#103: Tracy Otsuka Teaches Women How To Own Their ADHD: Part 1

Mother Plus Podcast

In Part I of our conversation with the incomparable Tracy Otsuka, we share the story of how we came to find her, and introduce her podcast and incredible book to our listeners. We discuss Tracy's superpowers as a woman with ADHD, and how her story may be unlike other ADHD women because of her confidence and comfort level with being "different."
The Cliff's Notes Version:

1. Tracy shares something that sets her apart from other ADHD women—she has never cared that she is different, and has used that to her advantage.
2. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may mask, compensate, and craft harmful narratives like, "I guess I'm not that smart" or "I have no idea what's going on."
3. Tracy breaks down hyperactive and inattentive type ADHD and how they affect confidence and learned helplessness.
4. We dive into why motherhood can be more difficult for women with ADHD—our daily routines feel like Groundhog's Day, the tasks required can be boring for our creative brains, and the compromised Executive Functioning skills create overwhelm.
5. Tracy breaks down DMN (default mode network) and TPN (task positive network), and explains how the challenge toggling between them makes transitions more difficult for ADHD women.
6. We learn some strategies to manage our DMN and TPN and how to work with our brains, taking charge and learning to switch gears.

ABOUT TRACY OTSUKA
Tracy Otsuka, JD, is a certified ADHD coach and the host of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast. Over the past decade, she has empowered thousands of clients (from doctors and therapists to C-suite executives and entrepreneurs) to see their neurodivergence as a strength–not a weakness. Tracy leverages her analytical skills from being a lead counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to identify the right questions to ask her clients so they can boost their productivity, improve their finances, save failing relationships and live happier lives.
Tracy’s expertise and experience as an adult living with ADHD are regularly sought out by top tier media including Inc, Forbes, ADDitude magazine, and The Goal Digger Podcast. She hosts her own podcast which ranks #1 in its category and has over 5 million downloads across 160 countries. She also moderates a Facebook group with nearly 100,000 members. A married mother of two, Tracy lives in Sonoma County outside of San Francisco.
Tracy's website: https://www.tracyotsuka.com/
Tracy's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/adhd-for-smart-ass-women-with-tracy-otsuka/id1443678424
Tracy's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyotsuka/?hl=en
If you are nodding your head to everything in this episode, and you've been looking for your people and feel like you've FINALLY found them, please join us in the ADHD Mom Club. We cannot wait to see you there:
https://www.motherplusser.com/ADHD-mom-club-waitlist

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