ADHD Aha!

• A breakup, an intense reaction, and the ADHD questions surrounding it all (Danielle Elliot’s story)

  Danielle Elliot was considering breaking up with her partner...and then he broke up with her first. Danielle had a “big, out of character” reaction: By 4am that night she was packed and ready to leave. The whole experience left her feeling unsettled. Why had she reacted that way? That sparked a deep dive into rejection sensitivity and ADHD.Danielle is a health and science journalist who’s now asking a bigger question: Why are so many women being diagnosed with ADHD — and why now?She explores this in Understood.org’s new limited-series podcast, Climbing the Walls. Listen to Danielle’s personal story here — then check out Climbing the Walls on your podcast platform of choice. Related resourcesListen to the Climbing the Walls podcastADHD and rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD)ADHD breakups: Impulsive texts and overthinking regrets, from Sorry, I Missed ThisTimestamps(01:26) Danielle’s pandemic diagnosis after a strong reaction to a break up(08:26) Danielle’s need to travel(12:15) Danielle’s relationship with relationships, and rejection(16:02) Hosting Understood.org’s Climbing the Walls podcastFor a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha! show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected], or record a message for us here.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• I didn’t want to have ADHD (from the Climbing the Walls podcast)

  In this bonus episode, we’re sharing the first episode of a new Understood.org podcast, Climbing the Walls. Climbing the Walls is an investigative limited-series podcast that explores why women were historically underdiagnosed with ADHD — and how the recent surge in diagnoses is reshaping our understanding of ADHD.In this episode, host Danielle Elliot finds herself among the many women diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic, and she gets curious. Why women? And why now? This question takes her to northern Michigan, to meet a friend’s mom.For more on this topic:Listen to Climbing the WallsADHD and rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD)Older women with ADHD: How the lost generation got foundFor a transcript and more resources, visit the Climbing the Walls show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• A mother-son ADHD combo, plus teaching with ADHD (Emilia McGuckin’s story)

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.Emilia McGuckin was surprised when a teacher suggested her son might have ADHD. As a teacher herself, she thought she would have spotted the signs. But after diving into the research, an even bigger surprise hit her: Could she have ADHD too?Emilia, a high school and college teacher, was hesitant to pursue an ADHD evaluation. She’d felt dismissed by medical providers in the past, an experience all too common for many women. But when she finally got diagnosed, everything started to make sense. What she once saw as “character flaws” or “personal failings” turned out to be overlooked symptoms of ADHD.Related resourcesIs ADHD hereditary? ADHD icebergTimestamps(01:10) Emilia’s son’s ADHD diagnosis(04:42) Hyperfocusing on ADHD to help her son, and realizing she has symptoms too(06:49) Apprehension about seeking an ADHD evaluation, after not being believed by doctors in the past(09:20) Feelings and coping after diagnosis(11:56) An “avalanche of ADHD” in the family(17:02) How Emilia and her son’s diagnoses changed how she teaches(20:29) Busting ADHD mythsFor a transcript and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• My full-circle ADHD experience (Laura’s story, continued)

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.On this 100th episode of ADHD Aha!, host Laura Key looks back on the powerful conversations she’s had with guests from all walks of life about their unique ADHD experiences. She also opens up about a deeply personal new chapter: her 9-year-old daughter’s recent ADHD diagnosis. Laura reflects on what this milestone means for her both as a mom and a person with ADHD.   Joining Laura is her friend, co-worker, and Hyperfocus podcast host, Rae Jacobson. Together, they explore how Laura’s understanding of ADHD has evolved over the course of the show — and how she’s navigating the emotions of raising a child who shares her diagnosis.Related resourcesADHD, anxiety, and perfectionism (Laura’s story)ADHD in girlsMy child with ADHD can’t fall asleep. But I’m so tired. What can I do?Timestamps(00:50) What has it been like making 100 episodes of ADHD Aha!?(03:03) Laura’s daughter’s diagnoses, and being a mom with ADHD(08:21) Laura’s daughter’s ADHD and anxiety evaluation(10:51) Sleep and ADHD parenting challenges(12:19) Feeling the pressure to be a “perfect ADHD mom”(14:14) How hard it can be to be a kid with ADHD(16:40) Keeping ADHD mom perfectionism in check(20:58) Has Laura’s outlook on ADHD changed throughout making this show? For a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha! page on Understood.Want to share your “aha” moment? We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• Love and grief with ADHD (Steve Wesley’s story)

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.Steve Wesley makes videos about ADHD to create a legacy for his family. As a single dad with ADHD, he worries he’s not doing enough to support his two sons, who also have ADHD. He hopes the videos will serve as proof one day that he really was trying.Steve’s late wife was “the calendar” of the family. She kept everything on track. When she passed away, it was up to Steve to manage everything and teach his sons the executive function skills that he struggles with so much himself.Join this emotional conversation between Steve and host Laura Key about parenting and coping with death with ADHD.Related resourcesCheck out Steve’s YouTube channel, Steve with ADHDADHD and coping with grief: 8 ways to help your childADHD and emotionsTimestamps(01:00) Steve’s “aha” moment, and accepting his diagnosis(05:03) ADHD, emotions, and grieving the loss of his wife(10:57) Adjusting to being a single parent as a widower(13:48) Why did Steve start his YouTube channel for his family?(18:38) ADHD: Superpower or curse?(23:27) What would Steve’s wife be proud of him for today?For a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha! page on Understood.Want to share your “aha” moment? We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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