ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka EP. 360: What Women with ADHD Are Really Feeling (Dr. Dr. Gilly Kahn Explains)
Nov 26, 2025
Dr. Gilly Kahn is a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodiversity and emotion regulation, and author of 'Allow Me to Interrupt.' She shares her personal journey with ADHD, discussing the challenges of late diagnosis and the hidden impact of masking. The conversation delves into the intersection of hormones and ADHD, emotional dysregulation, and the often-misunderstood influence of migraines. Gilly offers insights into practical strategies for managing symptoms and emphasizes the importance of authenticity in navigating life with ADHD.
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Hormones Shape Women's ADHD
- Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed because masking and test criteria focus on observable behavior, not distress.
- Hormones like estrogen interact with dopamine, worsening ADHD symptoms during low-estrogen phases like PMDD or menopause.
Diagnosis Sparked By Her Child's Evaluation
- Gilly discovered her ADHD after her son was diagnosed and noticing 'drivenness' as hyperactivity.
- She also linked her lifelong migraines and PCOS to ADHD when researching her symptoms.
Severe Migraines Made Her Seek Help
- Gilly suffered frequent, debilitating migraines sometimes more than once a week and felt driven to seek therapy.
- Typical migraine meds (triptans) made her feel loopy and depressed until newer options helped.
