ADHD and Trauma Pt 3: Breaking the Shame Cycle Through Vulnerability

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Episode 038: In part three of the ADHD & Trauma series, host Ron Souers continues to explore the hidden link between the two. With the calm clarity of a news anchor and the compassion of a guide who’s walked the road himself, Ron guides us through the shame cycle that begins in childhood and echoes throughout adulthood.

Drawing on the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, Brené Brown, and other leading voices, this episode reveals how ADHD traits often mislabeled as laziness, irresponsibility, or being “too sensitive” are, in fact, survival adaptations. Ron explains how emotional dysregulation, time blindness, and disorganization can be reframed not as flaws, but as ingenious responses to early invalidation and stress.

Most importantly, listeners will discover why vulnerability is the antidote to shame—and how small, daily acts of honesty and self-compassion can begin to break cycles that have lasted a lifetime. This is not just a podcast episode; it’s a roadmap toward resilience, belonging, and healing.”

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why ADHD and trauma are often deeply intertwined.

• The difference between guilt and shame—and why shame is so destructive.

• How emotional dysregulation, time blindness, and disorganization are not defects, but rather survival adaptations.

• Dr. Gabor Maté’s insights on ADHD and school environments that suppress natural instincts.

• Brené Brown’s research on shame resilience and why vulnerability is the antidote.

• Practical tools you can use right now to break the shame cycle.

• How reframing your ADHD traits with compassion can change the way you see yourself.

Other Great Ways to Connect with Me:

👩‍🏫Strength Coaching with Ron: www.youradhdguy.com
📬 Subscribe & join The Kindness Circle!

👩‍🦯Tik Tok @RonSolo1

📻 Patreon Patreon.com/ronsouers
📨Email Ronsouers@dadhdwss.com

"Don' Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD!" w/ Ron Souers:

Hosted by Social Shift coach and fierce kindness and ADHD advocate Ron Souers, this podcast is a raw, real, and a radically compassionate space for adults navigating ADHD, depression, anxiety, and the beautiful chaos of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world.

Each week, Ron dives deep into the emotional archaeology of what makes us feel “too much” or “not enough,” and unearths practical, science-backed strategies to shift your perspective. From masking and rejection sensitivity to procrastination, imposter syndrome, and the ADHD–LGBTQ+ intersection, no topic is off-limits.

This is more than a podcast—it’s a permission slip to feel, to heal, and to take up space.

Expect:

🔥 Hard truths wrapped in kindness
🔥 Courageous conversations with guests who get it
🔥 Simple tools for focus, rest, connection, and growth

You don’t need to be fixed. You just need to be seen.
So hit subscribe, take a deep breath, and let’s make it cool to be different—together.

Recent Episodes:

The Wounds We Carry: ADHD, Trauma, and Healing (Part 1 with Kayla Crane)

Mental Health at Work: Why You’re Burned Out and Still Hiding It