Danielle Elliott

Adult women are being diagnosed with ADHD at a record pace. In just two years, diagnosis rate has nearly doubled.

Ah, yes. ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Ah, yes. ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Phones could be a root cause, but ironically, it's also what's raising awareness about it.

Phones could be a root cause, but ironically, it's also what's raising awareness about it.

It was all over the news that week.

It was all over the news that week.

Joining us now is Brooke Schnittman. She's an ADHD and executive function coach. It's great to have you here. So tell us why. Why women? Why now? Why are these diagnoses going up?

Joining us now is Brooke Schnittman. She's an ADHD and executive function coach. It's great to have you here. So tell us why. Why women? Why now? Why are these diagnoses going up?

Sheep shame. I get it. Sheep shame was a fun way of talking about the shame Sari felt in most areas of her life. She struggled with it for decades, without knowing why, or even knowing that other women felt it. That struggle led her to a profound understanding of ADHD and how much shame plays a part in it for women.

Sheep shame. I get it. Sheep shame was a fun way of talking about the shame Sari felt in most areas of her life. She struggled with it for decades, without knowing why, or even knowing that other women felt it. That struggle led her to a profound understanding of ADHD and how much shame plays a part in it for women.

It seemed like Brooke had more to say, but Bianca jumped in. So

It seemed like Brooke had more to say, but Bianca jumped in. So

You know, all of us are distracted because of our phones, right? I can be reading the Wall Street Journal editorial page at night. I'm like, wait, let me check what my sister just sent me on Instagram. But where's the line between someone who feels distracted because of their phone and someone who actually has ADHD and gets a diagnosis like that?

You know, all of us are distracted because of our phones, right? I can be reading the Wall Street Journal editorial page at night. I'm like, wait, let me check what my sister just sent me on Instagram. But where's the line between someone who feels distracted because of their phone and someone who actually has ADHD and gets a diagnosis like that?

She's written three books about it and helped women all over the world understand their ADHD and how attempting to meet societal expectations of what it means to be a woman often creates intense shame. Shame and overwhelm might even help explain the recent rise in ADHD diagnosis among women.

She's written three books about it and helped women all over the world understand their ADHD and how attempting to meet societal expectations of what it means to be a woman often creates intense shame. Shame and overwhelm might even help explain the recent rise in ADHD diagnosis among women.

I knew exactly why my friends were sending me this clip. Why are so many women being diagnosed with ADHD? Do they really have it? I started asking these questions sometime in the summer of 2022, a few months after I joined the ranks of the recently diagnosed. Listening to a news anchor question the rise in diagnosis, I realized I really do want to know why women, why now?

I knew exactly why my friends were sending me this clip. Why are so many women being diagnosed with ADHD? Do they really have it? I started asking these questions sometime in the summer of 2022, a few months after I joined the ranks of the recently diagnosed. Listening to a news anchor question the rise in diagnosis, I realized I really do want to know why women, why now?

And we might not know anything about it if not for Sari and a handful of others who have revealed the many ways ADHD impacts women. But Sari didn't set out to change global thinking. She was simply trying to figure out why her own life felt so hard and why she's always felt so much shame.