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This Explains Everything: A psychiatrist's guide to navigating adult ADHD
The clear, compassionate, and practical guide for anyone navigating the early stages of an adult ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD diagnoses are surging across Australia. In the past decade alone, the number of Australians prescribed ADHD medication has skyrocketed by nearly 300%, and demand continues to grow. Across the globe, people are breathing a sigh of relief – finally, an explanation for those years of struggle feeling out of step with the rest of the world.
But a diagnosis is only the beginning, and with government guidance shifting every day, it sometimes feels impossible to know what to do next. In This Explains Everything, Dr Kieran Kennedy guides us through what living with adult ADHD actually looks like, and the steps we can take not just to survive with it, but to thrive.
Drawing on evidence-based research and Dr Kieran’s insights from his years in the psychiatrist’s chair, This Explains Everything is your guidebook to navigating adult from seeking diagnosis and talking to your doctor about medication, to managing relationships, masking and time blindness. Along the way he explains the science of a neurodivergent brain, how diet and exercise can complement and support medicine, and what friends and family members can do to support others with ADHD.
Full of revelatory insight and practical advice to navigating adult ADHD, this book is your guidebook to taking back control of your life.
ADHD diagnoses are surging across Australia. In the past decade alone, the number of Australians prescribed ADHD medication has skyrocketed by nearly 300%, and demand continues to grow. Across the globe, people are breathing a sigh of relief – finally, an explanation for those years of struggle feeling out of step with the rest of the world.
But a diagnosis is only the beginning, and with government guidance shifting every day, it sometimes feels impossible to know what to do next. In This Explains Everything, Dr Kieran Kennedy guides us through what living with adult ADHD actually looks like, and the steps we can take not just to survive with it, but to thrive.
Drawing on evidence-based research and Dr Kieran’s insights from his years in the psychiatrist’s chair, This Explains Everything is your guidebook to navigating adult from seeking diagnosis and talking to your doctor about medication, to managing relationships, masking and time blindness. Along the way he explains the science of a neurodivergent brain, how diet and exercise can complement and support medicine, and what friends and family members can do to support others with ADHD.
Full of revelatory insight and practical advice to navigating adult ADHD, this book is your guidebook to taking back control of your life.
- GenresNonfiction
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 31, 2026
With compassion and just the right amount of humour, Dr. Kennedy explains (and debunks myths about) ADHD, with a primary focus on adult ADHD.
He unpacks the diagnostic criteria, looking particularly at the strengths and weaknesses of the DSM-V criteria when applied to diagnosing adults.
Dr.Kennedy applies his experience treating ADHD patients, careful reading of research studies, and a good dose of critical thinking to explain the evaluation process, the ways ADHD coexists witg and complicates other conditions, and the variety of psychological and medication treatment options.
I appreciate that with all the focus on data Dr. Kennedy is deeply in touch with the lived experience of ADHD. He shares what patients have told him about what it feels like, physically and emotionally, to live with ADHD.
He seems just as concerned with supporting people around the emotional fallout that comes from living with the social stigma around having ADHD, as well as the dmotional impact and life chaos ADHD symptoms can carry inn there wake.
This is a strongly written book packed with a lot of knowledge and boundless empathy.
He unpacks the diagnostic criteria, looking particularly at the strengths and weaknesses of the DSM-V criteria when applied to diagnosing adults.
Dr.Kennedy applies his experience treating ADHD patients, careful reading of research studies, and a good dose of critical thinking to explain the evaluation process, the ways ADHD coexists witg and complicates other conditions, and the variety of psychological and medication treatment options.
I appreciate that with all the focus on data Dr. Kennedy is deeply in touch with the lived experience of ADHD. He shares what patients have told him about what it feels like, physically and emotionally, to live with ADHD.
He seems just as concerned with supporting people around the emotional fallout that comes from living with the social stigma around having ADHD, as well as the dmotional impact and life chaos ADHD symptoms can carry inn there wake.
This is a strongly written book packed with a lot of knowledge and boundless empathy.
October 26, 2026
Thoughts:
- Okay so I listened to the first half of this audiobook while trying to speedrun Hades on my switch (still haven't been able to get a sub- 17 minute run) so I do admit that I wasn't completely locked in the whole time... which is pretty amusing given the subject matter. This review is a bit of a brain dump just to get some of my thoughts in order.
- Quick disclaimer: I read (listened to) this out of curiosity and not because of any particular personal reason. I currently work with kids (including neurodivergent kids) and I've heard various perspectives about the recent upward trend in diagnosis in people over the age of 18, so I was curious to see if this book aligns with some of the things I have heard re. how the condition presents itself differently across the lifespan. Incidentally, I also know and love a number of people who have been assessed and diagnosed in their young adult years. Several people at work and in my personal life have made comments about particular traits I exhibit, but this is not a condition I have been professionally assessed for (being 'peer reviewed' at work doesn't count, even if my work friends are all mental health professionals).
- I don't think I'm quite the target audience for this book - it's aimed at adults diagnosed with ADHD (as in, adults with the condition and not "adult ADHD" being proposed as a distinct diagnostic label) or those who strongly suspect they may have the condition and are considering pursuing professional evaluation and intervention if indicated. I've been reflecting a lot lately on the function of diagnosis in general and the meaning and clarity a diagnosis can bring, but a distinct benefit of ADHD diagnosis in particular (beyond emotional and identity implications) is access to specific medications for those who need it.
