Mar 19
Navigating grief can be a challenging and emotional journey, especially when coupled with the complexities of ADHD. However, it can also be an opportunity for growth and resilience. In this upcoming discussion, we'll hear from a group of remarkable women, including Sandra Centorino, the beacon of positivity, Laurie Peterson, an authority on ADHD and educational assessments, and Anita Robertson, the insightful psychotherapist, as they share their personal experiences of loss and how they have found ways to cope with the unique challenges of ADHD. Through their candid stories, we'll gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate executive function issues during times of crisis and find hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Laurie Peterson is the Founder and Executive Director of Diagnostic Learning Services and eDiagnostic Learning. She is a well-respected voice in helping students and adults with learning disabilities like Dyslexia and ADHD. Laurie also hosts the Let’s Talk Learning Disabilities podcast and serves on the Executive Board for the North Texas chapter of CHADD.
Anita Robertson, a licensed psychotherapist, specializes in nurturing and healing relationships through techniques like Attachment Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Recognizing the need for ADHD-friendly couples counseling, she developed the ADHD Relationship Boot Camp and authored "ADHD & Us: A Couple’s Guide to Loving and Living with Adult ADHD." Anita is also a passionate advocate for social justice, actively engaging in campaigns for telehealth coverage and educational equity while integrating advocacy into her therapeutic practice.
Sandra Centorino is a digital veteran with two decades of experience. She's known for her vibrant energy and kindness and has built a loyal following on platforms like Snapchat and TikTok. Sandra is an author and shares her talents in live video and podcasting, inspiring and serving others globally. Despite her relaxed retirement, Sandra finds joy in assisting others, particularly in the ADHD community. Her journey from soccer captaincy to acting and a late ADHD diagnosis reflects her resilience and commitment to spreading positivity and connection.
In this conversation, we share personal stories about grieving. We talk about the difficulties of caring for a parent with a terminal illness and the ways we honor their final wishes, especially for those with ADHD. We also discuss the unexpected roles we take on, the importance of connection, and how we cope with grief through creativity, humor, and being there for each other.
This episode is an homage to those we've loved and lost, a testament to the power of honoring their wishes, and a beacon of hope for anyone seeking support and understanding in the aftermath of grief.
Follow these amazing ladies here:
Laurie Peterson:
Website
Podcast
Anita Roberston:
Webinar
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
YouTube
Sandra Centorino:
Website
TikTok
APPLE
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
"A support system and some close family and friends were a big help. Just knowing that you're not alone and there are other people experiencing loss. They might not be the same loss that you have, but they're there with you to support you, to care about you, and to make you feel like you're not alone."
- Sandra Centorino
"Sharing that we’re going through the same thing was a reminder of how connected we all are in our experiences, especially around something as universal and personal as grief."
- Tracy Otsuka
"I do think action and showing a little bit of your love language is a good thing. I think that's a little bit of your love language too - those acts of service. ‘Let me help you because I love you’ and of course, ‘I'll just take this for you.’"
- Laurie Peterson
"Everyone grieves differently. The way that people show up and support you, whether it's bringing food, coming over and doing dishes, or checking in on you in these times of challenges, fills you up. There's this connection and it doesn't take away from the loss, but it almost gives you the fuel to keep going, or offload, or do everything."
- Anita Robertson
- Laurie Peterson, Anita Robertson, and Sandra Centorino share their personal experiences with ADHD and grief, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing these issues in the ADHD community.
- Tracy and Laurie share their experiences with losing their mothers, with Tracy feeling lucky to have had her mother for 50 years and Laurie feeling grateful for the time she had with her mother despite losing her at a young age.
- Sandra Centorino shares her story of grief after losing her parents in 2023 and her reflection on her parents' long, happy, and healthy marriage, despite both having ADHD.
- Anita believes that grief amplifies many things and there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
- Laurie added the people with ADHD often process grief through extreme action and showing love through acts of service.
- Tracy, Sandra, Anita and Laurie talks about the cycle of emotional highs and lows, including a desire for self-care, balancing their own needs and priorities.
- Navigating and overcoming unexpected emotions due to grief with support and love from others.
