As Tracy Otsuka explains, ADHD is one of the most common neurological conditions in the United States, yet up to 75% of American women and girls who have it go undiagnosed. In fact, many of the adult women who DO receive a diagnosis later in life only manage to discover their own neurodiversity when one of their own children is identified at school and goes through the diagnosis process.

ADHD manifests differently in women than in men (with qualities like inattention or rumination), and women with ADHD are often unrecognized or misunderstood, left to navigate alone in a world that doesn’t see or honor their unique talents and abilities. According to Tracy, these women may experience self-doubt: over-prepare, over-apologize, over-perform, or even monitor their own likability. They may experience emotions deeply and immediately, and have strong reactions to perceived criticism… replaying conversations long after they are over. (And much more!)

Tracy herself recognized her own ADHD traits during her son’s diagnosis, and received her own ADHD diagnosis 8 months later. Since that time, she has devoted her career to coaching thousands of women, sharing important medical research, and creating an amazing resource for girls and women with ADHD, one of Amazon’s top 20 best non-fiction books of 2024, ADHD For Smart-Ass Women. She also hosts a top .1% podcast worldwide, also called “ADHD for Smart-Ass Women,” which receives over 150K downloads per month, is streamed in over 160 countries, and is globally ranked in the top .1% of podcasts.

Tracy celebrates the ‘too-muchness’ of ADHD women as a strength. In today’s podcast, she’ll talk about the stories we tell ourselves, what it’s like to be a recovering perfectionist, and how to lean into the strengths of an unconventional brain. She also shares more about her ‘Your ADHD is A-OK!” program that helps women identify their strengths and harness their brilliance to live to their fullest potential. 

To learn more about Tracy, you can visit her website here, listen to her podcast here, or visit her on Instagram here. 

*This episode is co-branded with The Infinite Capacity Podcast.

Whether you're a woman newly diagnosed with ADHD in midlife or just wondering if you might have it, you'll find lots of valuable information and relatable stories by visiting Andrea's Instagram account for ADHD women: @scatteredandspectacular

You can also contact her there if you want more information about what it's actually like to work with a certified life coach or ADHD coach!