13 - Same Diagnosis. Different Chaos. - An Unfiltered Conversation Between Two Very Different ADHD Brains

13 - Same Diagnosis. Different Chaos. - An Unfiltered Conversation Between Two Very Different ADHD Brains

What happens when two women with ADHD sit down to compare notes? Turns out... the same diagnosis can look completely different. After sharing my own late ADHD diagnosis in the last episode [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ByE9l4JpEcFuXDxs9JGoj?si=35c94d82f14c44e7], I wanted to continue the conversation by talking with another woman whose experience with ADHD looks a little (or a lot) different than mine. She's built a career helping people get organized. I spend way too much time overthinking simple decisions, avoiding tasks, and wondering why my brain works the way it does. So how do we both have ADHD? In this episode, we're unpacking what ADHD really looks like beyond the stereotypes. We talk about childhood, late diagnosis, masking, motherhood, relationships, organization, overwhelm, procrastination, perfectionism, and all the invisible ways ADHD shows up in everyday life. Along the way, we laugh, call ourselves out, compare notes, and discover that even when our experiences are different, so many of the feelings underneath are the same. Whether you have ADHD yourself, love someone who does, or you've ever wondered why your brain seems to work differently, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little more understood and reminds you there's no one "right" way for ADHD to look. In this episode, we talk about: • Why the same ADHD diagnosis can look completely different • The ADHD traits we missed growing up • Late diagnosis and finally making sense of the past • Organization, overwhelm, procrastination, and perfectionism • Motherhood, relationships, and the mental load • The strengths, struggles, and surprising gifts of an ADHD brain If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to follow the show, leave a rating or review, or share it with someone who could use this conversation. Thanks for being here. Resources taraschifsky@gmail.com⁠ [taraschifsky@gmail.com] ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/revelchaosmomma] ⁠Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/revelinthechaos_official/] Twin Cities Taskers [https://www.twincitiestaskers.com/]

12 - I Thought I Was Just Bad at Life... Until I Learned Why

I thought I just sucked at being an adult. Like… why can’t I keep up with basic life things without feeling completely overwhelmed? Laundry piles up. Emails go unanswered. I avoid the smallest tasks like they’re life-threatening… and then beat myself up for all of it. I tell myself “I’ll do it tomorrow”… and then tomorrow comes, and somehow it’s worse. At 38, I was diagnosed with ADHD. And suddenly… it wasn’t just a personality flaw. In this episode, I’m taking you inside my brain; the constant noise, the overthinking, the decision paralysis, the doom scrolling, the starting everything and finishing nothing… all while looking like a relatively functional adult on the outside. We’re talking about what ADHD actually looks like in women, why it gets missed for so long, and how it shows up in real life: parenting, relationships, responsibilities, and just trying to keep up. And the relief of finally having answers… along with the grief of realizing how long I went without them. If you’ve ever thought, “What is wrong with me?" or "Why can't I just get my life together?" this might explain more than you think. 👉🏼 In this episode, I talk about: * What ADHD actually looks like in women (especially inattentive type) * Why it’s often missed or misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression * What daily life feels like (overwhelm, paralysis, procrastination) * How it impacts parenting, relationships, and self-worth * The relief—and grief—that comes with a late diagnosis CHAPTERS 00:00 Understanding ADHD: A Personal Journey 06:49 Inside the ADHD Mind: Chaos and Clarity 15:00 Neurodivergence vs. Neurotypical: A Deeper Look 21:47 The Overlap of ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression 28:32 Executive Functioning: The Daily Struggle 34:06 Distraction Spirals and Task Overload 38:42 Time Blindness and Rushing Through Life 42:47 People-Pleasing Tendencies and Emotional Sensitivity 50:47 Reflections on Life Before and After Medication 53:40 The Positive Aspects of ADHD 58:17 Understanding Different Operating Systems of ADHD

11 - Friendship Through Every Season: Why We Need It, How It Changes, and How It Saves Us

