Danielle Elliott

The psychiatrist diagnosed Michelle, and things started to change. For years, she said, she'd been trying to stay above water, running from fire to fire. She joked that she had been diagnosed with BAD, bad, in elementary school. And things progressed accordingly.

The psychiatrist diagnosed Michelle, and things started to change. For years, she said, she'd been trying to stay above water, running from fire to fire. She joked that she had been diagnosed with BAD, bad, in elementary school. And things progressed accordingly.

What's the language you normally use?

What's the language you normally use?

Michelle did enough work to finish college and nursing school. She got married. She got divorced. She got sober at 45 and was diagnosed with ADHD at 50. Two years later, she can see the difference the diagnosis and treatment have made in her life.

Michelle did enough work to finish college and nursing school. She got married. She got divorced. She got sober at 45 and was diagnosed with ADHD at 50. Two years later, she can see the difference the diagnosis and treatment have made in her life.

Michelle still occasionally grieves for what she called lost potential. For what could have been, had she or her parents or teachers or others known of her ADHD earlier. But she said she generally feels good about where she's at. It strikes me that the impact of Michelle's understanding extends beyond her personal growth. Michelle now works in community health care.

Michelle still occasionally grieves for what she called lost potential. For what could have been, had she or her parents or teachers or others known of her ADHD earlier. But she said she generally feels good about where she's at. It strikes me that the impact of Michelle's understanding extends beyond her personal growth. Michelle now works in community health care.

She said she sees many patients who have been incarcerated or have been struggling with substances for years, and many of them exhibit signs of undiagnosed ADHD. She talks to them about it, and many say they've never known certain behaviors are at all linked to ADHD. She told me she has these conversations many times each week and that it's helpful for them to know they are not alone.

She said she sees many patients who have been incarcerated or have been struggling with substances for years, and many of them exhibit signs of undiagnosed ADHD. She talks to them about it, and many say they've never known certain behaviors are at all linked to ADHD. She told me she has these conversations many times each week and that it's helpful for them to know they are not alone.

Michelle is treating people in communities where access to ADHD treatment is often lacking. I've tried to find community organizations or public health officials who are focusing on ADHD in underserved populations, particularly women, but have so far failed to find any. Michelle is the closest I've found to someone who is working with at-risk populations who stand to benefit from ADHD treatment.

Michelle is treating people in communities where access to ADHD treatment is often lacking. I've tried to find community organizations or public health officials who are focusing on ADHD in underserved populations, particularly women, but have so far failed to find any. Michelle is the closest I've found to someone who is working with at-risk populations who stand to benefit from ADHD treatment.

I wonder how much the diagnosis rates would rise if more people in underserved communities could access mental health care. Thank you for having me. Throughout the week, I met women coming to terms with their needs and demanding better care. And I think this collective demand is the biggest reason diagnosis is on the rise. Women are demanding more from our health care system.

I wonder how much the diagnosis rates would rise if more people in underserved communities could access mental health care. Thank you for having me. Throughout the week, I met women coming to terms with their needs and demanding better care. And I think this collective demand is the biggest reason diagnosis is on the rise. Women are demanding more from our health care system.

And even when the system provides, they're seeking out knowledge and information and help from each other. Even then, it's not like everything is suddenly okay. On my last day at camp, I sat in on the parents' morning session. I noticed Tamsen standing at the back of the room with her shoes off, pressing her feet into the ground. She looked exhausted. Afterwards, I asked her how she was feeling.

And even when the system provides, they're seeking out knowledge and information and help from each other. Even then, it's not like everything is suddenly okay. On my last day at camp, I sat in on the parents' morning session. I noticed Tamsen standing at the back of the room with her shoes off, pressing her feet into the ground. She looked exhausted. Afterwards, I asked her how she was feeling.

She said listening to people talk about how they've turned their lives around. How they're now eating well and exercising and sleeping. It was all getting a bit overwhelming.

She said listening to people talk about how they've turned their lives around. How they're now eating well and exercising and sleeping. It was all getting a bit overwhelming.

Yeah. Is that where you are as well? That's the way I felt for at least the first few months of knowing I have ADHD. People say a problem with ADHD is perfectionism. Well, when you start to hear that there are ways to tame your ADHD, it's very easy to try to perfectly tame your ADHD. And then that, in turn, adds to the overwhelm. Tamsen seemed to be coming to this realization at the camp.

Yeah. Is that where you are as well? That's the way I felt for at least the first few months of knowing I have ADHD. People say a problem with ADHD is perfectionism. Well, when you start to hear that there are ways to tame your ADHD, it's very easy to try to perfectly tame your ADHD. And then that, in turn, adds to the overwhelm. Tamsen seemed to be coming to this realization at the camp.