Danielle Elliott

Over the next year or so, the idea of ADHD as a strength seemed to take over the public conversation about this disorder. By 2023, it almost seemed cool, or at least trendy, to have ADHD. I watched this happen on social media and heard it in conversations with friends. Friends who'd never mentioned mental health issues were starting to call to tell me they had ADHD.

Over the next year or so, the idea of ADHD as a strength seemed to take over the public conversation about this disorder. By 2023, it almost seemed cool, or at least trendy, to have ADHD. I watched this happen on social media and heard it in conversations with friends. Friends who'd never mentioned mental health issues were starting to call to tell me they had ADHD.

And in those calls, they used a specific word, superpower. It's like ADHD was somehow rebranded in less than two years. I was confused. I still think of the stigma, and I've wondered two things. First, how'd this happen? I'd read that 84% of ADHD content on TikTok is misleading. Is all of this positivity and talk of superpowers driven by that 84%? My second question is about the impact.

And in those calls, they used a specific word, superpower. It's like ADHD was somehow rebranded in less than two years. I was confused. I still think of the stigma, and I've wondered two things. First, how'd this happen? I'd read that 84% of ADHD content on TikTok is misleading. Is all of this positivity and talk of superpowers driven by that 84%? My second question is about the impact.

Is the rebranding of ADHD one of the reasons so many women are being diagnosed? If so, what's the connection? And what does it mean to rebrand a mental health condition? Who does that benefit? As I started trying to answer these questions, I realized social media influencers didn't create this new way of thinking about ADHD.

Is the rebranding of ADHD one of the reasons so many women are being diagnosed? If so, what's the connection? And what does it mean to rebrand a mental health condition? Who does that benefit? As I started trying to answer these questions, I realized social media influencers didn't create this new way of thinking about ADHD.

That, as far as I can tell, started at least 30 years ago and has been largely driven by a man determined to get the world to see ADHD through his eyes. For better or worse, I think he can now say, mission accomplished. This is Climbing the Walls, a podcast where I try to figure out why so many women are being diagnosed with ADHD. I'm Danielle Elliott.

That, as far as I can tell, started at least 30 years ago and has been largely driven by a man determined to get the world to see ADHD through his eyes. For better or worse, I think he can now say, mission accomplished. This is Climbing the Walls, a podcast where I try to figure out why so many women are being diagnosed with ADHD. I'm Danielle Elliott.

Dr. Ned Hallowell opened the door with a giant smile on his face.

Dr. Ned Hallowell opened the door with a giant smile on his face.

The doormat says, home to Ned, Sue, the names of their kids, and the names of their pets. It ends with a question mark, as though they're not sure if they'll have more kids or get more pets. Ned ushered me into the living room. Inside, the walls are covered with photos, massive frames with 20 or 30 photos each, maybe more. The kids all look grown, so I guess that question mark is about pets.

The doormat says, home to Ned, Sue, the names of their kids, and the names of their pets. It ends with a question mark, as though they're not sure if they'll have more kids or get more pets. Ned ushered me into the living room. Inside, the walls are covered with photos, massive frames with 20 or 30 photos each, maybe more. The kids all look grown, so I guess that question mark is about pets.

He walked into another room and stood in front of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

He walked into another room and stood in front of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

Writing is one of the ways he manages his ADHD. He stopped in the kitchen, and we sat down at a big table. I asked how ADHD became his specialty.

Writing is one of the ways he manages his ADHD. He stopped in the kitchen, and we sat down at a big table. I asked how ADHD became his specialty.

Early in Ned's child psychiatry fellowship, a professor gave a lecture about attention deficit disorder, as it was known at the time, and what Ned still calls it. As he listened to the professor describe kids who struggle with boredom, he understood. At the time, the medical model didn't mention adults. But that didn't sit right with Ned.

Early in Ned's child psychiatry fellowship, a professor gave a lecture about attention deficit disorder, as it was known at the time, and what Ned still calls it. As he listened to the professor describe kids who struggle with boredom, he understood. At the time, the medical model didn't mention adults. But that didn't sit right with Ned.

Over the next decade, Ned finished his training and started working at a hospital. He treated patients with severe cases of obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. He also treated many adults describing what he recognized as ADD.

Over the next decade, Ned finished his training and started working at a hospital. He treated patients with severe cases of obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. He also treated many adults describing what he recognized as ADD.