Julie Legg speaks with Bex O’Malley — a neurodiversity consultant, ADHD coach, and former corporate high-performer. Diagnosed later in life, Bex shares the toll of masking, the realities of ADHD burnout, and the strategies that helped her rebuild on her own terms.
From emotional dysregulation to workplace misalignment, from self-awareness to role crafting, Bex invites us into a conversation about designing systems that serve neurodivergent lives — not squeeze us into the wrong ones. Plus, she shares her own frameworks, including AFFEMA, HALT-HB, and the triangle check-in that helps her clients (and herself) reset in moments of stress.
Key Points from the Episode
- Why burnout in ADHD isn’t about overwork — it’s about misalignment
- The invisible cost of “high performance” in neurotypical environments
- How Bex reframed her experience of boredom as a need for momentum
- Practical tools for identifying early signs of ADHD burnout
- What a neuro-affirming workplace really looks like (and why it benefits everyone)
- The power of intentional pausing, breathwork, and self-awareness tools
- Role crafting and why it matters more than ticking a “diversity” box
- A deep dive into an array of strategies: Drama Triangle, AFEEMA and HALT-HB
- The mindset shift that helped Bex protect her joy and energy
- Advice for anyone stuck in the burnout-blame cycle
Links
- LINKEDIN Bex O'Malley
- INSTAGRAM: Bex O'Malley
- HUMAN FABRIC WEBSITE: www.humanfabric.co.nz
- BEX O'MALLEY BIO: Bex OMalley
- COACHING INFO: ADHD Coaching for Professionals
- CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE: Book a discovery call or coaching session
Thanks for listening.
- Visit ADHDifference.nz to find past episodes, videos, links, or to say hello!
- Get social with us on Instagram
- Julie Legg is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
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