Author: Clinical Partners Published: 02 October, 2026
Tags: ADHD
Real Life is a video series that brings people with lived experience together with expert clinicians in honest conversations about mental health, neurodevelopmental conditions, and everyday life. Topics include ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD and eating disorders.
Each of the 47 episodes pairs someone with personal experience of a condition with a clinician who can offer context, explanation and practical guidance. The conversations are open, unscripted and shaped by what patients and families have told us they want help to understand.
You can watch individual episodes when they feel relevant, explore a full topic, or return to the series as you wish. You do not need to watch in any particular order.
Some episodes explore experiences that may feel difficult or personal. Where relevant, the video description includes a content note to help you decide whether it feels right for you to watch.
Dr Heidi Phillips in Real Life
Many of you will know Dr Heidi Phillips, one of our clinicians who recently delivered webinars on ADHD in adults and ADHD in children. In Real Life, Heidi features in four episodes where blogger Coco shares their lived experience of what ADHD can feel like in daily life.
Heidi joins Coco and host Purple Ella to explore how ADHD can affect attention, emotions, routines, relationships and self-understanding, and discuss practical ideas for support and adjustment. The four conversations cover a range of ADHD topics:
Episode 1: When starting a task seems impossible
Why can straightforward tasks sometimes feel impossible to begin? This episode explores the experience of ADHD task paralysis, why it is not laziness or a lack of motivation, and practical approaches that may help.
This episode is available to watch now.
Episode 2: How ADHD impacts conversations
Some people with ADHD describe difficulties following, contributing to or remembering conversations. This episode explores what that can feel like, why it may happen, and what may help.
Available from 8 October 2026
Episode 3: Dopamine, stimulation and burnout
Coco and Heidi discuss experiences often described in terms of seeking stimulation, fluctuating energy and burnout, and consider strategies that may help.
Available in December 2026
Episode 4: Perceived mistakes and shame
Some people with ADHD describe experiencing shame or self-criticism, particularly after years of feeling that they have fallen short of expectations. This episode explores Coco's experience.
Available in March 2027
ADHD and anxiety
Some people with ADHD also experience anxiety, although everyone’s experience is different. If anxiety is relevant to you or someone you support, you may find the Real Life anxiety episodes useful alongside the ADHD conversations.
About Dr Heidi Phillips
Heidi is a Neurodevelopmental Specialist at the Oxford ADHD & Autism Centre. Alongside her clinical work, she holds a number of national advisory positions, including Chair of the British Association for Neurodiversity and Clinical Advisor to the Royal College of GPs for Neurodiversity.
Heidi is passionate about helping people understand the strengths and challenges associated with being neurodivergent. You may also know her from our free webinars:
About Real Life
Real Life is a video series produced by Clinical Partners and covers a wide range of mental health and neurodevelopmental topics, including depression, trauma, OCD and eating disorders. The series builds on previous initiatives such as Autism Unlocked and Divergent Voices, extending that work to a broader range of experiences.
New episodes will be added over the coming months. You can explore the full series, choose individual conversations, or return when something becomes relevant.