Ponderings on sobriety, neurodivergence, mental health & wellbeing
Welcome to my blog where I share reflections, hacks, some psychoeducation and tools for you to tap into.
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When the only way you know how to switch off is alcohol
Did last night end in a quick drink-or-three to decompress after a stressful day? No judgement here. That used to be me.
I hear this daily from single mums running on empty.
From high-fliers in careers that take everything they’ve got.
Accountability: the secret sauce in behaviour change?
Accountability. Does the word make you cringe? Instantly conjure up feelings of unwanted control or pressure?
If you’ve got a rebellious streak with a side of ADHD (ahem, guilty) then you probably really don’t like being told what to do and might already be side-eyeing me.
But the kind of accountability I’m talking about is different. And I’ve found it’s often the missing piece in making sustainable change including my own.
Why ‘just having one’ feels impossible with ADHD
If you've ever wondered why your relationship with alcohol feels harder than it seems to be for everyone else, it’s because with ADHD it is.
You’re not imagining it, you’re not making excuses, it is.
This makes ‘just having one’ often feel impossible. Here’s why and what to do.
What decades of brain imaging shows about the impact of alcohol on your brain
When drinking becomes a habit, the brain changes in measurable ways. For ADHDers, the stakes are even higher.
A 2019 major research review published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research pulled together decades of brain-imaging studies to show what actually happens in the brain when drinking becomes a struggle …
8 years alcohol-free!
8 years alcohol free - and the utter magnificence of neuroplasticity!
A quick reflection
When I started on this journey I could not imagine a time where it would not feel utterly impossible to experience…
Designing Your 2026: the simple process I use …
As we approach the end of another year, you might be feeling that familiar mix of relief, exhaustion, and perhaps a determination that next year is not going to be so ‘stressful’, ‘hectic’, ‘disorganised’ ……. (insert your relevant adjective here).
Wondering if you might be neurodivergent?
In my work as a counsellor and ADHD coach, I often meet people who have spent years wondering why they feel “different.”
Maybe you’ve always had a sense that you were out of step with others. Or maybe you’ve scrolled past a post or video about ADHD, autism, or another form of neurodivergence and thought, that sounds exactly like me.
The 10 Most Common Reasons ADHD clients tell me they drink
As a therapist and coach who works at the intersection of ADHD and grey area drinking, I hear a lot of the same stories from clients about why alcohol has become such a significant part of their lives. And for most of them? It’s not about celebration or fun. It’s about relief.
But here's what I want you to know: This is not a personal failing, it’s your ADHD.
Reflections from seven years alcohol-free!
Reflections from seven years sober/alcohol-free! Here’s what I’ve learnt along the way.
HALT! and other silly season survival tips
Learning to build a solid foundation within ourselves that is anchored in knowing these truths is, for so many of us, one of the hardest things we do in life. And this time of year – amongst the fun and festivities - can bring forth old family wounds, grief, loneliness, difficult relationships and exhaustion that make it even harder to stay grounded.
Exploring the pros and cons of Mental Health Care Plans
So, you've probably heard about GP Mental Health Care Plans (MHCPs; sometimes also referred to as MHTPs for ‘Treatment’) as a way to access mental health services more affordably. They're often the go-to from GPs when you're considering mental health treatment and the type of support/practitioner they refer them on to. However, like anything, they come with their own set of pros and cons.
What to do next if you think you might have ADHD: diagnosis & treatment
An overview of ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment for adults in Australia. Plus some recommendations, tips and insights that I learnt along the way.
The Connection between ADHD and Alcohol - why it matters
Did you know that up to 43% of people with ADHD will experience an alcohol use disorder? No, neither did I until I got diagnosed in 2022, having struggled with alcohol for decades.
What is ADHD? An introduction
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been in the news and social media a LOT over the last couple of years. But the reality is not ‘everyone is a little bit ADHD’ like we hear frequently. ADHD can be impairing across a heap of life domains. We take a look at what it is, the different types, what it impacts, and how it shows up in people's lives.
Why I go to therapy
None of us have it all worked out. Not your psychiatrist, your Mum, the inflluencer you follow who talks about mental health. We are ALL fallible humans who need support, guidance, help with our 'stuff'. That includes mental health professionals and those in the helping professions.