Were You ‘Too Much’ — Or Just Misunderstood? ADHD, Trauma & Finding Your True Self

What if the labels you’ve carried throughout your life didn't have to define your story? In this week’s episode of the ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, I’m joined by Miranda Arieh, a multi-award-winning motivational speaker, mental health educator, and transformation coach. Miranda is the founder of the pioneering HEROES Programme and an advocate for changing how we view mental health, neurodiversity and emotional regulation. Miranda uses her lived experience to fuel her passion for helping others make lasting transformations to their lives by learning how to effectively work with all our human experiences of emotional suffering. This conversation is an invitation to look back at your past through a lens of neurodivergence—not to find "fault," but to find the compassion and forgiveness needed to move forward. In this episode, we explore: How turning anger into passion can shift the narrative around emotional dysregulation and neurodivergence. What "trauma-informed care" actually looks like in practice and why it’s vital for the ND community. Miranda’s perspective on how high-masking ADHD and autism intersect with complex childhood trauma. Why Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) feels different in a neurodivergent nervous system and why "not everyone feels it" the same way. The cost of masking for safety, the pain of forgetting your true self, and the beauty of rediscovery. Learning the importance of coregulating with ourselves to find internal stability. How a formal diagnosis can be the "missing piece" that provides clarity and self-acceptance. The SAVE Method - a practical strategy for regulating emotions and practising effective self-advocacy. How to create healthy boundaries and space for the right people without abandoning yourself in the process. This episode is a vital reminder that your emotional experiences are valid, and by understanding the "why" behind your brain and your history, lasting transformation becomes possible. Timestamps 02:15 - Exploring Trauma and Neurodivergence 15:00 - Understanding Rejection Sensitivity in Neurodivergence 33:37 - The Journey to Authenticity 40:53 - Navigating Relationships with Others and Self 44:36 - Introduction to the SAVE Method This week’s episode is sponsored by Understood.org, the leading nonprofit dedicated to empowering the millions of people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, I’d recommend listening to their podcast, Everybody Gets a Juicebox, as it’s full of relatable stories and practical tools to help your family thrive while protecting your own wellbeing, too! The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Recording is here! My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right. Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to late-diagnosed women. Get lifetime access here! Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Recording, you'll find: Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes next Dr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it does Hannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lens Adele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopause Understand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve. Because every woman with ADHD deserves access to the knowledge, expertise and understanding that for too long simply hasn't been available to us. To get lifetime access for £44, click here. Join the More Yourself Community - the doors are now open! More Yourself is a compassionate space for late-diagnosed ADHD women to connect, reflect, learn and come home to who they really are. Sign up here! Inside the More Yourself Membership, you’ll be able to: Connect with like-minded women who understand you Learn from guest experts and practical tools Receive compassionate prompts & gentle reminders Enjoy voice-note encouragement from Kate Join flexible meet-ups and mentoring sessions Access on-demand workshops and quarterly guest expert sessions To join for £26 a month, click here. To join for £286 for a year (a whole month free!), click here. Links and Resources: Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here]. Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod Visit Miranda's website (www.mirandaarieh.co.uk) or find her on social media @mirandaarieh. Miranda runs a free monthly webinar teaching the HEROES Approach to trauma recovery and guiding listeners through the SAVE Method. Sign up for the mailing list and webinar here. Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices