r/adhdwomen Mar 10 '26

Emotional Regulation & Rejection Sensitivity I am Dr. Monica Johnson, a clinical psychologist from Understood.org. Ask Me Anything about how stress affects women with ADHD and how to manage it!

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Hello! I’m Dr. Monica Johnson, a clinical psychologist and owner of Kind Mind Psychology, a private practice in New York City that specializes in evidence-based approaches to treating mental health issues. My focus is helping clients manage minority stress. I work with marginalized groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and alternative lifestyles. I’m also the host of Understood.org’s MissUnderstood podcast ADHD and…, created by and for women with ADHD.

I’m thrilled to be here today answering questions about how stress affects women with ADHD. Plus how to break the cycle when the stress leaves you feeling “stuck.” Are you finding yourself overreacting to small triggers, then replaying the situation in your head over and over again? Do you ghost your friends and feel terrible (and lonely) later?

Whatever has left you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, ask me how to handle it. Trust me, I’ve heard it all! I’ll be online to answer your questions on March 10 from 10-12 Eastern Time.

Be sure to check out ADHD Unstuck, the new free, self-guided tool from Understood.org. It’ll help you reset your mood and regain control of your emotions. And it only takes about 10 minutes.

Sign up for the newsletter to be delivered right to your inbox every month. It’s filled with resources, tips, and more.

Thank you so much for having us!

At Understood.org, we’re proud to support women with ADHD. We offer trusted information, real validation, and a strong sense of community. All of our resources are completely free, made possible by generous people who believe in our mission. If this AMA helped you feel seen, supported, or just a little more confident, consider paying it forward with a donation. Your gift helps us keep creating expert-backed resources and safe spaces that truly make a difference for parents, women with ADHD, and educators.


r/adhdwomen Oct 02 '25

Moderator Post Stealth Advertising On r/adhdwomen

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The mod team has noticed an uptick in accounts trying to market services and tools on r/adhdwomen in sneaky ways. These accounts often use AI to mimic genuine community interaction, aiming to manipulate our members and increase the number of brand mentions seen by “the algorithm”. Given the popularity and sophistication of AI tools, it's impossible to catch every bot or artificially generated comment.

Most of the accounts that employ these shady marketing techniques promote ADHD "support" tools, which include phone/web apps, counseling services, AI assistants, coaching, productivity management tools, games, self-improvement workshops, and other similar things. Your reports are Reddit's most effective tool for unmasking and banning these stealth marketing accounts. If you come across a post or comment that raises a red flag, please let us know. 

You can report it by clicking + report + breaks rules + marketing or promotion, or simply choose spam as a reason.

Some standard stealth marketing techniques are:

  • Repeated mentions of Brand-x.
  • Regularly commenting about their success with Brand-x
  • Asking for resources and then mentions Brand-x in comments.
  • Comments to share a "relatable story" and hints at an unnamed solution to encourage further questions about Brand-x.
  • Comments or posts about Brand-x across multiple subreddits.
  • DMs you offering access to or information about Brand-x.

If someone sends you a private message trying to sell you on something, take a screenshot and send us a modmail with their account name. Don’t forget to click report on the message as well, which will flag it for Reddit's main mod team.

The sooner we can identify and remove these accounts, the better we can protect our community.

Please bear with us as we refine our methods for preventing this relentless spam. As we collaborate to address this issue, you may notice that some of your posts or comments are being removed more frequently. We're actively fine-tuning the Automod, but it regularly removes content that it should allow. If you feel that something was removed by mistake, please reach out to us via modmail. We're here to ensure it gets reviewed and put back up as quickly as we can.

Note* As a neurodivergent-focused subreddit, we understand that many of people rely on AI tools for spelling, grammar checking, and language translation. If you do use AI tools, be sure to read our AI policy before you post.

