My name is Laurie. I was born in 1969 and grew up in East Tennessee. I went to college and graduate school in Pittsburgh, Hoboken, and near Nashville. My degrees are in Physics; doing graduate work in plasmas and later in optics & lasers.

After graduate school, I got married and moved to Washington State. I worked in IT as an application and database developer. I have struggled with depression since my teen years and was diagnosed bipolar around 2001.

My husband, and I moved back to the Nashville area when he had the opportunity to join the faculty at the University of Tennessee in 2003. We added 2 boys to our family in 2005 and 2010. I inadvertently ended my IT career with Covid, partially due to my youngest son’s AuDHD*. It took several years from then for us to understand that he had the condition and then start the management process. I am happy to say that he is doing well now. Managing any form of ADHD is lifelong but he is actively building his toolbox and, I believe, he will overall have an easier path than mine.

My AuDHD journey really started with helping my son start his journey. Time and again, I have heard moms say they learned of their ADHD as they were helping their children. After we get our kids on their management paths, we start to help ourselves.

One of the first tools I used to educate myself about ADHD was Tracy Otsuka’s ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast. She focuses on embracing yourself, ADHD warts and all. Although the podcast is geared towards women, to me, the overwhelming message is to find our strengths and learn to use them to our advantage.

I have always gotten joy from helping people - from making them smile and feel good about themselves. Since this brings me such happiness, I have learned how to do it well. I know clearing out all of the negatives we have built up over the years isn’t easy; it definitely wasn’t for me. I also know from experience that it can be done.

IT work came easily to me but it wasn’t fulfilling. For the first time in my life, I am passionate about my work. I know I can help you reach your goals.

*Symptoms of neurodivergence appear at different times; everyone is different. Hormones can greatly affect presentation. Puberty and menopause both commonly change how an individual needs to manage their ADHD.