S1 Ep 2 | The Degree Dilemma: Distance Learning, Dopamine, and Doubting Your Diagnosis

Does university feel like it was built for a version of you that doesn’t exist?In this episode, Alex Turpell joins the project to share the raw reality of navigating higher education with a late ADHD diagnosis. We move past the "study tips" and get into the heavy lifting: the isolating world of distance learning, the roller coaster of emotional dysregulation, and the polarizing experience of starting medication as an adult.We’re stripping back the "toxic positivity" often found in neurodivergent spaces and getting honest about what it looks like to unmask in a world that demands a 2:1.In this episode, we reframe:The Distance Gap: Why remote learning is a double-edged sword for ADHD brains.The Hormone Factor: How monthly cycles and ADHD meds play a tug-of-war with your focus.The Masking Tax: The cost of "playing student" and the power of radical authenticity.Emotional Dysregulation: Moving from "too much" to "fully understood."Chapters00:00 Introduction to ADHD and Personal Journeys02:51 Navigating University Life with ADHD05:55 Managing Time and Structure as ADHD Students08:51 Tools and Apps for Daily Life Management12:14 Understanding Relationships and Time Blindness15:13 The Impact of Medication on ADHD Symptoms21:54 Exploring Gender Differences in ADHD29:45 Hormonal Influences on ADHD Symptoms34:00 Toxic Positivity vs. Realistic Perspectives on ADHD37:49 Embracing Strengths and Passion in ADHD44:56 Authenticity and Masking in ADHD ExperiencesReady to reframe your degree? Hit follow and join the project.