Share

cover art for Understanding neurodiversity: managing ADHD and getting diagnoses

Happy Place

Understanding neurodiversity: managing ADHD and getting diagnoses

Season 30, Ep. 5

It’s ADHD Awareness Month, so Fearne’s reflecting on some of the conversations she’s had about neurodiversity on the show that’ll hopefully help you understand either yourself, or someone you love, even better...

 

First, what are the signs and symptoms of ADHD? Do you recognise more of the hyperactive & impulsive symptoms like rashly spending money and substance addiction, or the inattentive ones like problems with working memory and organisation?

 

Then there’s chat about how having undiagnosed ADHD can lead to mental health problems, why there’s so much shame in the neurodivergent community, and how to advocate for your needs in the workplace.

 

Can ADHD be managed with lifestyle factors like nutrition and movement, or might you or a loved one benefit from medication? Plus, why it’s so important to differentiate between neurodivergence and the emotional dysregulation everyone can experience.

 

Watch Dr Shy Mashru on What Is How To

 

Listen to Gemma Style’s episode

 

Listen to Alex Partridge’s episode

 

Listen to Jordan Stephen’s episode

 

Listen to Lucinda Miller’s episode

 

Listen to Kate Silverton’s episode

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 7. I love chatting to strangers! Fearne’s being spontaneous and sleeping better on holiday

    13:02||Season 44, Ep. 7
    Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne gets into what she and Team Happy Place absolutely love about a holiday, and which bits can be a bit rubbish. (No one wants to pack to go home when the swimsuits are still wet...)How do you take your holidays more seriously? Join the chat on Instagram @happyplaceofficial and @britishairwaysholidays.In this chat, Fearne explores:-How a spa holiday induced a 10/10 sleep-Soaking up the history of places like Rome-Why you’re a more relaxed (more fun??) version of yourself on holiday-Chatting with strangers in cool little shops-The brilliant trinkets you come home with (personalised wax seal, anyone?)-Why nothing will beat the first Negroni abroad-Having uninterrupted reading time -Why the first 24 hours on holiday can make her a little bit anxious-The perils of being a last-minute packerBritish Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, offer a 24hr holiday helpline, and allow you to book with a low deposit. All holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. Go to Ba.com/holidays to find out more.
  • 6. Adam Kay: "I was told to man up!" Coping with PTSD and mental health stigma

    01:00:47||Season 44, Ep. 6
    Just man up. This is essentially what Adam Kay was told when a traumatic day at work left him with PTSD.In this chat with Fearne, former doctor Adam explains why he made the decision to leave the medical profession, and puts a spotlight on the poor mental health of our NHS workers. Adam talks about how, in his case, the job left him feeling paranoid and overcautious, and how he turned to diary writing to process his emotions.They chat about how we can all chip away at any mental health stigma in both the workplace and at home with loved ones, and offer advice for how to put together your own mental health toolkits for crises of varying severity.A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay is out in paperback 2nd July (published by Orion).CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicide.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Nicole LaPeraSam ClaflinJamie Laing
  • 5. Book Club Meets: I wrote a loveable psychopath! Race and female rage, with Imani Thompson

    24:55||Season 44, Ep. 5
    Yrsa really doesn’t intend to kill anyone... but the Cambridge professor sitting opposite her has manipulated her friend and stolen her research. So, when she flicks a bee into his drink, she just thinks he’ll get a nasty little sting... but now he’s dead. And it’s a sweet, sweet feeling for Yrsa: finally having some control...Honey, written by Imani Thompson, was our Happy Place Book Club read for June. In this chat with Fearne, Imani explains how getting fired from a job was the catalyst she needed to start writing, and just how surreal it feels to have a debut novel published in her 20s.They also explore the big themes in the novel, including race, intersectional feminism, female anger, and revenge.In July, we’ll be reading Queenie Is Working On It, by Candice Carty-Williams.Thank you to The Borough Press for use of the Honey audiobook, narrated by Chloe Sommer.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Book Club Meets: Caro Claire BurkeBook Club Meets: Josie Lloyd and Emlyn ReesBook Club Meets: Emma Gannon
  • 4. Are you a witch? Believe in your magic and the power of ritual, with Poppy Jamie

    01:00:17||Season 44, Ep. 4
    Did you listen when your gut told you to turn down that job... and did you seize a better opportunity after?What about when you were tired but something told you to go to the party anyway? Did you meet your partner there?Entrepreneur and author Poppy Jamie says there’s no such thing as a coincidence.In this chat with Fearne, Poppy explains why our collective exhaustion comes down to trusting logic and data over our gut instinct and inner wisdom. They talk about why it’s the inexplicable moments in life that expand our understanding of what’s possible.Poppy has been diagnosed with near-infertility and couldn't see how motherhood was possible; she explains how a true belief in magic, intuition, and the wise women around her have helped her cope.Plus, Poppy has an incredible announcement that was prophesised many years ago...Poppy’s book, The Book of Magical Living, published by New River, is out now.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about pregnancy loss and abortion.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Sonia ChoquetteEstelle BinghamRhonda Byrne
  • 3. “Outrageous, saucy behaviour!” What’s going down in Fearne’s WhatsApp groups?

