A Solo Person's Guide to ADHD
A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD is a podcast for adults with ADHD who are doing life without a built-in support system — no partner, no shared mental load, no automatic second brain.
If you’re single, living alone, or functionally solo, ADHD hits differently.
There’s no one reminding you to grab the thing, finish the form, or notice when you’re overwhelmed. Executive dysfunction doesn’t show up as chaos — it shows up as quiet overload, decision paralysis, and the constant feeling that something is wrong, even when you can’t explain what.
This podcast isn’t about productivity hacks, motivation, or “finally getting your life together.”
It’s about understanding what’s actually happening — where ADHD, solo living, and modern life collide — and learning how to build external support, structure, and safety on purpose.
Hosted by Christine Dunning, a master certified life coach, musician, and late-diagnosed adult with ADHD, each episode offers reflection, language, and practical reframes to help you:
- stop blaming yourself for systems that were never designed for solo brains
- identify problems earlier, before burnout sets in
- build structures that work with ADHD instead of against it
You’re not broken.
You’re not behind.
You’re doing too much alone — and this podcast exists to name that, clearly and honestly.
Want to connect? Find me on my website: www.twocatscoaching.com or email me at christine@twocatscoaching.com
A Solo Person's Guide to ADHD
The Quiet Ones Hurt the Most: ADHD & Pet Grief
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Host: Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach & founder of Two Cats Coaching
Guest: Stacy Collins, hospice chaplain & fellow late-diagnosed ADHDer
For many single adults (and plenty of partnered folks, too), pets are family—routine-keepers, comfort-bringers, and steady companions. In this episode, Christine and Stacy talk about pet loss: anticipatory grief, saying goodbye, and rebuilding daily life when the house suddenly sounds too quiet.
What We Cover
- Pet grief is real grief: Why the bond can feel as strong (or stronger) than human relationships.
- ADHD layers: How loss disrupts structure, routines, executive function, and emotional regulation.
- Anticipatory grief: Knowing goodbye is coming—crying before the loss, noticing decline, making compassionate choices.
- A kind goodbye: What a supportive vet experience can look like (quiet room, time, separate exit), cremation options, paw-print keepsakes.
- Memorials & meaning: Urns or boxes, paw prints, portraits/illustrations, and the comfort of “Rainbow Bridge” imagery—whatever fits your beliefs.
- Life after a pet: Rebuilding morning rituals, navigating a surviving pet’s behavior, and naming what you miss most.
- Should I get another pet? ADHD-friendly questions to ask yourself; low-commitment options like fostering; choosing travel or flexibility.
- Preparing for inevitability: Remembering that we usually outlive our pets; choosing presence over fear.
Favorite Lines
“It’s not just a pet. It’s a being that let you love them—and loved you back.”
“When my routine was ‘we cuddle while I drink coffee,’ the silence wasn’t just quiet—it was missing.”
Gentle Ideas to Try
- Create a small ritual (light a candle, place a photo, write a letter, plant a flower).
- Keep a “morning anchor” to replace the old routine (cozy slippers + coffee + 10 minutes of journaling).
- If you’re considering a new pet, try fostering first to check energy, time, and readiness.
Next in the Series
- Ep 13: What Is Grief? (ADHD & Big Feelings)
- Ep 14: Why Goodbye Doesn’t Come Easily
- Ep 15: Pet Grief — The Quiet Ones Hurt the Most (this episode)
- Ep 16: Grieving Lost Dreams — The Life I Didn’t Live
- Ep 17: Rituals & Real Talk — ADHD-Friendly Grief Rituals
Resources & Support
- U.S. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7)
- 911 for emergencies
- Local pet-loss support groups and hotlines (often offered by humane societies or vets)
Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and support. It is not medical or mental-health advice. If you’re struggling to function or feel unsafe, please seek professional help (U.S.: 988 or 911).
Connect
- Website & show hub: TwoCatsCoaching.com
- IG/FB: @TwoCatsCoaching
- Looking for freebies? Click here
- Please subscribe, rate, and share if this helped you. 🐾
