In this discussion, Danielle Elliott, a science journalist and documentary producer known for her work on ADHD, explores the surge of ADHD diagnoses among women during the pandemic. She delves into the historical underdiagnosis of women and its profound effects on mental health. Personal stories illuminate the often-misunderstood ways ADHD manifests in women, while insights reveal the emotional struggles many face. Elliott's engaging narrative sheds light on the urgent need for awareness and understanding of ADHD's unique challenges for women.
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Ignoring Instructions
Danielle Elliott often ignores instructions like airplane mode and scrolls through Instagram.
One day, she saw messages with a Fox News link about the rise of ADHD diagnoses in women.
insights INSIGHT
Pandemic and Diagnosis
The pandemic led to increased self-reflection, contributing to a rise in mental health diagnoses, including ADHD in women.
Danielle questions the validity of these diagnoses, wondering if they're genuine or influenced by societal trends.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rejection and Discovery
During the pandemic, Danielle had a relationship that ended badly, leading her to research extreme reactions to rejection.
This research led her to discover Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and consider the possibility of having ADHD.
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III)
Robert Spitzer
American Psychiatric Association
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III), published in 1980, marked a significant shift in psychiatric diagnosis. Led by Robert L. Spitzer, the task force developed a manual that emphasized empirical and descriptive criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. This edition introduced a multiaxial system, specific diagnostic criteria, and a clear distinction between normal and abnormal behaviors. It eliminated vague terms like 'neurosis' and introduced many new diagnostic categories. The DSM-III was designed to improve the reliability of psychiatric diagnoses, facilitate mental health research, and provide a clinically useful tool for treatment and management decisions. Despite controversies, it had a profound impact on psychiatric thinking and practice worldwide[2][3][4].
In this episode, we’re doing something a little different. I want to play you an episode of another show that I think you will like. It’s called Climbing the Walls. This 6-part series investigates why women with ADHD have gone undiagnosed for so long… and how that changed dramatically during the pandemic, when the diagnosis of ADHD in women skyrocketed. The show asks: why women? Why now? How has underdiagnosis impacted women’s mental health?
I checked out the first episode, and I know I’m supposed to say something professional here, but honestly, my first thoughts were, “Oh my god, this is so good.”
Understood sent me the first two episodes to listen to and… now I’m just going to have the wait for the rest of the series to come out, because this is definitely something worth listening to and I just can’t wait to get to the next episode. If you’re a woman with ADHD, this is a series you’re going to want to catch, and even if you’re not, it’s still worth it.
Be sure to subscribe to Climbing The Walls wherever you get your podcasts!