Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD
Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD

Transformative Approaches to Healing and Wellness For Adults with ADHD

April 24, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Dana Hargis, a mental health counselor with 25 years of experience and founder of Restore Ada, joins host Dave Greenwood to discuss chronic stress, burnout, and unresolved trauma in high-achieving adults, including those with ADHD. They explore how these issues manifest physically and mentally, why talk therapy alone often falls short, and practical, body-based ways to restore regulation, including biofeedback.

Chronic Stress, Trauma, and the Body's Response

Hargis explains that trauma shapes life through lenses formed from conception onward, often unrecognized—older generations dismiss hardships like parental loss or abuse, while younger ones overlabel minor issues. The body stores unprocessed trauma, especially pre-verbal experiences, as described in The Body Keeps the Score. For busy ADHD professionals, racing thoughts and demands compound this, leading to physical symptoms: headaches, back pain, digestive issues, and more. She observes that undealt emotions become physical problems, with 80-90% of medical issues tied to stress; managing the nervous system improves outcomes across conditions.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:07) **Episode Intro and Host Background** - Dave Greenwood introduces podcast for ADHD adults, shares his expertise and books
  • 2 (01:03) **Topic Setup: Burnout and Chronic Stress in ADHD** - Discusses burnout triggers like business demands, family, and ADHD complications
  • 3 (03:17) **Guest Introduction: Dana Hargis** - Founder of Restore Ada, trauma-informed wellness center; owns biofeedback and counseling practice
  • 4 (03:53) **Guest Expertise Overview** - 25 years as mental health counselor; uses alternatives when talk therapy falls short
  • 5 (05:01) **Trauma in High Performers** - Defines trauma broadly; links to ADHD brain, chronic stress, unresolved issues
  • 6 (07:31) **Body Keeps the Score Insight** - Trauma stored non-verbally in body; causes physical symptoms like pain, headaches
  • 7 (11:12) **Real Recovery Examples** - Meditation eases digestive issues; biofeedback resolves chronic nerve pain

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Show Notes

Dave is joined by Dana Hargus, founder of Restore Ada and an expert in trauma-informed wellness. Together, they explore how the body "keeps the score" of stress and trauma, the physiological signs of a dysregulated nervous system, and practical modalities like biofeedback and neurofeedback to help busy individuals with ADHD regain their sense of self.

Key Discussion Points

  • The Reality of Burnout: Burnout is often more than just being "tired" It is a complex state of chronic stress that can be rooted in unresolved trauma.
  • The ADHD Connection: High-performers with ADHD often operate in a state of constant mental racing, which can mask the subtle physical signs of systemic overload.
  • The Body Keeps the Score: Even if a person does not have a verbal memory of a traumatic event, the body can retain the physiological impact, often manifesting as chronic pain, migraines, or digestive issues.
  • Nervous System Dysregulation: Dana explains "fight, flight, or freeze" modes and how a dysregulated system perceives minor stressors as major threats.
  • Practical Self-Regulation: * Morning Routine: Using the first five minutes of the day for gratitude and positive framing.
    • The "Sleep is King" Rule: Establishing strict routines, avoiding screens, and aiming for rest by 11:00 PM.
    • Grounding: The physical benefits of letting sunlight hit your face and placing bare feet on the earth to lower inflammation.
  • Introduction to Biofeedback for ADHD: An overview of how neurofeedback uses electrodes to monitor brain waves and "exercise" the brain to improve focus, sleep, and stress management.

**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave's calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min

 

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