ADHD & The Lifetime Legacy of Bullying with Brooke Schnittman

Past experiences with bullying and social exclusion leave lingering marks that often bleed directly into how neurodivergent founders run their companies. When unaddressed childhood conditioning drives people-pleasing, boundary erosion, or severe rejection sensitivity, running a business becomes emotionally exhausting rather than empowering.
Unpacking these hidden patterns allows an ADHD entrepreneur to step into confident, grounded leadership. Integrating supportive ADHD business coaching tools alongside strong business systems helps protect emotional capacity, enforce firm professional boundaries, and drive sustainable growth.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - ADHD Business Coaching and Unpacking Early Social Trauma
04:15 - How Bullying Shapes the Mindset of an ADHD Entrepreneur
08:50 - Overcoming Rejection Sensitivity as a Business Owner with ADHD
13:40 - ADHD Leadership and Reclaiming Workplace Self-Worth
18:10 - ADHD Founder Leadership and Building Trauma-Informed Resilience

Here are 4 key takeaways for anyone navigating ADHD (or supporting neurodivergent folks):
• What makes it bullying? Repetitive pattern - Power imbalance - Harm
• Bullying rarely ends with childhood: For adults with ADHD, bullying simply morphs. Physical teasing and exclusion may become workplace micromanagement, social exclusion, and subtle undermining.
• The harm goes beyond “hurt feelings.” Chronic criticism and exclusion keep the brain’s stress system on high alert, triggering anxiety, imposter syndrome, burnout, and even making executive dysfunction worse.
• Self-acceptance + community are critical. When we name bullying for what it is and seek out supportive communities, we can start to untangle shame and build resilience. As Brooke notes: “We were never too much. We were exactly who we were meant to be, just waiting for a world that could understand us.”

About Brooke Schnittman, MA, PCC, BCC:
Brooke Schnittman is an ADHD coach, educator, and advocate for adults with ADHD. With years of working directly with individuals and families, she noticed an alarming pattern: bullying is not only common in the lives of people with ADHD but is also a neglected topic in ADHD research and support. Brooke’s recent pioneering survey on adult ADHD and bullying—the first of its kind—has started an essential conversation about the legacy of bullying, how it changes form over time, and how those affected can heal and thrive
Connect with Brooke:
Website: coachingwithbrooke.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/coachingwithbrooke
Free e-book:coachingwithbrooke.com/ebook
Participate in the survey on ADHD & bullying: bit.ly/4stMllM

Mentioned during this interview:
Ned Hall (drhallowell.com)owell, MD (bit.ly/4stMllM)
William Dod (bit.ly/4stMllM)dodsonadhdtreatment.com/n, MD (bit.ly/4stMllM)
Take action: (bit.ly/4stMllM)

Participate in Brooke’s survey on ADHD & Bullying: bit.ly/4stMllM

Your ADHD-ish host, Diann Wingert
Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner, and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. Her style is direct, strategic, and always honest—peppered with the insight of someone who lives and breathes the neurodivergent experience.
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© 2026 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.