#08 - Nicole Ennis-Oakes - ADHD, Attention and the Nervous System: What We Get Wrong

In this episode of The Applied Mind, I’m joined by Nicole Ennis-Oakes, clinical psychologist and Director of Neuronexus to unpack ADHD without the hype, oversimplification or misinformation. We break down what ADHD actually is — and what it isn’t — exploring common misconceptions, why the condition is so often misunderstood and how it can profoundly impact attention, relationships, emotion regulation, identity and daily functioning across the lifespan. Nicole brings a grounded, clinical lens to diagnosis and assessment, discusses why accurate profiling matters and explains how thoughtful planning and support can genuinely improve quality of life for neurodivergent individuals. We also touch on the broader neurodiversity framework, overlapping presentations and why “one-size-fits-all” approaches consistently miss the mark. This conversation is for anyone who: Has ADHD or suspects they might Supports someone with ADHD Feels confused by conflicting information online Wants a clearer, evidence-based understanding of neurodiversity No shortcuts. No buzzwords. Just clear psychology applied to real life. Enjoy! If you are interested in learning more - check out the following links! https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/attention-deficit-disorder-add-or-adhd https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/adhd/what-is-adhd