I am one of the lost girls - the generation of women with ADHD who were missed, misdiagnosed with things like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc. - or worse yet, had their symptoms attributed to, and conflated with, their personality - like “that’s just Whitney” (and not in a flattering way). Those of us who had our disability and/or limitations framed as a personal failing. 

You might be one of the lost girls like me - or maybe your daughter, your mom, sister, wife, or friend is a lost girl. We are the women who lived far longer than we should have - often decades - with undiagnosed, unmanaged, and altogether untreated ADHD. For me, the experience of being undiagnosed led to years of confusion, chaos, feeling misunderstood, and low self-esteem stemming from the belief that we were just broken or defective, because there was no disorder to attribute our behavior, emotions, difficulties, and disability to. 

I finally got my official diagnosis six months ago at the age of 32. In this episode, I’d like to share my story with you in hopes that it helps you in some way - even if it simply lets you know you're not alone.

2:40 - ADHD stereotypes I don't fit (which delayed seeking diagnosis)

12:10 - the ADHD iceberg

16:25 - my ADHD assessment and diagnosis

21:48 - ways I handle the grief that comes with diagnosis and how to move forward in healing and thriving

27:30 - online ADHD resources & social media accounts I follow

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