Racing mindsRacing minds
All In The Mind
Impulsive, impatient, easily bored, chaotic and need to multi-task? Adult ADHD is quite common but not well understood and managed.
28:50•22 Dec 2013
Racing Minds: Adult ADHD, Chaos, and Hidden Strengths
Episode Overview
- Adult ADHD often shows up as chronic disorganisation, procrastination and racing thoughts rather than obvious childhood hyperactivity.
- Research following people over decades indicates that ADHD symptoms do not simply disappear in adolescence; they change form.
- Medication can significantly help some adults with ADHD, but others, like Jess, experience side effects that lead them to rely on non-drug strategies.
- Structured life skills such as consistent time management, set places for belongings and stress management can reduce ADHD symptoms by around a third.
- People with ADHD may thrive in roles that value multitasking and high energy, and can lean on creativity as a key strength.
“"You are an intelligent person. But you can't express it in the way that we conceive as conventional intelligence."”
Bar manager Jessica Morrison brings a lot of humour and honesty as she talks about being labelled the "immature" kid, waking up "energetic and ready to go" and still hearing as an adult, "don't you get over that by now?" She explains the grind of trying harder than everyone else with reading, writing and emails, the anger of feeling misunderstood, and the unexpected upsides of ADHD in a fast-paced bar where multitasking is an asset and creativity fuels her cocktail inventions.
How do people manage racing thoughts and chaotic lives that others can't see? This All In The Mind episode looks at adult ADHD through one woman's story and two clinicians' long experience. Clinical psychologist Dr Caroline Stevenson and neuropsychiatrist Dr Craig Sermon break down what ADHD looks like beyond childhood. They describe adults turning up with chronic disorganisation, missed deadlines, traffic offences and life "chaos", and explain why research shows the condition doesn't simply disappear in adolescence.
You’ll hear about genetics, brain "engagement" systems, and why boring tasks feel extra punishing. Medication gets a balanced treatment. Jess shares how side effects such as sleep issues and low mood led her to stop stimulants completely, while Dr Stevenson and Dr Sermon discuss people who gain big benefits from them.
They stress that pills are only part of the picture, highlighting skills-based strategies like time management, using diaries, environmental tweaks at work, and coaching-style support that can cut symptoms by around a third. Family and partners come into the conversation too, with an emphasis on support that feels collaborative rather than caretaking.
Throughout, the tone stays practical, non-dramatic and often funny, making it easy to relate whether you live with ADHD, love someone who does, or recognise the same "last-minute scramble" pattern in your own life. Could some of your long-standing struggles make more sense after hearing this?
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