Hello!

Hi everyone!

My bio gives you the where I live and my kids etc…so I’ll go through the prompts.

1️⃣ Share a bit about your background and why mental health advocacy is important to you.

I was diagnosed with ADHD and Depressive disorder later in life at age 40. What a relief to know that I wasn’t just a lazy piece of sh*t! And what a bummer that I now have 40 years of feeling convinced I was hopeless and worthless to undo. Oh, the yin and yang of the late in life diagnosis!

I’m more of an advocate for the person healing than spending my energy on getting the world to understand us. While I find those people and advocates important, I also know that ADHDers are motivated by interest and I’m truly interested in the ADHDer and Depressed person and helping them.

2️⃣ Tell us about your interests and how you hope to contribute to our community.

My interest is solely in helping adults with ADHD and Depression get their sh*t together. That was my catch phrase in life “if I could just get my sh*t togehter…” and it tends to be the sentiment that resonates the most with my audience! Because we all get it. It means a lot of things.

I have also truly swallowed the pill on how important community is for adults with ADHD and Depression. And I’m even more on board with the power of proper online communities. When I’m in a dark depressive episode, I don’t have the energy or will to seek human connection because I’m convinced no one wants to see me and I don’t want o impose myself on others with the hidden agenda of needing to help me out of the depressive episode. (yes, I know it’s all BS, but in those moments you wouldn’t be able to convince me…fellow depressos will understand! LOL)

I will contribute whatever is needed here to help adults with depression know they aren’t alone in the struggle. I often don’t know what that means, outside of being myself, having gallows humor about my god awful disorder, and listening.

3️⃣ Share a personal story or experience related to mental health or suicide prevention.

Personal stories may pop up as I get to know people and I’ll share them as necessary. Sitting here trying to think of times I was depressed or the people I know who have committed suicide is pretty craptastic. pass.

4️⃣ Highlight any skills or expertise you bring to the table.

I have a podcast called ADHD Big Brother which is currently in the top 2% of podcasts globally. I also run a community for adults with ADHD and depression where the sole driver is getting shit done. We support each other, we have multiple coaches in there, myself, included, and we are all getting our shit together….together. I bring a host of methods for people with no motivation or drive to move forward. I’ve been working with adults with ADHD and depression since the pandemic, whatever year that was.

I have no certifications, I have no college degree, I only have an insatiable hunger for learning about human behavior and why we are the way we are, and I have the intrinsic gift of seeing the light in everybody and I can kindle an inner fire like you wouldn’t believe. I’m excellent at believing in people while they are learning to believe in themselves.

In summary: Hi, I’m Russ!