Explore every episode of the podcast Highly Sensitive ADHD Mom

Have you ever felt a shift in the room that no one else noticed, only to tell yourself you’re "just being sensitive"? In this episode, we’re getting real about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). For a long time, I rejected the RSD label because I didn't want to believe I was "malfunctioning." But I’ve realized the real danger isn't the diagnosis—it's the way RSD tries to internally gaslight us into doubting our own perceptions.

We aren't broken; we are Hyper Attuners. We’re sensing actual shifts in energy and tension that others miss. It’s time to stop feeling like our emotional volume knob is broken when we’re really just plugged into a much larger amplifier.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Motherhood Earthquakes: Navigating the sting of parental preference and sensing a partner’s unspoken stress.

• The "Truth Seer" Reality: Why your "Human Wi-Fi" is actually accurate, even if the story your brain tells about it needs checking.

• From "Crunchy" to Medicated: My raw journey of honoring my nervous system and why "natural" doesn’t have to mean suffering in silence.

You aren’t "too much." You’re just the one in the room who sees the truth first. It’s time to stop fixing our feelings and start believing our own hearts.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Clinical Research: Dr. William Dodson on Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

• The Highly Sensitive Person: Research and resources by Dr. Elaine Aron

• Community: Join my Facebook Page, Highly Sensitive ADHD Mom https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572056403306

• Listener Guide: Revisit Episode 3 for the full "PE Teacher" story. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-lifelong-anxiety-about-getting-in-trouble-hsp-adhd-mom/id1888844740?i=1000760281904

Description: 

In this episode, I’m talking about moving away from the frantic ADHD hyperfocus of "rushing for answers" and learning to actually sense the shifts in my own nervous system. After three months of diving into every book and podcast out there, I’m realizing that my highly sensitive system just needs a break from the noise. I’m sharing the ways I’m staying regulated from turning my iPhone into a "flip phone" to finding grounding roots right here in my Austin neighborhood.

I also dive into those quirky ADHD traits I’m just now realizing are "a thing," like playing the same album on repeat. I want to give us all permission to stop working towards being "productive" and just be. I’m letting the mask come off, embracing middle age, and remembering that we aren't doing this alone.

Resources Mentioned

• Books: Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagoski; The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

• Podcasts: Motherhood in ADHD, I Have ADHD, and ADHD Mums

• Connect: Join Highly Sensitive ADHD Mom Facebook Page for photos and links to tools https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572056403306

• ADHD Coach: Barbara Pestien https://www.wildfloweradhd.com/

7 Strategies for Completing the Stress Cycle (From the book Burnout)

1. Physical Activity: Tell your brain the "threat" is over.

2. Breathing: Slow, deep breaths to reset.

3. Positive Social Interaction: A friendly chat to feel safe.

4. Laughter: Deep belly laughs to release pressure.

5. Affection: A 20-second hug for connection.

6. A Big Cry: Letting the physical energy out.

7. Creative Expression: Processing stress through art or music.

I’m being really honest in this episode about a super hard, emotional week I’ve had and why my ADHD brain is constantly writing checks my HSP nervous system can’t cash. I wanted to talk about Spoon Theory through our specific lens as neurodivergent moms—navigating that weird tension where the ADHD side of us wants all the excitement while the high sensitivity is begging for a nap. I’m sharing how I’ve been observing my own energy, especially during social events where I’ve realized I can be in a “stimulation surplus” while being in a total “emotional deficit.”

I also get into the nitty-gritty of what’s actually giving me spoons back right now, like Jewel’s lullabies, my weighted blanket, and the “parallel play” I’ve been doing with my kids. I’m even opening up about the practical boundaries I’m setting to survive perimenopause—from my “two-place-a-day” rule to finally letting go of the guilt over having a housecleaner. I’m recording this in one take from my closet because I’m choosing connection over perfection, and I hope it helps you feel a little less alone in your own beautiful, overstimulated life.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Original Spoon Theory: The Spoon Theory essay by Christine Miserandino

