Episode

ADHD and self-harm: Why people with ADHD are at greater risk

Podcast
The ADHD Channel for Women (formerly MissUnderstood)
Published
May 19, 2026
Duration seconds
776
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/missunderstood/adhd-self-harm-risk
Audio
https://mgln.ai/e/1245/afp-935247-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/1a7154d3-8c76-4ded-a925-5975fa97f65a/episodes/1b6a2fe5-0479-4a96-9c7d-2f70831c0226/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=1a7154d3-8c76-4ded-a925-5975fa97f65a&awEpisodeId=1b6a2fe5-0479-4a96-9c7d-2f70831c0226&feed=60WJALk_
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/missunderstood-the-adhd-in-women-channel-6934781/episodes/adhd-and-self-harm-why-people-with-adhd-are-at-greater-risk
Markdown
/podcast/missunderstood-the-adhd-in-women-channel-6934781/adhd-and-self-harm-why-people-with-adhd-are-at-greater-risk.md

Actions

  • POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/missunderstood-the-adhd-in-women-channel-6934781/episodes/adhd-and-self-harm-why-people-with-adhd-are-at-greater-risk/transcription-requests
    Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
  • GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/missunderstood-the-adhd-in-women-channel-6934781/adhd-and-self-harm-why-people-with-adhd-are-at-greater-risk.md
    Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

Summary

Why is ADHD so closely linked to self-harm? In this episode, Dr. J breaks down how the core features of ADHD — impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, sleep disruption, and difficulty with the “pause button” — can create a perfect storm for dangerous coping. She explains why big emotions hit harder and faster with ADHD, and how that can lead to self-harming behaviors. Dr. J also shares evidence-based strategies for building safer ways to cope, including DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), self-compassion exercises, and safety planning. And she talks about maintaining the routines that keep ADHD symptoms manageable. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.