Late Diagnosis ADHD: Looking Back for Context, Looking Forward for Clarity

Nov 6, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Carla Ciccone, a Toronto-based writer and author of "Nowhere Girl," shares her journey with late-diagnosed ADHD and the complexities of motherhood. She reveals how emotional dysregulation was a lifelong hint of her condition and discusses the challenges of parenting through an undiagnosed lens. Carla emphasizes the importance of therapy, self-compassion, and reframing personal narratives while highlighting systemic barriers to ADHD support. Her insights offer a refreshing perspective on navigating neurodivergence with humor and grace.

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INSIGHT

Diagnosis Brings Relief And Complex Emotions

Late ADHD diagnosis can feel like an explanation and an emotional burden at once.
Carla felt relief and skepticism before researching gender gaps in ADHD diagnosis.

INSIGHT

Emotional Dysregulation Is Central Yet Overlooked

Emotional dysregulation is a persistent, central ADHD feature even when other tasks are managed.
It often goes unrecognized in diagnostic criteria and fuels misdiagnoses.

ANECDOTE

School Interactions Trigger Childhood Fears

Carla links her emotional swings to her menstrual cycle and parenting triggers.
Interactions with school staff currently trigger childhood-school fears and strong reactions.

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Today, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Carla Ciccone, a Toronto-based writer and author of the book Nowhere Girl, about her experiences with ADHD, identity, and motherhood. Carla talks about dealing with her late diagnosis of ADHD, and the overall impact of societal expectations on women. They talk about the difficulties of navigating life with undiagnosed ADHD, how it increases the challenges of parenting, and the importance of self-awareness and therapy in managing ADHD symptoms.

TAKEAWAYS

When you realize you've had ADHD all along, allow yourself grief and grace.
Therapy can be a critical tool for understanding and managing ADHD as an adult.
Motherhood can look completely different through the lens of ADHD.

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Carla Ciccone is a Toronto-based writer whose work spans memoir, cultural commentary, and reported nonfiction. She is the author of Nowhere Girl, a powerful debut that blends personal narrative with investigative reporting to explore her experience of living with undiagnosed ADHD. Through sharp insight and humor, Carla sheds light on the challenges of late diagnosis and the complexities of navigating neurodivergence in a world that often overlooks it.

In addition to her book, Carla's writing has appeared in a range of publications, where she explores topics related to identity, mental health, and gender. With Nowhere Girl, she offers a resonant, deeply personal account that has sparked conversations about how ADHD—especially in women—can remain hidden for years.

BACKGROUND READING

Carla on Instagram, Carla's website, Nowhere Girl: Random House, Amazon

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