Inside ADHD - by Carol Shilliday (Paperback)

About the Book

After years of being misunderstood or criticized, many adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with feelings of shame, stigma, and self-doubt. Grounded in proven-effective internal family systems (IFS) therapy, this empowering and neuroaffirming workbook moves beyond time-management or executive-functioning skills to address the emotional aspects of living with ADHD. Inside ADHD helps readers understand their unique brains, heal from lifetimes of shame and self-criticism, identify their strengths, and reconnect with their whole, authentic selves.

Book Synopsis

Does ADHD make you feel like your own worst critic? The powerful parts work approach in this workbook can help you heal the pain of stigma, embrace your strengths, and thrive emotionally.

As an adult with ADHD, you've probably spent a lifetime trying to prove you're capable. You may work twice as hard to keep up, apologize for being "too much," or pretend you're fine when you're really overwhelmed. Growing up with ADHD often means internalizing years of criticism, misunderstanding, and shame. Over time, those messages can become part of how you see yourself. So how can you heal the echoes of these old wounds, trust your own mind, and feel safe being exactly who you are?

Inside ADHD offers a validating, neuroaffirming approach to understanding and healing yourself using internal family systems (IFS). Rather than trying to "fix" ADHD, psychologist Carol Shilliday shows how years of stigma can create protective parts that overwork, over plan, shut down, or self-criticize. With practical insights, she guides you to meet those parts with compassion and invite your calm, confident Self to lead.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

• Understand the roots of self-criticism, perfectionism, and shame
• Heal emotional wounds and reconnect with your authentic Self
• Discover strengths in your ADHD brain--and build systems that fit you
• Develop self-compassion, flexibility, and inner calm in daily life

You'll also learn to recognize the protective "manager" and "firefighter" parts shaped by years of criticism, release perfectionism and self-judgment, and uncover the creativity, persistence, and intuition within your ADHD wiring.

Grounded in practical IFS tools, reflection prompts, and real-life experience, Inside ADHD helps you move beyond self-blame and toward wholeness, self-awareness, and self-acceptance.

About the Author

Carol Shilliday, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years' experience specializing in ADHD and internal family systems (IFS). She helps clients understand their inner parts and develop tools to heal self-criticism and emotional overwhelm. Her work integrates psychology, mindfulness, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to empower clients to embrace their true selves.