ADHD, Divorce, and Relationships: What Every Woman Needs to Know

What happens when ADHD, relationships, and divorce collide?

In this episode of The D Shift, Strategic Divorce Consultant and High-Conflict Divorce Coach Mardi Winder sits down with ADHD coach and executive leadership expert Leanne Gawley to discuss how neurodivergence, particularly ADHD, can affect relationships, communication, organization, and the divorce process. Leanne shares her personal journey of being diagnosed later in life after her son was identified as having ADHD, and how that discovery transformed both her understanding of herself and the work she does today.

They explore why ADHD often presents differently in women than in men, why so many women go undiagnosed for years, and how common challenges such as overwhelm, time blindness, anxiety, emotional sensitivity, and organization can become even more pronounced during periods of major life transition.

Leanne offers practical strategies for managing the demands of divorce, including gathering documentation, working effectively with attorneys and professionals, breaking overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, and creating systems that work with your brain rather than against it.

This conversation is valuable whether you have been diagnosed with ADHD, suspect you may be neurodivergent, or simply find yourself struggling with overwhelm during difficult life transitions. Most importantly, Leanne reminds us that we are not alone, and that understanding how our brains work can be one of the most powerful tools for moving forward with greater confidence and self-compassion.

Mardi and Leanne explore:

• Why ADHD often looks different in women than in men

• The connection between ADHD, anxiety, and overwhelm

• How neurodivergence can impact relationships and communication

• Strategies for managing time blindness and procrastination

• How to work more effectively with attorneys and divorce professionals

• The importance of self-compassion during major life transitions

• Why community and support matter when navigating divorce and ADHD

About the Guest:

Leanne Gawley is the founder of The ADHD Advantage with Leanne Gawley, a Calgary-based coaching practice serving women in leadership and neurodivergent professionals and families. A former C-Suite finance executive and late-diagnosed woman with ADHD, Leanne knows firsthand how an ADHD brain can quietly complicate the things that look simple on paper: staying on top of deadlines, keeping files organized, and communicating clearly when emotions are running high. She brings her lived experience alongside her CPA, MBA, and ICF ACC credentials to help clients build systems that actually work for their brains, not against them.

Leanne is also a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional with deep roots in neurodiversity advocacy and workplace inclusion. She coaches virtually worldwide and is currently writing her first book, Brilliant and Wired Differently: The ADHD Advantage.

For Leanne’s gift: https://adhd.leannegawley.ca/

To connect:

website: www.leannegawley.ca

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lgawley/

Instagram: @leanne.gawley

About the Host

Mardi Winder is a Strategic Divorce Consultant and High-Conflict Divorce Coach who helps high-achieving individuals navigate divorce with clarity, confidence, and control. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in mediation, divorce coaching, and conflict resolution, she supports clients in making smart decisions while reducing emotional and financial fallout, particularly in high-conflict, high-asset, and complex divorces. Mardi is the founder of Positive Communication Systems, LLC, and the Strategic Divorce Directory, LLC.

For Mardi’s gift: The Resilience Building Blueprint: A 28-Day Journey To A Stronger You https://www.divorcecoach4women.com/rbb

Connect with Mardi on Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Divorcecoach4women

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mardiwinderadams/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divorcecoach4women/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@divorcecoach4women

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