Women & ADHD

Episode 217 with Katy Weber & Kalin JohnsonWelcome back to our new series, “Unmasking Our Health,” in which host Katy Weber teams up with medical expert Dr. Kalin Johnson, PharmD, to look beyond the neurodivergent brain and explore what it means to live in a neurodivergent body. After years of interviewing late‑diagnosed women and seeing the same patterns — chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune issues, hormonal chaos, gut problems, “mystery” symptoms — Katy created the Unmasking Our Health series to explore the bigger questions behind neurodivergence: What if ADHD isn’t just about our brains, but about our whole bodies — and how and why is the medical system missing the full picture?In Part 2 of a 2-part series, we continue the conversation on hypermobility, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and the often misunderstood symptoms that can show up alongside ADHD and autism. This episode focuses on the signs people miss, why those symptoms happen, and what kinds of support may help rather than hurt.Kalin explains the connective tissue and autonomic nervous system connections behind bruising, fatigue, digestive issues, migraines, dizziness, pelvic floor problems, and joint pain, while Katy shares personal examples of how these patterns have shown up in her own life.In this episode, we cover:A recap of Part 1, including hypermobility, hypermobile EDS, the Beighton score, and the connection with neurodivergenceWhy bruising, slow wound healing, nosebleeds, and fragile blood vessels can occurProprioception, balance, spatial awareness, and why “clumsiness” may be more than distractionFear of falling and the increased risk of pain or injury in hypermobile bodiesConstant bracing, muscle guarding, and why hypermobile people may feel exhausted even while restingDigestive symptoms, including constipation, bloating, slow motility, and dysmotilityMigraines, neck tension, craniocervical instability, POTS, and blood-flow regulationDizziness upon standing, fluid pooling, low blood volume, electrolytes, and compressionPelvic floor issues, urinary symptoms, incomplete emptying, and prolapseSkin texture, softness, stretchiness, and translucencyWhy aggressive stretching and yoga can sometimes worsen instability and painStrength training, swimming, pacing, and learning to stop before end rangeEstrogen, perimenopause, muscle building, and hypermobility symptomsCollagen, creatine, and what supplements can and cannot doExercise intolerance, internalized beliefs about laziness, and body shameFinding healthcare providers who are knowledgeable, curious, and willing to listenNote: Nothing in this episode constitutes medical advice. Always consult with your physician and pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.Kalin’s website: kalinjohnson.comInstagram: @kalinpharmdLinks & Resources:The Beighton Scoring SystemHypermobility Screening ToolGrowing Up with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: 27 Telltale SignsChronic Pain PartnersHave a topic you want Katy and Kalin to cover? Contact us- - - - - Episode edited by E Podcast Productions- - - - -Women & ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching- - - - -Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/katy- - - - -Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse- - - - -Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!- - - - -If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcastTiktok: @womenandadhdpodcastTwitter: @womenandadhdFacebook: @womenandadhdAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 216 with Elizabeth Ahmann & Micah SavietElizabeth Ahmann, ScD, RN, PCC, NBC-HWC is an ADHD and health and wellness coach, professor, researcher, and Micah Saviet, LCSW-C, NBC-HWC is a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming clinician.Their book, Flourishing with Adult ADHD, offers a research-informed, strengths-based, and trauma-informed framework for supporting adults with ADHD beyond symptom management. Grounded in neuroscience, psychology, public health, and wellness research, the book challenges deficit-based models and provides practical, affirming guidance for professionals supporting adults with ADHD.Rather than focusing solely on coping strategies, this book centers flourishing — supporting adults with ADHD in developing self-trust, self-compassion, emotional regulation, clarity, and lives aligned with their values.We talk about how coaching and therapy can work together, why Liz and Micah originally wrote the book for clinicians but found it resonated with adults with ADHD, and their hopes for the future of ADHD care, from better training to broader acceptance.Key topics:Micah shares that he was diagnosed with ADHD at age 11 and describes how his hyperactivity was noticeable early on.Liz explains that she has not been diagnosed with ADHD, but family experience, especially with her husband, led her into ADHD coaching.The conversation reframes ADHD as a difference in attention and regulation, not simply a deficit.Micah and Liz explain that their book grew out of research on ADHD coaching and focus groups with experienced coaches.Shame comes up repeatedly as one of the biggest barriers to growth, self-understanding, and flourishing for adults with ADHD.They emphasize that many therapists and coaches still lack meaningful training in ADHD, especially adult ADHD, masking, and neurodivergence.The episode draws a clear distinction between a deficit-based medical model and a client-centered, strengths-based approach.They discuss how coaching and therapy can complement each other rather than compete, especially when grief, trauma, and executive functioning challenges overlap.Validation, self-compassion, psychoeducation, and mindfulness are presented as foundational tools for helping clients move away from self-criticism.The conversation also addresses diagnosis, stigma, trauma, education trauma, and the social conditions that can make ADHD feel more impairing than it is in isolation.Website: https://www.pathways-ahead.com/ ;  https://www.adulttraumaandadhdsolutions.comInstagram: @adulttrauma_adhdsolutionsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-saviet/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizahmann/Links & Resources:Flourishing with Adult ADHD: The Evidence-Based Guide to Well-Being for Therapists, Coaches & ClientsKristin Neff’s self-compassion resources- - - - - Episode edited by E Podcast Productions- - - - -Women & ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching- - - - -Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/katy- - - - -Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse- - - - -Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!