MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel

ADHD Aha!: Jessica McCabe (!!) on motherhood, social anxiety, and ADHD medication

Jan 9, 2025

Jessica McCabe, creator of the YouTube channel 'How to ADHD', shares her journey from diagnosis at 12 to understanding ADHD at 32. She discusses the transformative moment when ADHD medication made her feel 'normal' and how it boosted her confidence. Jessica opens up about the struggles of being a new mom with ADHD, including navigating social anxiety and postpartum challenges. She also highlights the importance of community support and shares insights on breaking the stigma around ADHD medication.

35:25

Creator website

Episode guests

Jessica McCabe

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Jessica McCabe highlights the vital role of understanding ADHD and developing coping strategies in transitioning to new motherhood challenges.

She emphasizes that while ADHD medication can provide clarity, it must be complemented with additional skills and strategies for effective management.

Deep dives

Navigating ADHD and Motherhood

Being a new mom while managing ADHD presents unique challenges, but understanding ADHD can prepare individuals to face those challenges. Jessica McCabe emphasizes how her knowledge of ADHD, coupled with the skills she developed through her channel, significantly aided her in transitioning to motherhood. Despite planning for potential postpartum depression, she experienced it alongside postpartum anxiety, which affected both her and her partner. This chaotic period made her realize the importance of self-care and following her own needs, leading to a profound shift in her approach to well-being and motherhood.

Intro

2min

Navigating ADHD and Motherhood

11min

Boosting Confidence: The Role of Medication in ADHD

4min

Navigating New Motherhood with ADHD

14min

Embracing Openness: The Evolving Conversation Around ADHD

2min

Exciting New ADHD Resources for Young Readers

3min

How to ADHD creator Jessica McCabe has been the source of many ADHD “aha” moments — so what were her ADHD “aha” moments?

Jessica was diagnosed when she was 12 years old but didn’t start to look into what ADHD meant for her until she was 32. Taking ADHD medication felt like putting on glasses — experiencing the world as everyone else did. But she didn’t have the skills and strategies to cope with ADHD.

So, she started making YouTube videos...and the rest is history. Listen in as Jessica answers Laura’s many questions, including: What’s it like for her to be a new mom with ADHD? Does she ever get a vulnerability hangover? And why doesn’t she think she’s cool?

Related resources

Jessica’s YouTube channel, How to ADHD
All about ADHD medication
Understanding trouble with social skills

Timestamps

(03:08) How Jessica feels about being involved in so many people’s “aha” moment

(04:55) Jessica’s diagnosis story at age 12

(06:16) Jessica’s ADHD medication “aha” moment

(07:33) The creation of Jessica’s YouTube channel How to ADHD

(11:29) Jessica on social anxiety

(14:07) Busting ADHD medication stigma

(16:52) ADHD and new motherhood

(22:49) Going back to work after maternity leave

(26:01) Laura’s rapid-fire questions

(31:49) Jessica’s parting words

To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the ADHD Aha! podcast page at Understood.

Want to share your ADHD “aha” moment? We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at ADHDAha@understood.org.

Understood 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

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more