In this episode of Revel in the Chaos, I’m talking about friendship through every season of life, how it starts, how it changes, how it sometimes falls apart, and how it can save us when life gets heavy. From childhood friendships and messy teenage years to motherhood, loss, and the chaos of midlife, this episode is a love letter to the people who walk beside us, loudly, quietly, imperfectly. We’ll talk about: * Why friendship is essential at every stage of life * How to maintain and nourish friendships when everyone is busy * How to know when to keep investing, and when to let go * Making new friends as an adult (even when it feels awkward AF) * What real support actually looks like * Why one good friend can change the quality of your entire life This episode is deeply personal, honest, and inclusive, whether you have a big group of friends, one close friend, or you’re still searching for your people. Because no matter the season you’re in, you’re not meant to go through it alone. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome Back and Season Two Preview 07:20 The Importance of Friendships 08:17 Navigating Midlife Friendships 16:41 Friendships as Chosen Family 17:32 The Nature of Friendship 20:25 Navigating Friendship Changes 25:31 Making New Friends in Adulthood 31:56 Effort in Maintaining Friendships 36:19 The Importance of Supportive Friendships 38:55 Friendship in Motherhood 41:17 Quality Over Quantity in Friendships ORACLE CARD PULL Deck: Wisdom of The Oracle, By Collette Baron-Reid Card: Treasure Island (Pulled in the protection position) Essential Meaning: “The Law Of Attraction bringing dreams into fruition; the results of positive thinking made manifest; abundance appearing as if from nowhere; financial gains and the sharing of good fortune.” Protection Message: “Poverty consciousness and a sense of “not enough” can cast a shadow on your path. These ideas and core beliefs come with a high cost. Do you really want to proclaim yourself a victim of disappointment and failed expectations? Are you avoiding success because you will grow so tall that others may want to cut you down? Or is it possible that you are caught in a fear that you will lose what you have acquired, so you hold on so tight that you miss the opportunities to expand? You are being challenged to change the way you see the world and move from a perception of limitations to a perception of abundance. Take a risk, for you have nothing to lose except your confinement in a prison of your own making. Open the door and find the abundance waiting for you to claim it.” CONTACT: taraschifsky@gmail.com Instagram: @revelinthechaos_official [https://www.instagram.com/revelinthechaos_official/] Facebook: Revel in the Chaos [https://www.facebook.com/revelchaosmomma/]

10 - If Roles Were Reversed: Exposing Relationship Double Standards and Privilege

Ever feel like the rules in your relationship don’t actually apply to both of you? In this episode, Tara Schifsky dives headfirst into the uncomfortable, but all-too-common, world of double standards and privilege in relationships. From parenting to day-to-day dynamics, she shares brutally honest personal stories and insights from friends, exposing how these imbalances can quietly (or not so quietly) chip away at your energy, patience, and sanity. With a little humor and zero sugarcoating, Tara challenges listeners to ask themselves: Are you playing by the same rules as your partner? CONTACT: taraschifsky@gmail.com [taraschifsky@gmail.com] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/revelchaosmomma] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/revelinthechaos_official/] CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Double Standards in Relationships 05:08 Personal Experiences with Double Standards 11:01 The Impact of Privilege in Parenting 15:09 Communication Gaps and Their Consequences 20:01 Navigating Imbalances in Work and Home Life 25:12 Overcoming People-Pleasing Tendencies 25:39 Navigating Conflict Avoidance 27:23 The Struggle for Personal Time 30:00 Double Standards in Emotional Expression 33:00 The Burden of Parenting Expectations 37:09 Family Dynamics and Planning Responsibilities 41:08 Hobbies and Personal Freedom 44:14 Societal Double Standards in Parenting 47:19 Reflections on Privilege and Relationships 52:22 Personal Reflections and Closing Thoughts

9 - The Hard Work of Healing: My Journey Out of Postpartum Hell

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Revel in the Chaos, Tara Schifsky opens up about the brutal reality of postpartum depression and anxiety—the messy, isolating, and often shame-filled side of motherhood that no one warns you about. Tara doesn’t sugarcoat it. She takes you through the darkest corners of her experience, the breaking points that forced her to ask for help, and the hard-won lessons that cracked her open in ways she never saw coming. This is more than a story about surviving postpartum—it’s about reclaiming yourself, finding strength in vulnerability, and smashing the unrealistic expectations placed on moms. If you’ve ever felt lost in the chaos of motherhood, this one’s for you. CONTACT Instagram: ⁠@revelinthechaos_official⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/revelinthechaos_official/] Facebook: ⁠Revel in the Chaos⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/revelchaosmomma] Email: taraschifsky@gmail.com RESOURCES PostpartumDepression.org [https://www.postpartumdepression.org/] Postpartum Support International [https://postpartum.net/] National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) [https://www.nami.org/] Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: [https://988lifeline.org/]Call or Text 988 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Reflection on Previous Episode 05:57 The Struggles of Postpartum Depression 11:51 Seeking Help and Finding Relief 18:10 The Transformation of Self-Identity 23:59 Navigating Motherhood and Mental Health 30:01 Grief and Acceptance in Motherhood 35:54 Support and Connection with Other Moms 41:52 Empathy and Reaching Out to Others KEYWORDS postpartum depression, mental health, motherhood, self-identity, support, anxiety, healing, intrusive thoughts, emotional well-being, parenting