- - - - -If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcastTiktok: @womenandadhdpodcastTwitter: @womenandadhdFacebook: @womenandadhdAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 215 with Katy Weber & Kalin JohnsonWelcome back to our new series, “Unmasking Our Health,” in which host Katy Weber teams up with medical expert Dr. Kalin Johnson, PharmD, to look beyond the neurodivergent brain and explore what it means to live in a neurodivergent body. After years of interviewing late‑diagnosed women and seeing the same patterns — chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune issues, hormonal chaos, gut problems, “mystery” symptoms — Katy created the Unmasking Our Health series to explore the bigger questions behind neurodivergence: What if ADHD isn’t just about our brains, but about our whole bodies — and how and why is the medical system missing the full picture?In part one of a 2-part series, we unpack hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility, and why these connective tissue conditions so often show up alongside ADHD and autism. This episode focuses on the lived experience, the diagnostic gray areas, and the body-wide symptoms that can look unrelated until you understand the connective tissue thread running through them.We discuss how hypermobility is different from flexibility, why the Beighton score can miss real cases, and why symptoms like bruising, pain, dizziness, brain fog, and poor stamina often get mislabeled as “just clumsiness” or “just anxiety.”In this episode, we cover:The difference between hypermobility spectrum disorder and hypermobile EDS, including the extra diagnostic criteria for hEDS beyond joint laxityKalin explains the difference between flexibility and hypermobility using the rope-versus-bolts analogyThe Beighton score is helpful as a screening tool, but it only checks five joints and can miss people whose hypermobility shows up elsewhere, especially with ageKalin shares her diagnosis story, including years of worsening symptoms, specialist dead ends, and being told it was mental health before the physical pattern was recognizedWe discuss why ADHD and autism appear more often in hypermobile people, with possible shared genetics, connective tissue differences in the brain, autonomic nervous system dysregulation, and altered sensory processingThe connections between hEDS and POTS, orthostatic intolerance, fatigue, GI symptoms, interoception differences, mast cell issues, and inflammationCommon real-life clues like “party tricks,” joint pain in yoga, easy bruising, weak grip, poor stamina, and the feeling of being “a creaky old lady” after sitting too longWhy car rides, standing still, and long periods of upright posture can be especially hard because of blood flow, proprioception, and joint instabilityWhy some people with hEDS need more numbing medication at the dentist, and why urinary leakage, pelvic floor fatigue, and foot pain can all be part of the same connective tissue storyPractical next steps: track symptoms, document family history, protect joints and autonomic function, and look for a provider or physical therapist familiar with hEDSNote: Nothing in this episode constitutes medical advice. Always consult with your physician and pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.Kalin’s website: kalinjohnson.comInstagram: @kalinpharmdLinks & Resources:NYT Magazine article: Inflammation Keeps Us Alive. It's Also Making Us Sick.ADDitude Magazine: Bendy Bodies, ADHD Brains: Connecting the DotsThe Beighton Scoring SystemHypermobility Screening ToolGrowing Up with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: 27 Telltale SignsHave a topic you want Katy and Kalin to cover? Contact us- - - - - Episode edited by E Podcast Productions- - - - -Women & ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching- - - - -Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/katy- - - - -Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse- - - - -Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!- - - - -If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcastTiktok: @womenandadhdpodcastTwitter: @womenandadhdFacebook: @womenandadhdAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 214 with Dr. Brady BradshawIn this special interview episode, guest host and ADHD Life Coach Lindsey Buchanan sits down with her sister, psychiatrist Dr. Brady Bradshaw, MD, for an honest, evidence-based conversation about ADHD and autism in girls and women. Drawing on both medical expertise and deeply personal experience — Lindsey has her own ADHD diagnosis and is the mother of a daughter with Level 1 autism — this episode covers the symptoms, the overlap, the myths, and the path forward for families navigating neurodivergence.In this episode, we cover:Autism in Girls & Women:Why ADHD in females is so frequently missed or misdiagnosedThe difference between how ADHD presents in boys vs. girls (external vs. internal symptoms)Key signs to look for: busy brain, daydreaming, excessive