Navigating life with an ADHD brain can feel like a constant challenge, especially when self-trust has been eroded over years of missed deadlines, disorganization, and that infamous sense of overwhelm. This week’s episode of ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse our guest is owner of Maybe ADHD, Charlotte Dover. Not only is she an ADHD coach, she is also the creator of The Book of Everything, a planner for neurodivergents. She also hosts her own podcast, This Beautiful Chaos. We discuss building self-compassion, emotional regulation, and finding tools that genuinely work for your neurodivergent brain.

Starting with Self-Compassion

One of the first steps to managing ADHD is learning to treat yourself with kindness. As she puts it,

“Self-compassion isn’t just nice to have; it’s foundational for us to trust ourselves enough to grow.”

This reminder hits home for many adult women who, after years of self-criticism, are just starting to see how powerful it can be to approach life with a softer, more forgiving mindset.

ADHD often leads to a lifetime of self-doubt. Adult women who were diagnosed later in life have often had to deal with years of mislabeling themselves as “lazy” or “unmotivated.” Charlotte’s work as an ADHD coach brings a refreshing, positive perspective to the table, emphasizing that self-compassion isn’t optional for us—it’s essential.

Using ADHD Planners that Work with Your Brain

When it comes to planning, neurotypical tools often don’t work well our ADHD brains. This is where a specialized ADHD planner can make a real difference. Charlotte emphasizes that planners specifically designed for neurodivergent brains, especially ADHD, incorporate features like visual prompts, reminders, and adaptability for those moments when motivation wanes.

“An ADHD planner should feel like a supportive guide, not a rigid set of rules you feel pressured to follow.”

She encourages ADHD women to find planners that feel intuitive, with enough structure to provide guidance but flexible enough to accommodate days when it’s just hard to get moving.

Choosing the right planner can also help break the cycle of overwhelm. A good ADHD planner helps prioritize tasks, allowing you to focus on one thing at a time without feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list. That’s one reason she created The Book of Everything, “combining calendar, planning pages, lists, productivity tools and more.”

The Power of Emotional Regulation for ADHD Women

For many ADHD women, emotional regulation is one of the toughest challenges. Social interactions, career pressures, and family responsibilities often trigger emotional responses that feel impossible to manage. Emotional regulation techniques are a critical part of Charlotte’s coaching practice, and she discusses why this skill is essential for achieving self-compassion.

Emotional regulation for ADHD women can be as simple as pausing to take a breath or creating a calming ritual for the end of the day. One thing Charlotte loves to emphasize is that emotional regulation doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective—it’s all about finding small, realistic ways to reset.

Building Trust in Yourself

ADHD can often lead to struggles with self-doubt and low self-trust, especially when responsibilities feel overwhelming. For many adult women who’ve only recently been diagnosed, building this trust is an essential part of the journey. Charlotte’s approach focuses on setting realistic goals that are manageable and achievable. She encourages her clients to start small, recognizing small wins as a way to reinforce self-trust.

“Building trust in yourself is about showing up consistently, even in the smallest of ways,”

As Charlotte explains, it’s less about being perfect and more about building a steady foundation of small successes.

Discovering ADHD Creativity as a Strength

ADHD brains are often highly creative, finding unique solutions and perspectives in ways that might feel surprising even to the person experiencing them. Charlotte sees this creativity as one of the most valuable aspects of ADHD. Tapping into this creativity, she says, is a powerful way to redefine how you see yourself and your potential.

Working with an ADHD coach like Charlotte can help uncover strengths that might have felt hidden for years. By embracing this creativity, ADHD women can begin to see their minds as assets, not obstacles.

Connect with Charlotte for Personalized ADHD Coaching

Interested in working directly with Charlotte? Whether you’re curious about ADHD planners, need guidance with emotional regulation, or just want to feel understood, reaching out could be the first step toward a better way of living with ADHD. Charlotte specializes in ADHD coaching tailored to adult women and understands the unique challenges and strengths you bring to the table.

Listen to ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse for More Insights!

If you enjoyed this breakdown, don’t miss the full episode! Join Charlotte and our community of ADHD women in exploring all the ways we can live more fulfilling, balanced lives by understanding our ADHD minds. Listen to our latest episode Maybe ADHD: Developing Genuine Faith in Yourself with Charlotte Dover to dive deeper.