Late Diagnosis, Masking, and Making ADHD Work for You with Dr. Jennifer Dall

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Aug 18, 2025

In this discussion with Dr. Jennifer Dall, a grief-informed neurodivergence specialist and ADHD coach, we dive into the hidden challenges women face with ADHD. She sheds light on societal expectations that delay diagnoses and how symptoms can differ from those seen in men. Dr. Dall shares practical strategies to tackle everyday tasks, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and support. The conversation encourages a shift from shame to acceptance, empowering listeners to embrace their unique ADHD journey.

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INSIGHT

Hidden Mental Hyperactivity

Women often mask outward hyperactivity while experiencing intense mental hyperactivity.
Masking and gendered expectations hid ADHD in women for decades.

INSIGHT

Pandemic And Social Media Sparked Awareness

The pandemic and social media accelerated awareness of adult ADHD.
Many adults only connect symptoms to ADHD after their children are evaluated.

ADVICE

Treat Chores As Micro-Steps

Break low-interest chores into each micro-step and plan transitions explicitly.
Treat each step as its own task to reduce stall points for ADHD brains.

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Hey Team!

My guest today is Dr. Jennifer Dall, a grief-informed neurodivergence specialist, ADHD coach, and educator with more than 25 years of experience. She’s the founder of ADHD Holistically, and blends her expertise in education, yoga, and grief work to build a focus on the whole person to create personalized, sustainable approaches for neurodivergent brains.

In our conversation today, we dig into how societal expectations and outdated research have kept so many women from being recognized as having ADHD. We explore the ways ADHD symptoms often present differently in women, the impact of masking, and the hidden toll of trying to “just keep up.” Dr. Dall also shares quick, real-world strategies for tackling the everyday hurdles that come with ADHD, from taming your to-do list to breaking free of shame around getting help.

adhdholistically.com

If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at HackingYourADHD.com/238

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y835cnrk

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HackingYourADHD

This Episode's Top Tips

1. Low-interest tasks like laundry, dishes, or paying bills often aren’t just one thing. They’re a series of micro-steps that might require you to switch gears, remember where you were, and re-engage. Each step is a potential stall point for an ADHD brain, especially if the task is competing with something more engaging.

2. Watch out for overstimulation shutdowns; ADHD brains can have trouble filtering out sensory input and mental noise. If we can learn to recognize when we’re starting to hit sensory or mental overload, it makes it easier for us to take care of ourselves without burning out.

3. Tasks like keeping track of everyone’s schedules, making sure the pantry’s stocked, or managing the emotional climate of a household often go unnoticed, but these tasks are still real work and they’re important. If we can give this work the weight it deserves, it can help us start seeing ourselves (or someone else in our household) as productive even when the results aren’t as visible or tangible as other tasks.