Restless by Design

Restless by Design

More and more people in recovery are discovering they’re ADHD. Restless by Design explores the compelling reasons behind this connection, and how our natural ability as High Perceivers can help in every aspect of life. Looking at ADHD and recovery through lived experience reveals insights that challenge outdated assumptions — and it’s fun and fascinating.

Episodes

October 16, 2025 4 mins

People call ADHD a gift. I’m not so sure. Here’s how to live with high perception without being consumed by it.

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The Peter Pan Promise of Patriarchy lets men stay boys while women pay the price. Here’s how “boys will be boys” becomes “men will be monsters” — and why knowing matters.

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We’ve been told ADHD is all about dopamine. Not so fast. The real missing link? What I call The Tiger Effect. Once you hear it, you’ll never see ADHD the same way again.

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August 8, 2025 2 mins
ADHD, purpose, and why every box feels too small.  

A job didn’t fix it. A role didn’t fit. Every new career felt like another box.

And you’ve started to wonder… What if what they call “symptoms” are actually deep signals?

You’re not broken. You’re restless by design.

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In this episode I explore how embracing the full emotional range — from joy to grief, rage to delight — isn’t just a recovery truth. It’s a revolutionary skill.

Turns Out, Feeling Everything Was the Assignment.

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What if the real resistance begins by reclaiming the story? In this episode, Ellen Archer explores how fascism hijacks meaning — and how mythology, metaphor, and recovery can restore it. Through personal stories, archetypal insight, and a mythic lens on ADHD, emotion, and activism, this is rebellion for the weary and wise.

 

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July 12, 2025 5 mins

Recovery isn't just about quitting something. These days, people are in recovery from burnout, abuse, sexism, invisibility, systemic harm, and so much more. Recovery is a rite of passage. An initiation most of us never received. And it might just be the key to changing everything.

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In this episode, I explore why a better future comes from fast-thinking, curious-questioning, pattern-loving ADHDers. If you’ve ever felt “too much” for the old systems, good news: they’re crumbling. And we’ve got better questions.

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In this episode, I explore how habits form, why they stick, and how we can rewrite old patterns without shame.

Please share or leave a review—it helps others lose shame and find power.

@ellenarcher on Substack

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June 13, 2025 3 mins

In this episode, we explore how restlessness, boredom, and daydreaming can be signs of deep awareness—not dysfunction. From hidden library pages to early critical thinking, Ellen shares how High Perceivers are wired to notice what others overlook—and why that difference matters.

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June 13, 2025 2 mins

Many people with ADHD aren't just highly perceptive—they're deeply sensitive to injustice. In this episode, we explore how unacknowledged anger often fuels anxiety, depression, and burnout. When understood, that anger becomes a clarifying force—not just for ADHDers, but for all humans.

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If you've ever been told you're too sensitive or that you're overreacting, this episode is for you. I explore what it means to be a High Perceiver—my term for ADHD. We’ll talk about the toll of being highly attuned in a world that favors numbness, how gaslighting erodes self-trust, and why many of us turned to substances not to escape—but to quiet the noise.

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May 21, 2025 3 mins

Join author Ellen Archer on Recovery and the ADHD Advantage to discover how rejection can both wound and energize us, while learning to lose the "Kick-Me" Sign.

 

 

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ADHDers are often told we lack executive function—but what if the real issue is a system that misunderstands how we naturally operate? In this episode, I challenge that tired phrase and celebrate the mind-body intelligence at the heart of how we get things done.

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January 23, 2025 3 mins

Discover how your Survival System's "bodyguards" - the fight, flight, and freeze responses - shape your daily life. This insightful podcast explores our ancient survival mechanisms and how they interact with modern stressors.

 

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January 13, 2025 5 mins

We feel emotions physically because they're necessary for guiding us in life, but we've been taught to suppress or avoid them. Suppressing emotions can cause tension in the body and lead to issues. Learning to work with emotions is a valuable skill that can improve our overall well-being and help us navigate challenging times without hurting ourselves or others—a skill the entire world could use.

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January 3, 2025 3 mins

I realize "friending the body" is a bold claim, but this podcast offers a gentle exploration of how we can reduce anxiety, access our intuition, and find greater emotional well-being by considering this most maligned part of ourselves.

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December 26, 2024 4 mins

Explore the fascinating interplay between our logical and intuitive minds in this insightful podcast. Learn how to balance the analytical left brain with the creative right brain, overcome self-criticism, and tap into your ADHD wisdom.

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In this deeply personal exploration, I share my trek from being labeled "too sensitive" to discovering the power of high perception. I reveal how ASHD traits aren't deficiencies, but rather natural advantages that have historically helped protect and guide communities.

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December 11, 2024 3 mins

The Link Between ADHD and Addiction - explores how heightened perception—a core trait of ADHD—was once celebrated in traditional communities and can be reclaimed today. Discover why substance use disorder (SUD), or what is commonly called addiction, makes perfect sense when you have ADHD.

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