ADHD is still widely misunderstood, especially when it comes to women. While the stereotype remains the hyperactive little boy who can’t sit still, the reality for many women is far quieter, far more internal, and far easier to miss. For countless women, ADHD doesn’t look disruptive on the outside; it looks like overwhelm, exhaustion, perfectionism, procrastination, emotional intensity, and a lifelong sense of “Why is this so hard for me?”
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, host Gabby Sanderson is joined by Dr. Jennifer Dall, Grief-Informed Neurodivergence Specialist, educator and founder of ADHD Holistically, to explore what ADHD actually looks like in women - and why so many are only discovering it later in life.
Together, they unpack the invisible signs that often go unnoticed: mind-wandering, time blindness, executive dysfunction, hyperfocus, sleep difficulties, and the frustrating experience of desperately wanting to start something yet feeling unable to begin. They explore the emotional side of ADHD too - rejection sensitivity, shame, anxiety, and the impact of years spent believing you’re lazy, chaotic, unreliable or simply not trying hard enough.
Dr. Jennifer Dall helps women - especially those diagnosed later in life - understand their brains and build lives that truly work for them. Jennifer explains why high-achieving women are often missed, how masking becomes a full-time job, and why coping strategies that worked for decades can suddenly collapse during motherhood, hormonal shifts, perimenopause, menopause or life changing events.
Jennifer and Gabby also discuss ADHD +1 - the way ADHD commonly coexists with anxiety, depression, autism, trauma and other mental health conditions - and how these overlapping experiences can make ADHD harder to recognise. They also explore the ADHD spectrum and why there is no one-size-fits-all experience of the condition, no matter your gender - making this an insightful conversation for men too.
The conversation moves from understanding to action: what actually helps, why medication is only one piece of the puzzle, how to build systems that work with an ADHD brain rather than against it, and the practical tools that can make everyday life feel a bit lighter and more manageable.
Whether you’re diagnosed, undiagnosed, waiting for an assessment, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about ADHD beyond the clichés, this episode offers clarity, compassion and a powerful reminder: you were never broken - your brain was simply working differently all along.
My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself
Dr. Jennifer’s Website: https://adhdholistically.com/
Dr. Jennifer on Instagram:: https://www.instagram.com/adhd.holistically
Dr. Jennifer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ADHDHolistically/100077667853992/
Dr. Jennifer on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-dall-ed-d-226857317/