• Sound Medicine: Jewel’s Lullaby album and the music of Eva Cassidy

• Nervous System Regulation: The Headspace app (meditation and breathing)

• ADHD Insights: The ADHD with Jenna Free podcast

• Coaching & Support: Barbara Pestien https://www.wildfloweradhd.com/

• Connect with Lisa: Join the conversation on the Highly Sensitive ADHD Mom Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572056403306

Ever wonder why a busy weekend leaves you feeling completely wiped out and agitated, even when it was "just" a soccer tournament? In this episode, I’m getting honest about transition fatigue and why shifting between environments is so draining for highly sensitive ADHD moms. I’m sharing how I’m finally stepping out of the guilt loop and learning to build a life that actually honors my biology—from my “two-location limit” to why I finally bought a "Sorry, we can't play today” sign for my front door. Let’s reframe what productivity looks like in this season, because at the end of the day, our kids don't need a mom who does it all—they just need a consistent, regulated mom.

Description:

I’m Lisa Kelly-Willis, and in this episode, I’m talking about that heavy "mental load" we all carry—and why I finally had to stop holding everything in my head before it felt like it was going to explode. I’m getting honest about my own breaking point last summer and how I went from being a "super volunteer" numbing out my feelings to finally admitting that my sensitive ADHD nervous system was just done.

I’m sharing the four simple, old-school paper tools that saved my sanity, including my personal planner that is strictly forbidden from ever leaving my house. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or working around the clock, I hope this helps you realize that your brain was meant for way more than just tracking our to-do lists. Let’s get all that noise out of our heads so we can actually have some room for joy again.

I'd love to have you join my Facebook page at Highly Sensitive ADHD Mom. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572056403306

Resources:

• ADHD Time Management Toolkit for Adults by Sophia Brooks

For 45 years, anxiety has been my survival strategy—the engine I used to keep my ADHD brain from dropping the ball. In this episode, I’m sharing some of my hardest stories, from being a terrified kid in the dark to a sensory-overload moment at 23 that actually led to an arrest. I’m realizing now that these weren't character flaws or "troublemaker" moments; they were just a highly sensitive, undiagnosed brain trying to survive in a world that wasn't built for it.

We’re also talking about the "quiet exhaustion" of being a mom who looks like she has it all together while running on the fumes of anxiety. I’m sharing why I finally felt "seen" by Kim Holderness, and how I’m trying to replace that old, exhausting engine with a little more grace. If you’ve ever felt that sinking feeling over an expired license or an unsent email, I want you to know you aren’t alone. We’re letting go of being "perfect" and just being authentic—even if it’s one voice memo at a time.

Description: 

In my last episode, I shared my diagnosis story and let’s just say, wow, I had a total vulnerability hangover afterwards. This week, I’m being an open book again and sharing what my family actually sees. I asked my husband and kids for the "good and the hard" parts of having a highly sensitive ADHD mom in the house, and their honesty was both heart-warming and a little eye-opening. We’re talking about everything from my wide-open cabinets and "doom piles" to the funny way my daughter describes my need to organize.

I’m also getting really real about how hard it is for my brain to just listen sometimes, and why I’m challenging myself to put my phone away and be more present for the people I love. If you’ve ever felt like that paddling duck trying to look calm while your legs are moving a mile a minute under the water, I hope this makes you feel a little less alone. We’re just figuring this puzzle out together.

Resources Mentioned:

• ​Podcast: I Have ADHD with Kristen Carder

I thought it was just perimenopause, a busy “mom” brain,” and my lifelong high sensitivity. But a single, confusing moment during my daughter’s piano lesson cracked the code to my entire life.

Join me, Lisa Kelly-Willis, for the very first episode of the Highly Sensitive ADHD Mom Podcast. I’m sharing the raw, unfiltered story of how my 7-year-old daughter and I were both diagnosed with ADHD just two months ago. If you’ve ever felt like a “paddling duck”—appearing calm on the surface while kicking frantically underneath—this episode is for you. We’re talking about mid-life diagnoses, the overlap of sensory overload and ADHD, and why I’m choosing “done over perfect.”