talking, forgetfulness, losing things, sleep disturbancesThe role of hormonal shifts (puberty, postpartum, perimenopause) in unmasking ADHD symptomsHow high intelligence and anxiety can "protect" ADHD girls from detection — but at a serious costWhat happens when smart girls hit the ceiling — the college transition and why it's a high-risk timeThe connection between undiagnosed ADHD and unhealthy coping mechanisms (vaping, caffeine, energy drinks)Why seeking a diagnosis doesn't automatically mean starting medicationAutism in Girls & Women:The neurodivergence umbrella: understanding where ADHD and autism both fitThe important statistic: the majority of people with autism also have ADHD — but not vice versaUnderstanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Levels 1, 2, and 3 — and why Level 1 (formerly Asperger's) is so easy to missCore diagnostic criteria: deficits in social communication AND insistence on sameness/repetitive behaviorsHow masking works in autistic girls with high intelligenceWhy puberty is another "watershed moment" for autism diagnoses in girlsHow insistence on sameness and rigidity is anxiety-driven — and what it actually feels like for the childThe difference between ADHD rigidity and autism rigidity (and why it matters)Debunking Myths:The science is clear: vaccines do NOT cause autismWhy dietary changes (gluten-free, dairy-free) will not "fix" or cure autismThe role of food sensitivities in autism — and when to actually see a GI doctorWhy the desire to find a "cause" can lead families toward misinformationAfter the Diagnosis — What's Next:Why parent education and parent coaching is the highest-yield first stepHow ABA therapy may not be right for every Level 1 autism child (and what PDA — Pathological Demand Avoidance — means for treatment)The importance of speech therapy, OT, and physical therapy — when applicableWhy understanding a diagnosis is therapeutic in itselfLindsay's personal recommendation: the Mothers Together support group on Marco PoloWebsites: bradybradshawmd.com ; womenandadhd.com/lindseyLinks & Resources:Is This Autism? by Donna Henderson — recommended for understanding autism in girls and Level 1 autismADHD 2.0 by Ned Hallowell & John Ratey — Dr. Bradshaw's top ADHD book recommendation- - - - - Episode edited by E Podcast Productions- - - - -Women & ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching- - - - -Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/katy- - - - -Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse- - - - -Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!- - - - -If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcastTiktok: @womenandadhdpodcastTwitter: @womenandadhdFacebook: @womenandadhdAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 213 with Katy Weber & Kalin JohnsonIn this first episode of our new series “Unmasking Our Health,” host Katy Weber teams up with cohost Kalin Johnson, PharmD, to explore a side of ADHD in women that isn’t talked about enough: What it’s like to live in a neurodivergent body. After years of interviewing late‑diagnosed women and seeing the same patterns — chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune issues, hormonal chaos, gut problems, “mystery” symptoms — Katy created the Unmasking Our Health series to explore the bigger questions behind neurodivergence: What if ADHD isn’t just about our brains, but about our whole bodies — and how and why is the medical system missing the full picture?Our first topic for discussion: the explosion of GLP-1 medications (think Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) and what their surprising, wide-reaching effects are revealing about the deeply intertwined relationship between metabolic health, inflammation, hormones, and ADHD.In this episode, we cover:What is metabolic psychiatry? And why it's expanding how we understand ADHD beyond just dopamine and norepinephrineGLP-1 medications and ADHD — what patients are actually reporting (quieter brain, less emotional reactivity, reduced compulsive behaviors, improved executive functioning)The inflammation connection — how chronic neuroinflammation creates "cognitive drag" and why reducing it may give the ADHD brain more bandwidthThe vagus nerve and GLP-1 receptors — a fascinating look at how the gut communicates with the brain (and why 80% of vagal fibers run from the body to the brain, not the other way around!)Estrogen, perimenopause, and metabolic decline — why women over 50 are going on GLP-1s faster than any other populationDrug interactions (and physiologic interactions) — what to watch for if you're on stimulants, SSRIs, or HRT while starting a GLP-1Food noise, reward-seeking, and binge eating — what GLP-1s are actually doing in the brain's dopamine reward circuits, and what that means for neurodivergent women with disordered eating historiesWhere is all of this going? Kalin shares her genuinely optimistic vision for how GLP-1 research is opening the door to a more holistic, systemic understanding of neurodivergent women's healthNote: Nothing in this episode constitutes medical advice. Always consult with your physician and pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.Kalin’s website: kalinjohnson.comInstagram: @kalinpharmdLinks & Resources:Listen to Kalin's first episode: Episode 97 (August 2022)Have a topic you want Katy and Kalin to cover? Contact us- - - - - Episode edited by E Podcast Productions- - - - -Women & ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching- - - - -Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/katy- - - - -Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse- - - - -Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!- - - - -If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcastTiktok: @womenandadhdpodcastTwitter: @womenandadhdFacebook: @womenandadhdAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy