Danielle Elliott

The look on this man's face told me that a woman in her mid-30s who has not been in a serious relationship is a woman who might never be in a serious relationship. The next few years were weird. I was happy when I was alone or with people who truly knew me. I retreated a bit in a way I never would have expected. Other people didn't seem to understand me, and I didn't understand them.

And this is in Michigan?

And this is in Michigan?

When I read Sari's books, I started to get it. She described exactly what I've been feeling throughout my 30s. And when we spoke, she reminded me that when she was first making these connections about shame and the way societal expectations impact women with ADHD, these were brand new ideas. As a therapist treating all sorts of adults with ADHD, Sari could see beyond any individual experience.

When I read Sari's books, I started to get it. She described exactly what I've been feeling throughout my 30s. And when we spoke, she reminded me that when she was first making these connections about shame and the way societal expectations impact women with ADHD, these were brand new ideas. As a therapist treating all sorts of adults with ADHD, Sari could see beyond any individual experience.

The first time we know of a doctor giving stimulants to kids is in 1937. About 20 years later, in 1955, the FDA approved Ritalin as a medication for adults battling depression and a handful of other conditions. Then, in 1962, the FDA approved it for use in children with attentional deficits and hyperactivity.

The first time we know of a doctor giving stimulants to kids is in 1937. About 20 years later, in 1955, the FDA approved Ritalin as a medication for adults battling depression and a handful of other conditions. Then, in 1962, the FDA approved it for use in children with attentional deficits and hyperactivity.

She could zoom out and see the bigger picture. She figured out that women and men experience ADHD differently. and that women work really hard to hide their ADHD traits or overcompensate for the ways they think they fall short of expectations. Perhaps most damaging, they thought of their shortcomings as personal failures.

She could zoom out and see the bigger picture. She figured out that women and men experience ADHD differently. and that women work really hard to hide their ADHD traits or overcompensate for the ways they think they fall short of expectations. Perhaps most damaging, they thought of their shortcomings as personal failures.

A year later, in 1963, a young pediatrician recognized this in 6-year-old Emily, and he prescribed Ritalin.

A year later, in 1963, a young pediatrician recognized this in 6-year-old Emily, and he prescribed Ritalin.

They didn't know that their shame was sort of universal among women with ADHD.

They didn't know that their shame was sort of universal among women with ADHD.

The American Psychiatric Association published the second edition of the DSM in 1968, when Emily was in fifth grade. This edition described a condition called hyperkinetic reaction of childhood. It's characterized by overactivity, restlessness, distractibility, and short attention span. The DSM said children outgrow this by the time they become teenagers.

The American Psychiatric Association published the second edition of the DSM in 1968, when Emily was in fifth grade. This edition described a condition called hyperkinetic reaction of childhood. It's characterized by overactivity, restlessness, distractibility, and short attention span. The DSM said children outgrow this by the time they become teenagers.

Sari wanted to create something to help them understand. Of course, she has ADHD, and her ADHD very much came into play. Her dad was about to turn 80, and he'd written a novel. As a birthday gift, she wanted to get the novel typed up and printed into a book. She looked in the yellow pages and found the name of a typist. She called, and the woman said, come over.

Sari wanted to create something to help them understand. Of course, she has ADHD, and her ADHD very much came into play. Her dad was about to turn 80, and he'd written a novel. As a birthday gift, she wanted to get the novel typed up and printed into a book. She looked in the yellow pages and found the name of a typist. She called, and the woman said, come over.

Emily was 11 years old, and she was starting to feel self-conscious about her silly pill.

Emily was 11 years old, and she was starting to feel self-conscious about her silly pill.

I'll show you a proof of a book we're working on. My husband's a publisher. Sari went over, and the book was by a man named Tom Hartman. It was about adult ADHD. Sari couldn't believe it. She told the publisher what she wanted to write, a book about women with ADHD, and he suggested they work together. And we kept saying, okay, this is the time. We have to get this out right now.