Reframing perfectionism after an adult ADHD diagnosis (Fellisia Robinson’s story) | ADHD Aha!

When Fellisia Robinson was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, everything started to make sense. In this episode, she talks with Laura about what it was like to finally get answers later in life. For years, she struggled with burnout. She felt relentless pressure to achieve — like she always had to prove herself. Her diagnosis helped her understand herself in a new way and then rethink what productivity even means. Fellisia shares what it was like growing up as a first-generation eldest daughter and navigating corporate spaces as a Black woman. She talks about perfectionism, masking, and choosing soft productivity over constant hustle. Along the way, she’s learning to slow down and give herself grace. And she’s seeing ADHD as a doorway to self-awareness and strength, not a limitation. Fellisia is the founder of Brown Girl ADHD (https://www.browngirladhd.com/), which provides education and community for Black women and women of color with ADHD. For more on this topic Listen: Masking ADHD to go above and beyond (René Brooks’ story) https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/masking-adhd-symptoms-rene-brooks Listen: Breaking the burnout cycle https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/sorry-i-missed-this/what-is-burnout Read: ADHD and perfectionism https://www.understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-perfectionism Follow: Fellisia on IG https://www.instagram.com/browngirl.adhd/ and TikTok https://tiktok.com/@browngirladhd For a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/reframing-perfectionism-after-diagnosis You can also email us at [email protected]. Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant: https://www.understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at https://www.understood.org/en/donate?sc=AHA0725YTO&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-vid-adhdaha&utm_content=video For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/understoodorg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Understood/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@understood.org Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/understoodorg/ #adhd #adultadhd #neurodivergent #blackwomen #mentalhealth #ADHDAha!