October is ADHD and Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is ADHD Awareness Month. It’s also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Did you know there’s a connection?

When I realized my natural niche is ADHD Leadership, it felt right. But I also felt a slight pang that I was abandoning my considerable self-defense background—I used to teach women’s self-defense soft-skills with my friend and Sensei who taught the physical skills.

A few days later I read some astonishing information about how ADHD women are much more likely to experience intimate partner violence than neurotypical women. And that neurodivergent people of any gender are more likely to become targeted for crime for the same reasons we were bullied as children.

I realized my natural niche needs my experience.

Within a couple of weeks, two of my clients realized they were in emotionally abusive relationships. They immediately made themselves safe, and I was able to help them find more resources in their towns.

Then, one of those clients realized that her now ex-boyfriend had also been financially abusing her! Nearly $90K!

She decided she wanted to get her money back.

And she heroically did!

In doing so, she realized that she’s a natural lawyer. She wants to help other women who are victims of financial abuse.

She took the LSAT and is on her way.

I’m grateful that both of my clients got out before the men became physically abusive, and that the men did not become physical when they left.

Here’s what I want everyone to know:

➡️Leaving can be the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship. It’s recommended that you create an escape plan, and you can get assistance with that. Knowing this can save lives.

A good place to start is the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text “START” to 88788.

For excellent women’s self-defense information that’s grounded in resilience and research, I highly recommend 500 Rising, of which I was an early member. You can find them at 500Rising.org, and follow them on FB, IG, and LinkedIn.