March 31, 2026

Recovering perfectionist, no longer a martyr (Kim Tran’s story)

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Kim Tran spent years chasing perfection: a high achiever who believed struggle wasn’t an option. As an Asian American woman raised with the pressures of the model minority myth, asking for help felt like failure.

But after being encouraged three separate times to get evaluated for ADHD, Kim finally said yes — after becoming a mom and realizing she wanted something different for her child.

In this conversation, Kim talks about perfectionism, cultural expectations, and why martyrdom isn’t a badge of honor. She shares how learning to ask for help reshaped her life, and how she’s modeling a healthier path for the next generation.

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Host

Laura Key
Laura Key is the vice president of content strategy and host of Understood’s award-winning ADHD Aha! podcast. A longtime editor and content strategist, Laura has been with Understood since its launch.

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