Jul 8
Since starting this podcast, I’ve been able to help thousands of ADHD women around the world discover their true selves and lean into their strengths. None of this would be possible, however, without the ADHD for Smart Ass Women Facebook group–the place where it all began–and the help of Catheryn Wreford-Holden, our lead Facebook group administrator. What makes our group different is the seventeen moderators who approve all posts.
Catheryn leads this team of volunteer moderators and administrators, now known as the Mod Squad, and ensures that the 65K members of our Facebook group are focused on their strengths and have a positive place to find community and feel inspired to seek out solutions. Catheryn herself is a source of inspiration and strength; despite facing unimaginable hurdles throughout her life, she makes a conscious choice every day to focus on the good.
Our Mod Squad is as strong as it is today because she empowers each member to find their gifts and let them shine through. I’m so excited to finally have Catheryn share her story with you.
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"When people go, ‘Oh I’ve done this wrong, I’ve done that wrong,’ I say, ‘Yeah but it’s experience.’ It’s how you learn how to adapt yourself and how to grow as a person. It’s taking everything in life, the knockdowns and all, as a learned experience. We’re not born to know everything and we never will know everything. And we never will be perfect, and perfect is boring. Let’s just focus on what you can do, what you are good at."
- Catheryn Wreford-Holden
"If I was going to play the victim card, I could probably outdo everyone, given everything I’ve been through in life. But you know what? I bounce back up and I say, ‘Do I want to live or do I want to live in the past?’ History’s not my strong point, forget the past, move on and live your life for every day that you’ve got left of it."
- Catheryn Wreford-Holden
"I could never maintain these group friendships, these long-term friendships that other people seemed to be able to maintain, and as I started to discover ADHD it kind of made me realize why."
- Catheryn Wreford-Holden
- Catheryn shares her experience with ADHD and how it affects her life, including struggles with structure and boundaries.
- Catheryn struggled with overwhelming thoughts and lack of focus, leading to unfinished tasks and half-decorated rooms.
- Catheryn shares strategies for managing emotional dysregulation, including seeking support from the Mod Squad.
[16:32 - 34:52] ADHD, Strength Building, and Community Support
- Catheryn highlights the importance of recognizing and utilizing individual strengths and gifts within a team, citing examples from her management training and experiences.
- Catheryn shares her experiences growing up in a household with ADHD and addiction.
- Catheryn emphasizes the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness for ADHD individuals, citing their ability to learn and grow from experiences.
- Catheryn shares her experiences as a single mom, then a mother of four children with various challenges, including ADHD and Down syndrome.
- Catheryn discusses her struggles with maintaining friendships due to her ADHD, including forgetting birthdays and moving on quickly from conversations.
- Catheryn emphasizes the importance of having friends who support and understand you, rather than those who bring you down or question your feelings.
