Episode 9
Gifted, ADHD, and Twice-Exceptional: Rewriting the Shame Story for Neurodivergent Adults
If you were the “smart kid” who somehow still felt behind… this episode is for you.
Jessica sits down with clinical psychologist and neurodiversity expert Dr. Matt Zakreski to explore the powerful — and often misunderstood — overlap between giftedness and ADHD.
They unpack what it means to be twice-exceptional (2e): highly intelligent and neurodivergent at the same time. For many adults, especially women, intelligence masked ADHD for years — until life became harder than raw brainpower could compensate for.
Inside this rich conversation, you’ll hear about:
- The “Wile E. Coyote moment” when coping strategies stop working
- Why giftedness is about intensity — not just high grades
- Asynchronous development and the “spiky profile”
- Imposter syndrome and perfectionism in neurodivergent adults
- Masking vs. survival skills — and when each is appropriate
- Burnout from decades of self-monitoring
- Why naming ADHD reduces shame
- The intersection of neurodivergence and LGBTQ identity
- Practical accommodations that make life easier immediately
Dr. Matt explains why “differences aren’t deficits” and how understanding your brain allows you to build strategies that actually fit.
If you were late-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, or told you were “too much” or “not living up to your potential,” this episode offers science, humor, compassion, and a roadmap forward.
You don’t need to fix your brain.
You need tools that honor it.
For more on Dr. Matt's practice serving individuals, please see
https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com
(Dr. Matt and his colleagues can see people virtually in many areas outside their local state.)
To learn more about his keynotes and services for organizations, go to drmattzakreski.com
And for "The Neurodiversity Playbook," go to https://www.drmattzakreski.com/the-neurodiversity-playbook
Your Lab Kit:
- Name it to tame it.
- Stop throwing out the pasta!
- Spot your Wile E. Coyote moment.
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The ADHD Alchemy Podcast is where bright, sensitive women finally stop masking and start thriving—with clarity, confidence, and shameless potential.
We’re sharing real stories that help us turn friction into flow, liability into leverage, and resistance into rhythm. If your brain feels like a thousand tabs are open and five radio stations are playing at once, you’re in the right place!
I’m Jessica Covington and I’ve always had a slightly different way of doing things, including ADHD. In my work, we leverage the body-mind connection to harness the beautiful potential you’ve always known is there but haven’t been able to use. My guests and I are here to help you quiet the shame, trust yourself again, and create a life that feels calm, focused, and fully yours.
These are the stories of women like us: the ones who think differently; who’ve tried every damn system, planner, and app but nothing sticks; who’ve spent years and all their energy trying to seem "normal"; and who are finally ready to see ADHD without shame, guilt, or apology.
Stick with us here to remember you are NOT a failure, you’re not alone in the chaos, and you are certainly not deficient or disordered.
Apply to be a guest and share your own story here.
Join the conversation – it’s in our own little space away from algorithms, and it’s free!
Co-work with us in Focus Labs – Tuesdays at 1pm eastern. Free and open to any Fancy Brain (but we need your registration to attend).
Grab your copy of “Distracted to Done”
Help yourself to the “Move Your Body - Move Your Mind Map”
Learn more about ADHD Alchemy Coaching (private and group pathways are open now)
On the socials (sporadically!):
Music credit goes to my son, TAZZFANTO, who composed and produced this song just for us.
This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes; always check with your healthcare provider before making changes to diet, exercise and mental health care. This episode may contain affiliate links and mentions; we are grateful for your support.
