From Understood.org, 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.Join host Danielle Elliot, a health and science journalist, as she digs into the recent rise of ADHD diagnoses among women. She weaves scientific insights with personal stories — including her own. Through candid conversations with mental health experts and women who’ve been through it, Danielle starts getting answers to some of her big questions around the surge in ADHD diagnoses, like: Why women? And why now? 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
Chapter 1: Why do so many women struggle with ADHD?
For years I felt like I was falling short. No matter how hard I tried, I struggled to get on top of things, to stay in relationships, to understand how anyone enjoys all the mundane parts of life. It never crossed my mind that there might actually be a way to explain why I couldn't keep up. I knew about ADHD, but I thought of it as something that made it hard for boys to sit still in class.
Chapter 2: What does the rise in ADHD diagnoses among women signify?
Then, a doctor diagnosed me. I was 36, and finally, it all made sense. Apparently, I'm not alone. 61% of women with ADHD are diagnosed in adulthood. In the year I was diagnosed, the diagnosis of women skyrocketed, and I wondered, what's going on? Why women? Why now?
Chapter 3: What is the purpose of the Climbing the Walls podcast?
Welcome to Climbing the Walls, a podcast that attempts to understand why so many women are being diagnosed with ADHD and what happens now that the world is catching up to what women have been saying for decades.
There were certain things that TikTok figured it out before I did. Like the algorithm heard the conversation and figured out like you're a black woman with ADHD.
My life now makes sense. Like decisions I've made, friendships I've had, careers I've chosen, laundry piles. So much makes sense.
We still get misdiagnosed with depression or they see the depression, but they don't see the ADHD component to it.
Join me, Danielle Elliott, as I dive into the real reasons why women have been left behind in the ADHD conversation. We'll hear from experts and those who have lived through it as we uncover the untold truths about ADHD in women. This is Climbing the Walls, a new podcast from understood.org. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts.
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