    08:47||Season 44, Ep. 3
    What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her, Team Happy Place team, and you lot in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit heavier.This is our space to explore what’s been on our minds. Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!In this chat, Fearne explores:-The joyful chaos of the girls’ WhatsApp group -Taking time to chill before a big life change-Why it feels so good putting the washing out in the garden-The time she unfortunately became a bit of a kn*b after red wine-Tiredness messing with your day-Worrying about things you can’t control-How to speak more kindly to your body-The rage she feels at the Instagram algorithm Happy Place episodes mentioned in this chat:Take That
  • 2. "Life's too short for bad sex!" Grace Campbell is speaking up about pleasure and shame

    01:05:43||Season 44, Ep. 2
    Comedian Grace Campbell used to call herself crazy before anyone else could get in there first. Now, Grace wonders whether telling herself this story was affecting how other people interacted with her...In this chat, Fearne and Grace explore how your inner self-talk will impact how others perceive you. So, how has Grace re-framed her ADHD, OCD, and anxieties? And given Grace has spent a lot of time seeking male validation, how has she become ok with so many men finding her “annoying”?Grace also reflects on her childhood, growing up amongst the political elite thanks to her dad Alastair Campbell. She explains how she learnt to speak up for herself by watching the powerful men around her.Plus, why life is too short for bad sex and a lack of orgasms!You can get your tickets for Grace’s stand up tour here!If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Gillian AndersonFlorence BarkMiranda July 
  • 1. Yoga! Shopping! Talks! DJs! How the Happy Place Festivals come to life

    38:47||Season 44, Ep. 1
    Are you coming to one of the Happy Place Festivals this year? We hope so! Have you been before and wondered how it all comes together? Maybe you’re unsure about coming and want to know what the vibe’s like...Fearne’s joined by Team Happy Place’s Nicky Darling – she heads up all the live events – to get the behind the scenes goss on what it takes to make sure you have a gorgeous time at the festivals. They chat about –-Why it takes a whole year to plan the festivals-Making sure there’s something for everyone, including yoga, breathwork, arts and crafts, shopping, book signings, live poetry, and DJs-How your feedback changes future festivals-Learning the hard way that more toilets and food trucks are needed-The new area for 2026: The Happy Hub, where there’ll be hula-hooping, line dancing, and a silent disco-Who’ll be doing brilliant talks on stage this year-What happens when the weather doesn’t play ball-Fearne’s mum living for the festivals’ logistical dramas-Encouraging more men to come along – there’s loads for you too guys!-The naughtiest things people have been found doing at the festivals-The joy of surprising someone with the title of Happy Place Hero In 2026 the Happy Place Festival will be at Old Deer Park in London on the 11th and 12th of July, and Tatton Park in Cheshire on the 5th and 6th of September.Get your tickets now! 
  • 10. Ashley Roberts: If you don’t scream your body will! Anxiety, insomnia, and Pussycat Dolls' comeback

    58:37||Season 43, Ep. 10
    For Ashley Roberts, dance was her self-expression and meditation. Then, at the height of her Pussycat Dolls fame the art she loved became tangled up in extreme burnout and body shaming.In this chat with Fearne, Ashley explains how discovering breathwork brought her back to herself after a period of intense anxiety and physical ill-health. Now, the Pussycat Dolls are making a comeback in their 40s, and this time round they’re doing it with a bigger focus on having more fun and giving fewer f*cks.There’s a lot of mental illness in her family, so Ashley talks about the mental health toolkit she’s creating for herself, as well as the grief of losing her dad to suicide. Plus, she and Fearne both suffer from insomnia, so share what works – and what really doesn’t – for each of them.The Pussycat Dolls will be touring Europe in summer 2026.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Leigh-Anne PinnockLeAnne RimesPaloma Faith 
  • 9. Book Club Meets: Tradwives and the manosphere, with Caro Claire Burke

    30:59||Season 43, Ep. 9
    Natalie Heller is a tradwife influencer online. She’s got the perfect life: a brood of beautiful children and a handsome cowboy husband who eat her homemade bread and jams in their gorgeous red barn. What her millions of followers don’t know is that she’s got a whole army of hidden staff and industrial kitchen appliances helping her out.Then, one day... she wakes up in the 1800s, and is forced to live this traditional fantasy for real.Yesteryear was our Happy Place Book Club read for May. In this chat, author Caro Claire Burke joins Fearne to talk about the manosphere, motherhood, religion, and modern feminism. Plus, what does Caro make of Anne Hathaway turning her book into a film?In June, we’ll be reading Honey by Imani Thompson.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Book Club Meets: Josie Lloyd and Emlyn ReesBook Club Meets: Emma GannonBook Club Meets: Maggie O’Farrell