Overwhelmed, Overstimulated, and Finding My Way: Parenthood, ADHD, and ChatGPT

Hi friends,

I don’t know how I managed without ChatGPT. Honestly, your girl has been in a constant state of WTF for a while now. Chronic overwhelm? That was my default setting.

Before having my daughter, I didn’t even notice I was hypersensitive. Parenthood turned me hyper-everything. Too many noises at once? Nope. If the TV volume creeps above 8, I’m losing it. Now imagine this: my daughter shouting for me, my partner chatting on the phone, and those obnoxious LeapFrog books singing in French in the background—all before 11 a.m. It’s a perfect storm of overstimulation. Oh, and did I mention I still haven’t had a sip of hot tea because I’m having a row with an 18-month-old about eating her breakfast? Welcome to my life.

I’m convinced men think we overreact. But let’s be real—when men catch man flu, the world stops. It’s the same energy. (I promise this isn’t an attack on men, just an honest take on my daily chaos.) Now add trying to build the world’s largest growth-minded parenting community while creating a company to make modern parenting a little easier. Overwhelm is an understatement.

ADHD and My Aha Moment

Last year, I had a breakthrough. I self-diagnosed myself with ADHD after bingeing “ADHD Chatter” on TikTok. It explained everything. Three hours later, I was crying real tears, staring at my phone. For the first time, I felt seen. Heard. Understood.

My dad used to call me a squirrel—always running from one thing to the next, never satisfied with the nut in front of me. Turns out, it wasn’t just quirks. It was ADHD. Parenthood intensified it all—the noise, the clutter, the endless to-dos. Discovering my ADHD was like lifting a weight off my shoulders. It made me realise why I found parenthood so overwhelming and gave me a way forward—and compassion for myself.

Reducing overstimulation became my mission—not just for myself, but for the millions of parents out there struggling just like me.

How ChatGPT Became My Lifeline

That clarity gave me the courage to find tools that support my mental load—and ChatGPT became one of my biggest allies.

Let me introduce you to my best mate, ChatGPT. I don’t use it to write my content (no shade to those who do). What I do is brain dump—raw, messy, unfiltered—and then I ask ChatGPT to clarify my thoughts and structure them in a way that makes sense. It’s like a calm, non-judgmental assistant helping me process my chaos without unnecessary noise. For an overwhelmed mama like me? It’s perfection.

Here’s how it helps:

• Breaking Down Tasks: When everything feels like too much, I ask ChatGPT to break things into simple, actionable steps. Suddenly, that mountain feels climbable.
• Decision-Making: Planning an event? Creating the family meal plan with a shopping list? Brainstorming the most valuable ideas for Ambitious Peace members? (Because there’s so many.) ChatGPT helps me untangle the mess in my head.
• Reassurance and Clarity: When I’m spinning, I turn to ChatGPT. It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t interrupt—it just helps me carry on.

Lessons from Overwhelm

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

1. Progress is Progress (but you’ve got to clarify your minimum for you): Whether it’s folding five pieces of laundry or hosting an event, small wins matter. They build momentum (when acknowledged).
2. Tools and Delegation Are Lifesavers: From ChatGPT to hiring help, leaning on tools and others reduces the mental load.
3. Vulnerability is Strength: Admitting I’m struggling and asking for help doesn’t make me weak. It makes me human—and it makes my life easier, freeing up my mind to solve the bigger problems, like Ambitious Peace for us all.
4. Embrace Imperfection: Progress isn’t about doing it perfectly—it’s about doing it at all.

Mastery Moment (NEW)

This Week’s Task: Pick one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed. Write down one small step you can take today to make it easier. Maybe it’s breaking it into three actionable steps or delegating one part. Start with the smallest step, and celebrate your progress—Acknowledging your progress builds momentum.

Why This Matters

Ambitious Peace was born out of these struggles. My goal is to create tools and spaces that help parents thrive—not just survive. Overwhelm, overstimulation, and chaos don’t have to define parenthood. Small steps can make a big difference.

Call to Action

How do you manage overwhelm? What tools, strategies, or revelations have changed your life? Hit reply and share—I’d love to learn from you. And if you’re finding this newsletter helpful, share it with a parent who might need it too.

Until next time,

Here for the chaos and the growth,

Aahliyah