You’ve already heard the basics: ADHD isn’t just for boys. Autism isn’t all hand-flapping. Great. But what about the deeper stuff?

In this solo episode, Jane takes a sledgehammer to the most persistent, harmful, and advanced myths that are still sabotaging ADHD and autistic women.

From the dangerous praise of ‘high functioning’ to the weaponisation of executive function, performative neurodiversity, and the false promise that meds fix everything—this is the truth the awareness campaigns skip.

If you’ve ever been told you’re ‘too capable to struggle’, ‘too smart to be ADHD’, or ‘too emotional to be taken seriously’, this episode is your armour.

💡 What We Cover:


Why ‘high functioning’ is just ‘high masking’—and why it’s killing us slowly


How executive function gets twisted into shame and perfectionism


Why medication is support, not salvation


The deeply gendered myth of what autism ‘looks like’ in kids


Neuroaffirming ≠ letting your child do whatever they want


Why your nervous system needs more than a planner and good intentions


The hidden cost of chasing ‘normal’ as a goal


How parenting myths keep mums stuck in shame, guilt, and silence

🔗 Resources & Links:


📚 Research cited:


Hull et al. (2020) on camouflaging in ADHD & autism


Brown’s Executive Function Model (ADD Warehouse)


Lye & Baron-Cohen (2015) on misdiagnosis in girls


Dvorsky (2016) on long-term neurodivergent outcomes


Dr Mona Delahooke on co-regulation & scaffolding
🎧 Related episodes:
 Ep 20 – The Worst Assessment Process Ever 


SCHOOL SERIES - When School Becomes the Trauma — What No One Tells ADHD Parents
The Worst Assessment Process Ever: A Cautionary Tale


 
Listen in Spotify
Listen in Apple

LISTEN NOW: 

If you’ve ever been told you’re ‘fine’ because you’re functioning — or you’ve questioned your diagnosis because you still can’t get organised — this episode is the recalibration you didn’t know you needed.

Send it to a friend. A partner. A GP. Anyone who still doesn’t get it.

#ADHDMumsPodcast #HighMasking #NeurodivergentMyths #ADHDAndMedication #ExecutiveDysfunction #Camouflaging #AutismInGirls #NeurodivergentBurnout #ADHDFatigue #MentalLoadMatters #NeuroaffirmingParenting #JaneMcFaddenPodcast

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

FOLLOW FOR MORE:

Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me onInstagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube

LEAVE A REVIEW:

Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.

COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at jane@adhdmums.com.au.

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

High masking ADHD, high functioning myth, ADHD and executive dysfunction, medication and burnout, autism myths in children, neuroaffirming parenting, parenting neurodivergent kids, mental load of diagnosis, late-diagnosed ADHD women, emotional regulation myths, ADHD and trauma overlap, gender bias in autism, ADHD toolkit for mums, camouflaging in ADHD women, ADHD shame, parenting without guilt

You&rsquo;ve already heard the basics: ADHD isn&rsquo;t just for boys. Autism isn&rsquo;t all hand-flapping. Great. But what about the deeper stuff?
In this solo episode, Jane takes a sledgehammer to the most persistent, harmful, and advanced myths that are still sabotaging ADHD and autistic women.
From the dangerous praise of &lsquo;high functioning&rsquo; to the weaponisation of executive function, performative neurodiversity, and the false promise that meds fix everything&mdash;this is the truth the awareness campaigns skip.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been told you&rsquo;re &lsquo;too capable to struggle&rsquo;, &lsquo;too smart to be ADHD&rsquo;, or &lsquo;too emotional to be taken seriously&rsquo;, this episode is your armour.
<hr data-start="927" data-end="930">
💡 What We Cover:
<ul data-start="954" data-end="1466">
<li data-start="954" data-end="1034">
Why &lsquo;high functioning&rsquo; is just &lsquo;high masking&rsquo;&mdash;and why it&rsquo;s killing us slowly
</li>
<li data-start="1035" data-end="1103">
How executive function gets twisted into shame and perfectionism
</li>
<li data-start="1104" data-end="1148">
Why medication is support, not salvation
</li>
<li data-start="1149" data-end="1213">
The deeply gendered myth of what autism &lsquo;looks like&rsquo; in kids
</li>
<li data-start="1214" data-end="1275">
Neuroaffirming &ne; letting your child do whatever they want
</li>
<li data-start="1276" data-end="1349">
Why your nervous system needs more than a planner and good intentions
</li>
<li data-start="1350" data-end="1399">
The hidden cost of chasing &lsquo;normal&rsquo; as a goal
</li>
<li data-start="1400" data-end="1466">
How parenting myths keep mums stuck in shame, guilt, and silence
</li>
</ul>
🔗 Resources &amp; Links:
<ul data-start="1499" data-end="2058">
<li data-start="1499" data-end="1803">
📚 Research cited:
<ul data-start="1524" data-end="1803">
<li data-start="1524" data-end="1579">
Hull et al. (2020) on camouflaging in ADHD &amp; autism
</li>
<li data-start="1582" data-end="1634">
Brown&rsquo;s Executive Function Model (ADD Warehouse)
</li>
<li data-start="1637" data-end="1690">
Lye &amp; Baron-Cohen (2015) on misdiagnosis in girls
</li>
<li data-start="1693" data-end="1748">
Dvorsky (2016) on long-term neurodivergent outcomes
</li>
<li data-start="1751" data-end="1803">
Dr Mona Delahooke on co-regulation &amp; scaffolding
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>🎧 Related episodes:</li>
<li>&nbsp;Ep 20 &ndash; <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DYVUcl0yIAMmarpkt9D96?si=JltZ67N2RaCMafSbt7Rpzw">The Worst Assessment Process Ever </a></li>
<li>
SCHOOL SERIES - When School Becomes the Trauma &mdash; What No One Tells ADHD Parents
</li>
<li>The Worst Assessment Process Ever: A Cautionary Tale</li>
<li>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DYVUcl0yIAMmarpkt9D96?si=wkY_BZTuRo2sNGiXOhhogw">Listen in Spotify</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/20-the-worst-assessment-process-ever-a-cautionary/id1686843092?i=1000666172775">Listen in Apple</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
LISTEN NOW: 
If you&rsquo;ve ever been told you&rsquo;re &lsquo;fine&rsquo; because you&rsquo;re functioning &mdash; or you&rsquo;ve questioned your diagnosis because you still can&rsquo;t get organised &mdash; this episode is the recalibration you didn&rsquo;t know you needed.
Send it to a friend. A partner. A GP. Anyone who still doesn&rsquo;t get it.
#ADHDMumsPodcast #HighMasking #NeurodivergentMyths #ADHDAndMedication #ExecutiveDysfunction #Camouflaging #AutismInGirls #NeurodivergentBurnout #ADHDFatigue #MentalLoadMatters #NeuroaffirmingParenting #JaneMcFaddenPodcast
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdmumspodcast">here</a>&nbsp;and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!
FOLLOW FOR MORE:
Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/adhd_mums">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://facebook.com/100091850469503/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@adhdmumsaus">TikTok</a> or <a href="https://youtube.com/channel/UCB0uYIHpFKFo6AdhQQaBr1w">YouTube</a>
LEAVE A REVIEW:
Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let&rsquo;s spread the word and make a difference together.
COLLABS:
For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at jane@adhdmums.com.au.
MORE RESOURCES:
Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests&nbsp;<a href="https://adhdmums.com.au/self-tests/">here</a>.
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
High masking ADHD, high functioning myth, ADHD and executive dysfunction, medication and burnout, autism myths in children, neuroaffirming parenting, parenting neurodivergent kids, mental load of diagnosis, late-diagnosed ADHD women, emotional regulation myths, ADHD and trauma overlap, gender bias in autism, ADHD toolkit for mums, camouflaging in ADHD women, ADHD shame, parenting without guilt

Welcome to The ADHD MUMS Podcast, a lifeline for Australian mums navigating ADHD and motherhood. Perfect for struggling, burnt out mums who want to drop perfectionism.

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