we can't "just do it" with ADHD, we need to do a little dance with it, creating momentum through taking action and building on that energy step by step, rather than waiting for motivation to magically occur.

Links & Mentions:

Join The ADHD Club: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas explores the themes of anxiety, permission, and growth, particularly for those navigating compassion, ADHD, and perfectionism. Michaela stresses the importance of honouring one’s energy and sensitivity while addressing anxiety gradually and compassionately. Using an example from Polly Lavarello's journey, Michaela illustrates how embodying leadership and facing anxiety can lead to significant growth. The episode also touches on Michaela’s Burn Bright coaching program, aimed at helping neurodivergent women grow without burning out. She encourages listeners to pursue growth gently and at their own pace.

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas talks with Lauren O'Carroll, an ADHD parenting coach, founder of Positively Parenting, and a mom of two. Lauren discusses the challenges of ADHD parenting, sharing her experiences and expertise on navigating executive dysfunction as both a parent and individual. She emphasises the importance of self-compassion, acceptance, and trusting oneself as a parent. The conversation delves into emotional regulation, the impact of neurodivergence on family life, and the need for community support. Lauren also touches on her upcoming book and membership program aimed at helping neurodivergent families thrive.

Do you want another baby, but not sure if you can cope with it all again?
Perhaps you're highly sensitive, or neurodivergent, and it was all too much first time?

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas is joined by Natalie Brunswick, a trauma and perinatal therapist, to discuss the complexities of deciding whether to have another baby after experiencing a difficult first journey - especially if being highly sensitive and neurodivergent.

They delve into fears rooted in past trauma, the balancing act of desire to have another child, versus fears of not being able to cope, and the importance of self-compassion and robust support systems.

The conversation emphasises the distinct needs of neurodivergent parents and the critical role of emotional healing and preparation in making informed parenting decisions.

Resources and strategies are shared to help listeners navigate their own parenting journeys, no matter where they are in the decision-making process.

 

 

IG: @nataliebrunswick

https://www.nataliebrunswick.com/

hello@nataliebrunswick.com

In this engaging podcast episode, the host welcomes James Brown to discuss a wide array of topics surrounding ADHD, including personal anecdotes, challenges of ADHD in modern life, and differences in how ADHD presents in men and women. The conversation sheds light on issues such as positive illusory bias, cognitive inhibition, emotional dysregulation, and the complexities of ADHD diagnoses. They delve into the difficulties that come with ADHD in relationships, the stigma and societal misconceptions, the importance of emotional acceptance, and the lifelong need for adaptive support. The episode is insightful, evidence-based, and filled with humor, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding ADHD from personal and scientific perspectives.

 

James is a career science communicator who co-founded The ADHD Adults Podcast and the charity ADHDadultUK, and is co-author of the book ADHD Unpacked

www.jbhd.uk, www.ahdadult.uk, www.theadhdadults.uk