Nov 3
Lisa Lewis’s skill of talking to anyone and everyone has taken her on unexpected adventures around the world, from the Scottish Highlands to the running of the bulls, and now she’s here to talk to us about her ADHD journey.
For the last twelve years Lisa has worked as an HR professional who focuses on diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. She received a late diagnosis of ADHD and now attributes her diverse background and success to her neurodiversity.
Join my conversation with Lisa to hear her take on disclosing ADHD in the workplace, ways to advocate for your needs without fear of judgment or stigma, why ADHD awareness is so crucial for our success and well-being, and more.
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Quotes:
"It was just so moving to me that who I was was okay and everyone thought I was okay. It was my assumption that I was too much compared to other people."
- Lisa Lewis
"You get a diagnosis and you start learning about how your own brain works and what works for you and you're learning all these different strategies, and you realize that you had already created these strategies in the past without realizing that that's what you were doing."
- Lisa Lewis
"The one thing that does embarrass me all the time is my over-talking. When we would be driving to parties or social situations…, I remember talking to myself and saying, don't talk, don't talk, don't talk because you're going to embarrass yourself and talk over people."
- Lisa Lewis
"It was just so moving to me that who I was was okay and everyone thought I was okay. It was my assumption that I was too much compared to other people."
- Lisa Lewis
"You get a diagnosis and you start learning about how your own brain works and what works for you and you're learning all these different strategies, and you realize that you had already created these strategies in the past without realizing that that's what you were doing."
- Lisa Lewis
"The one thing that does embarrass me all the time is my over-talking. When we would be driving to parties or social situations…, I remember talking to myself and saying, don't talk, don't talk, don't talk because you're going to embarrass yourself and talk over people."
- Lisa Lewis
[00:00 - 10:14] ADHD diagnosis and childhood trauma
[10:14 - 18:24] Education, career choices, and impulsiveness
- Lisa shares their experience working in nursing neurodiversity for 25 years, including their own recent ADHD diagnosis.
- Lisa describes herself as shy and reserved as a child but gained confidence in high school and became more outgoing.
- Lisa believes her ADHD may have been triggered by puberty, as it often affects women during this time.
[10:14 - 18:24] Education, career choices, and impulsiveness
- Lisa shares a story about how they impulsively decided to move to Scotland after a friend invited them to join them in their adventure.
- Lisa found herself stranded in France with no money. She slept on a park bench, but kind locals offered her shelter.
- Lisa shares stories of her various jobs and side hustles, including bartending, selling flowers, and working at a mortgage office.
[18:24 - 28:19] ADHD, jobs, and family dynamics
- Lisa describes her mother as an amazing woman who worked hard and became successful without post-secondary education. However, she also had impulsive moments and struggled in high school.
- Lisa shares a lesson learned from working with a child on emotional regulation, realizing the importance of listening to individuals and tailoring strategies to their needs.
- Lisa emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting individuals with ADHD and neurodiversity, rather than relying on generic diagnostic criteria.
Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.
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EPISODE #252