- Helpfully, the author clarifies that having some traits or features does not mean that the full diagnostic criteria are met (and also taking into account an individual's functional impairment or lack thereof). I think it was really responsible to mention this, given the rise of confusing and conflicting information doing the rounds online and on social media, including from influencers without appropriate professional credentials or those stupid-arse AI slop accounts.
- I think for readers who do have ADHD, I imagine it would be quite a validating experience seeing their difficulties portrayed in a compassionate manner as this author does.
- Some parts felt unnecessarily repetitive.
- It's always nice to read something from an Aus/UK perspective.
- It doesn't hurt to seek diagnostic clarification, but be cautious not to cling too tightly to a suspected diagnostic label before it's confirmed or ruled out. It might be something else, or it might not be. tl;dr if you think there's something up, at the end of the day it's worth considering getting it checked out.
- Okay so I listened to the first half of this audiobook while trying to speedrun Hades on my switch (still haven't been able to get a sub- 17 minute run) so I do admit that I wasn't completely locked in the whole time... which is pretty amusing given the subject matter. This review is a bit of a brain dump just to get some of my thoughts in order.
- Quick disclaimer: I read (listened to) this out of curiosity and not because of any particular personal reason. I currently work with kids (including neurodivergent kids) and I've heard various perspectives about the recent upward trend in diagnosis in people over the age of 18, so I was curious to see if this book aligns with some of the things I have heard re. how the condition presents itself differently across the lifespan. Incidentally, I also know and love a number of people who have been assessed and diagnosed in their young adult years. Several people at work and in my personal life have made comments about particular traits I exhibit, but this is not a condition I have been professionally assessed for (being 'peer reviewed' at work doesn't count, even if my work friends are all mental health professionals).
- I don't think I'm quite the target audience for this book - it's aimed at adults diagnosed with ADHD (as in, adults with the condition and not "adult ADHD" being proposed as a distinct diagnostic label) or those who strongly suspect they may have the condition and are considering pursuing professional evaluation and intervention if indicated. I've been reflecting a lot lately on the function of diagnosis in general and the meaning and clarity a diagnosis can bring, but a distinct benefit of ADHD diagnosis in particular (beyond emotional and identity implications) is access to specific medications for those who need it.
- Helpfully, the author clarifies that having some traits or features does not mean that the full diagnostic criteria are met (and also taking into account an individual's functional impairment or lack thereof). I think it was really responsible to mention this, given the rise of confusing and conflicting information doing the rounds online and on social media, including from influencers without appropriate professional credentials or those stupid-arse AI slop accounts.
- I think for readers who do have ADHD, I imagine it would be quite a validating experience seeing their difficulties portrayed in a compassionate manner as this author does.
- Some parts felt unnecessarily repetitive.
- It's always nice to read something from an Aus/UK perspective.
- It doesn't hurt to seek diagnostic clarification, but be cautious not to cling too tightly to a suspected diagnostic label before it's confirmed or ruled out. It might be something else, or it might not be. tl;dr if you think there's something up, at the end of the day it's worth considering getting it checked out.
September 11, 2026
Reading Dr. Kieran Kennedy’s This Explains Everything honestly felt like someone finally handed me the user manual for my own brain.
For the longest time, I could not quite put my finger on why I reacted to things the way I did, why simple daily tasks felt so overwhelming, or why my mind seemed to run on a completely different operating system. This book completely changed that for me. It helped me understand my ADHD on a much deeper level: not just as a list of symptoms, but as the underlying reason behind how I naturally respond, focus, and navigate the world.
If you have ever felt out of step with yourself or just want to finally make sense of how your neurodivergent brain operates, do yourself a favor and buy this. It brings so much clarity, self-compassion, and validation. Easily a five-star read!
For the longest time, I could not quite put my finger on why I reacted to things the way I did, why simple daily tasks felt so overwhelming, or why my mind seemed to run on a completely different operating system. This book completely changed that for me. It helped me understand my ADHD on a much deeper level: not just as a list of symptoms, but as the underlying reason behind how I naturally respond, focus, and navigate the world.
If you have ever felt out of step with yourself or just want to finally make sense of how your neurodivergent brain operates, do yourself a favor and buy this. It brings so much clarity, self-compassion, and validation. Easily a five-star read!
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August 27, 2026This would be great for…
1. People who are unsure if they have ADHD and need real life examples to refer to.
2. Residents of Australia or the UK who want to know how to receive a diagnosis.
3. Those unsure about what medication could be right for them.
If you already have a diagnosis, this is probably not the book for you. It is a very empathetic and thorough detailing of adult ADHD, but can be quite repetitive (I guess good for ADHD people who zone out).
1. People who are unsure if they have ADHD and need real life examples to refer to.
2. Residents of Australia or the UK who want to know how to receive a diagnosis.
3. Those unsure about what medication could be right for them.
If you already have a diagnosis, this is probably not the book for you. It is a very empathetic and thorough detailing of adult ADHD, but can be quite repetitive (I guess good for ADHD people who zone out).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews