The ADHD Channel for Women (formerly MissUnderstood)

Understood.org
  • 4.9 (88)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

From Understood, this is The ADHD Channel for Women (formerly MissUnderstood) — the first-ever podcast channel for women with ADHD. For decades, women with ADHD have been overlooked and undiagnosed. That’s finally beginning to change. But there’s still so far to go. That’s where The ADHD Channel for Women comes in. We’re a channel made by women with ADHD, for women with ADHD. And we’re talking about the things we want to hear. Women with ADHD need (good!) information, smart takes on ADHD topics, and so much more. Hang out with Cate Osborn and guests as they discuss ADHD, relationships, and sex on Sorry, I Missed This. Get answers to ADHD questions you didn’t know you had from Dr. Monica Johnson on ADHD and…. Or join journalist Rae Jacobson on Hyperfocus for deep dives, personal stories, and real talk about neurodivergence.

  1. ADHD and impulse control: The science behind why willpower fails | Sorry, I Missed This

    Jul 2

    ADHD and impulse control: The science behind why willpower fails | Sorry, I Missed This

    Does ADHD really mean poor self-control? Or is that the myth that’s been making everything harder?  Dr. Polaris Koi is a philosopher who studies ADHD and self-regulation (and is an ADHDer themselves). In this episode, Cate and Polaris get into why “just try harder” is not only unhelpful advice — it’s based on science that most researchers don’t even believe anymore.  They talk about why impulsivity in ADHD adults rarely looks like the textbook version (hi, compulsive shopping and 3 a.m. tattoo urges). How shame and anxiety make executive function worse. And why learning to work with your brain’s patterns beats white-knuckling your way through every temptation. Plus why some ADHDers end up over-controlled — which comes with its own set of problems.  If you’ve ever told yourself you’re just lazy, bad at relationships, or fundamentally broken because you can’t seem to get it together, this one’s for you.  For more on this topic Listen: ADHD and impulsive spending Watch: ADHD break-ups: Impulsive texts and overthinking regrets For a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min
  2. ADHD and family vacations: Why you can’t relax

    Jun 30

    ADHD and family vacations: Why you can’t relax

    Family vacations are supposed to be fun. So why do they feel like a project you can’t stop managing? If you have ADHD, travel is basically a multi-day test of your executive functions. Between planning paralysis, sensory overload, sleep disruptions, and lack of routine, vacations can leave you feeling more stressed than refreshed. And the strain can be even worse for women, who tend to carry a disproportionate amount of the mental load for a family. In preparation for your Independence Day travels, Dr. J breaks down exactly why trips are so draining for ADHD brains. And she shares five practical strategies to help you actually relax on your next vacation. Happy July 4th! For more on this topic  Watch: ADHD and perfectionism Listen: Breaking the burnout cycle: What is rest? For a transcript and more resources, visit The ADHD Channel for Women on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org. 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    12 min
  3. ADHD and perimenopause: Why your symptoms are suddenly worse

    Jun 16

    ADHD and perimenopause: Why your symptoms are suddenly worse

    If your ADHD symptoms have spiked out of nowhere, perimenopause might be the culprit. Estrogen plays a direct role in dopamine regulation. When it fluctuates, your focus, memory, and emotional regulation take the hit.  This episode breaks down exactly what’s happening in your brain, why the strategies that used to work may be failing you now, and how to adjust your support system for this stage of life. For more on this topic Listen: ADHD and: Menopause Watch: ADHD and hormones For a transcript and more resources, visit The ADHD Channel for Women on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org. 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    15 min
  4. Why people with ADHD can’t sleep (and what actually helps) | Hyperfocus

    Jun 11

    Why people with ADHD can’t sleep (and what actually helps) | Hyperfocus

    If you have ADHD, you’re probably exhausted — and there’s a real neurological reason for it. Sleep expert Marlee Boyle, co-founder of Sleep Works, joins us to explain why ADHD brains are wired against a good night’s rest. Plus how perimenopause can make it worse. She walks us through CBT-I techniques, the truth about melatonin, and some surprisingly low-tech tools that can fix your circadian rhythm. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, this one is for you. For more on this topic Watch: ADHD and sleep: 5 strategies to finally beat insomnia Listen: PMDD: Why women with ADHD are 4x more likely to struggle For a transcript and more resources, visit Hyperfocus on Understood.org. You can also email us at hyperfocus@understood.org . 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min
  5. Why neurodivergent women can’t stop reading smut and romantasy | Sorry, I Missed This

    Jun 4

    Why neurodivergent women can’t stop reading smut and romantasy | Sorry, I Missed This

    Did you know that women with ADHD consume explicit fiction at dramatically higher rates than neurotypical women — and there’s a neurological reason? Dr. Erika Miley is a licensed mental health counselor, certified sex therapist, and author of the only dissertation published on ADHD and women’s sexuality. After surveying over 2,000 participants, one thing kept surfacing: smut. Romantasy, explicit romance, audio erotica — all of it. In this episode, she explains why the ADHD brain is uniquely drawn to literary erotica, how smut raises the arousal threshold enough to sustain focus, and why neurodivergent women are using it for everything from processing emotional vulnerability to getting through household chores.  Find Dr. Miley at erikamiley.com. For more on this topic Watch: ADHD and sex Watch: Too much or not enough: ADHD sensory challenges and sex For a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    19 min
  6. ADHD, AuDHD, and social skills: Why you feel like too much and not enough

    Jun 2

    ADHD, AuDHD, and social skills: Why you feel like too much and not enough

    Do you feel like too much in social situations — and somehow also not enough? Socializing with ADHD or AuDHD can feel like a minefield. There are the impulsive comments. The missed cues and oversharing. And then the post-hang crash. In this episode, Dr. J breaks down what’s happening in the ADHD brain that makes socializing harder. And she offers practical strategies for creating stronger connections without the overwhelm, anxiety, or burnout. Whether you mask, steamroll, or avoid entirely, this episode helps you socialize on your own terms. For more on this topic Listen: ADHD and: Social anxiety Watch: The influence of ADHD on social skills | Sorry, I Missed This For a transcript and more resources, visit The ADHD Channel for Women on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org . 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    12 min
  7. I’m an ADHD expert. My kid still can’t get help.

    May 28

    I’m an ADHD expert. My kid still can’t get help.

    Today’s episode is a crossover with Understood’s new podcast, Everyone Gets a Juice Box. Host Jessica Shaw interviewed Rae about something she rarely discusses on Hyperfocus: Being a mom to a fabulous kid with ADHD. Even with Rae’s 20 years of experience studying and writing about ADHD, getting help for her child in school has been really challenging. Here’s how she’s supporting her daughter while they wait for school services. For more on this topic Listen: Everyone Gets a Juice Box Watch: I’m an ADHD expert. My kid still can’t get help. For a transcript and more resources, visit Hyperfocus on Understood.org. You can also email us at hyperfocus@understood.org . 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    24 min
  8. ADHD, AuDHD, and self-diagnosis: Is it valid? | Sorry, I Missed This

    May 21

    ADHD, AuDHD, and self-diagnosis: Is it valid? | Sorry, I Missed This

    Is ADHD self-diagnosis valid? According to clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer, that’s the wrong question entirely. When access to diagnosis is limited by cost, insurance, stigma, and identity — and when the people who self-diagnose show higher rates of negative self-image and internalized stigma — the real conversation isn’t about validity. It’s about how we make sure people have access to good information. Cate and Dr. Kilmer dig into what really happens when people research their own neurodivergence. They discuss research analyzing 452,000 Reddit posts that found self-diagnosed individuals seek more social validation. But they benefit less from it. They cover what actually happens in a clinical ADHD assessment and how comorbidities like anxiety, depression, and OCD complicate the picture. And they discuss why the question “Is self-diagnosis valid?” misses the point when getting a formal diagnosis is a privilege that many can’t access. For more on this topic Read: Missed, misread, misdiagnosed: Current state of women with ADHD Listen: Is ADHD online diagnosis legit? For a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. You can also email us at sorryimissedthis@understood.org. 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    21 min
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4.9
out of 5
88 Ratings

About

From Understood, this is The ADHD Channel for Women (formerly MissUnderstood) — the first-ever podcast channel for women with ADHD. For decades, women with ADHD have been overlooked and undiagnosed. That’s finally beginning to change. But there’s still so far to go. That’s where The ADHD Channel for Women comes in. We’re a channel made by women with ADHD, for women with ADHD. And we’re talking about the things we want to hear. Women with ADHD need (good!) information, smart takes on ADHD topics, and so much more. Hang out with Cate Osborn and guests as they discuss ADHD, relationships, and sex on Sorry, I Missed This. Get answers to ADHD questions you didn’t know you had from Dr. Monica Johnson on ADHD and…. Or join journalist Rae Jacobson on Hyperfocus for deep dives, personal stories, and real talk about neurodivergence.

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