The Science of ADHD Part 1: What Nobody Told You About Dopamine, Focus & Performance Lindy Hadges

You've probably heard the word ADHD more times than you can count. You might even use it yourself. But if someone asked you to explain what is actually happening in the brain of a person living with it, could you? Most people can't. And that gap, between the label and the reality, is where a lot of pain lives. Lindy Hadges is a Psychotherapist, ADHD expert, and board member of the ADHD Foundation Australia. With 16 years in clinical practice and hundreds of clients behind her, she is not here to give you a textbook definition. She is here to tell you what she has seen in the room, across careers, relationships, and decades of misdiagnosis. And she does not hold back. This conversation will shift something for you. Whether you have wondered about your own wiring, watched someone close to you struggle without explanation, or led people who seem capable but consistently fall short of what you know they can do. Part 2 goes deeper into ADHD in women, children, athletes, and high-performing corporate leaders. 1:30 What is happening in the ADHD brain: dopamine, noradrenaline and the prefrontal cortex. 3:25 How prevalent is ADHD, and are we getting better at finding it? 7:50 The ADHD identity cake: why trauma and family of origin shape the full picture. 11:00 The real cost of undiagnosed ADHD: relationships, careers and bankruptcy. 13:05 ADHD vs ASD: key differences and why a trained clinician matters. 15:05 Why Lindy changed her mind on medication and the diabetes analogy that reframes it. 17:55 The moment of diagnosis and why clients almost never react with relief. 20:15 The weight of shame: missed deadlines, lost jobs and hiding failure every day. 22:30 Medication fears and what amphetamines actually do in the ADHD brain. 25:45 Why Lindy became an ADHD specialist and the crisis of self-doubt that came with it. 27:50 From underachievement to clarity: a client case study on slow diagnosis and breakthrough. 33:25 The strengths of ADHD, hyperfocus in action and Andrew's possible undiagnosed traits. 37:50 The three types of ADHD and why the combo is the most common and most exhausting. 39:30 How formal diagnosis works in Australia and why you should never go to the psychiatrist alone. 44:45 Self-awareness and self-regulation: the two skills at the centre of working with ADHD. View the ADHD Cake model: Find out more about the ADHD Foundation: Connect with Lindy: Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order: Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : Follow Andrew May : Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: If you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

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The Science of ADHD Part 1: What Nobody Told You About Dopamine, Focus & Performance Lindy Hadges is an episode from Performance Intelligence with Andrew May by Andrew May.

This episode is 50:26 long.

This episode was published on Apr 29, 2026.

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