Episode 174: Grief and ADHD: Exploring Misdiagnosis [featuring Debi Frankle]

In this episode, I speak with Debi Frankle, an LMFT and self-proclaimed "grief nerd". We tackled a topic that's rarely discussed but extremely important – the misdiagnosis of grief when ADHD is prevalent.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Importance of Comprehensive Loss History: Debi emphasizes the need for therapists to thoroughly assess loss histories, not just recent events but all significant losses throughout a client's life. This helps in understanding the broader context of their behaviors and symptoms.
2. ADHD and Grief Overlap: Grief can exacerbate ADHD symptoms like difficulty concentrating, frustration tolerance, and impulsivity. It's crucial to distinguish between the two for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
3. Misinterpretation and Communication in Grief: Statements meant to console, like "they're in a better place," often miss the mark and can feel minimizing. More effective communication includes acknowledgments like, "I have no idea what to say," or even offering a simple hug.

This episode is a must-listen for mental health professionals and anyone looking to understand the intricate relationship between grief and ADHD better.

More about Debi:

Debi is a self-proclaimed grief nerd. She has known a lot of dead people over her lifetime, experienced many other life-changing losses (including a chronic illness that frankly sucks some days), is trained in grief counseling (in fact, she still goes to trainings herself!) and has been a grief skills educator and trainer over the last 20+ years and writes long run-on sentences, much to her high school English teacher’s dismay.

Debi lives in Los Angeles where she can frequently be found with dirt under her fingernails for she proudly carries on her family’s tradition of amateur gardening. This year she is knee-deep in artichokes, summer squashes, and corn to complement whatever meat her husband is cooking on the smoker on the weekends.

• Check out Debi's trainings and services on her website: privatepracticegrief.com

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