96: Natural Health & Sobriety with Janey Lee Grace - Episode 9696: Natural Health & Sobriety with Janey Lee Grace - Episode 96
UK Health Radio Podcast
Janey Lee Grace talks with ADHD health coach Carol May about how ADHD, dopamine seeking, alcohol and food are intertwined, especially for women. They share practical tips on nutrition, sugar, simple routines and accountability to support both sobriety and a calmer mind.
44:43•3 Sept 2026
ADHD, Dopamine and Ditching the Drink with Carol May
Episode Overview
- ADHD is often under-recognised in women, leading to late diagnosis and feelings of grief, guilt and shame.
- Dopamine seeking is central to ADHD, making alcohol, sugar and binge eating especially tempting as quick relief from overwhelm.
- Increasing protein, moderating daytime carbs and going cold turkey on sugar can stabilise mood, focus and cravings.
- Simple, realistic meal prep—like boiled eggs, nuts and easy-to-cook foods—can make healthy eating achievable for busy, neurodivergent adults.
- Tools such as paper diaries, body doubling and clear accountability help people with ADHD manage tasks and reduce chaos without relying on perfection.
“I think the place I start with first of all is telling them that they're normal.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation on UK Health Radio brings together natural health, sobriety and ADHD in a way that feels both practical and reassuring. Host Janey Lee Grace chats with ADHD health coach and nutrition specialist Carol May, who shares her own late diagnosis story and how it reshaped her understanding of life-long struggles.
Carol explains that ADHD isn’t new or suddenly everywhere; “more people are getting diagnosed because more people are talking about it,” especially women who were overlooked for decades. You’ll hear ADHD broken down into inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive types, with Carol using down-to-earth examples like “plate spinning”, endless open browser tabs and thrill-seeking behaviour. She links these patterns directly to dopamine seeking, showing how alcohol, binge eating, sugar and shopping can become quick fixes for an overwhelmed nervous system.
The chat is especially useful for anyone sober-curious or already alcohol-free who suspects ADHD might be in the mix. Janey connects this to her sober coaching work, pointing out that once alcohol is removed, people can finally start addressing underlying issues like low self‑esteem, emotional regulation and burnout. Carol offers very concrete strategies: high-protein meals, limiting carbs in the daytime, cold turkey on sugar, supplements such as omega‑3, and simple meal prep tricks like keeping boiled eggs and nuts handy.
She stresses that “a little is better than nothing at all” and that the first step is often just telling people “they’re normal”. There’s also a helpful section on time management and overwhelm, including paper diaries, body doubling and accountability as realistic tools rather than perfectionist goals. If you’re juggling sobriety, possible ADHD and the daily chaos of life, this episode may leave you asking: what small, kind change could you make for your brain today?
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