The entire mod team would like to thank our amazing community for being an overwhelmingly positive, friendly, and supportive corner of the internet.


r/adhdwomen 16h ago

Celebrating Success Just got my diagnosis, post ur fave ADHD memes to celebrate 🥳 🎉

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i should’ve known no one here would read the title 😂😭 post your own fave memes please!!!


r/adhdwomen 12h ago

Food Issues I gave every day of the week one job and dinner stopped being a crisis

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this is gonna sound stupid but bear with me.

for like two years i'd buy groceries with genuinely good intentions and then find the chicken weeks later, still sealed, absolutely rank, in the back of the fridge. we were doing takeout 5 nights a week. i have a full time job. i can run an entire project at work. i could not make dinner happen and i could not explain why to anyone, including myself.

what fixed it wasn't planning better. it was not planning at all.

every day of the week has one job now and it never changes. monday is anything you can fold into a tortilla. tuesday i boil water. wednesday is eggs, breakfast for dinner, i don't want to hear it. thursday is rice with stuff on top. friday is food you eat with your hands, nachos or tortilla pizzas or whatever. saturday is one pan in the oven and then i leave the room. sunday we just eat whatever's already in there.

so at 5pm i'm not standing there going "what should i make." it's tuesday. water's going on. only thing left is which pasta and i know like four.

couple other things that mattered more than i expected

i buy the same 20ish things every week. same list every single time. i don't read labels anymore, i don't compare prices, i just get the stuff. if a meal needs a 21st ingredient i don't make that meal. it's unbelievably boring and that's sort of the whole point.

and this one felt dumb when i did it. i wrote down the lazy version of every meal ahead of time. like beef tacos is a real thing i make. but when i've got nothing left the version is: warm a tortilla, cheese in it, fold. that's it. the reason writing it down in advance matters is that at 6pm on a bad day i genuinely cannot invent a shortcut. but i can read one off the fridge. that one thing cut our takeout more than anything else i've ever tried.

also an alarm at 5 that just says START DINNER. not plan dinner. starting was always the problem. the actual cooking is like 12 minutes.

anyway it's been a few months, i've fallen off twice and climbed back on twice, which for me is a record.

what's your tuesday. i'm nosy


r/adhdwomen 14h ago

Rant/Vent Not "Allowed"

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Lately I've noticed I've fallen into a really bad pattern.

I want to do a hobby/interest but I feel like I can't until do something that I "must do" → I procrastinate doing ANY of the things on my "must do" list → I scroll/read/play games on my phone because I'm not doing either my hobbies or my "must do"

I feel like I can't do anything fun until I finish all of my to-do list. And I then feel too overwhelmed to complete a single thing on my to-do list. And I allow myself to be on the phone because it's not the true fun thing I want to be doing. Anyone else have this problem?


r/adhdwomen 23h ago

Memes & Humor adding m&ms to my pill box to make sure i actually take my goddamn meds.

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r/adhdwomen 12h ago

Cleaning, Organizing, Decluttering This is a reminder to clean your Big Drink Tumblers

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And see if the mechanism comes apart for cleaning. I've had this Owala tumbler for almost 2 years. I discovered literally ten minutes ago that the slide mechanism on top comes apart for cleaning. It was VILE under there. I've used this every day since I bought it. 🫠

Don't be me, clean your Big Drinks more often. And check to see if the seal comes off for cleaning


r/adhdwomen 15h ago

Hobby & Hyperfixation Sharing I took a pottery class

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It wrapped up recently after 8 weeks and I just picked up my glazed pieces the other day.
I know you all know what that means.

Yes, I’ve been researching pottery wheels and home kilns all day and in my head I already have a thriving Etsy store.
Because who doesn’t need handcrafted, bespoke pottery for the kitchen in THIS economy?! 😂


r/adhdwomen 9h ago

General Question/Discussion What is a societal 'rule' that you realized doesn't really exist?

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For me, it was realizing that you don’t have to eat “breakfast food” for breakfast. There’s literally no rule saying what you can or can’t eat based on the time of day.

I know that probably sounds silly, but think about how something like eating ice cream for breakfast is treated as a societal 'no-no', yet "breakfast for dinner" is fine.

So now I’m curious: what’s a societal rule you eventually realized was just… made up?


r/adhdwomen 17h ago

General Question/Discussion PSA for ladies in the US: Reset your alarms for next Monday right now!

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I work in State gorvernment, and one of the only perks is that I get all public holidays off automatically. I was so proud of myself last night when I turned off all 7 thousand of my alarms for today so that I could sleep peacefully through this morning without confusing myself. As I was doing this, I panicked a little for my next-Monday self, because it wouldn't be the first time I forgot to reset the alarms and was late for work a whole week later because of it.
So, ladies who need to reset your alarms; go do it NOW. Ladies who woke up too early today and got confused; you're all good, sorry for the interruption and enjoy the rest of your day. Ladies who do not get public holidays off; carry on, but know that we see you. You are the true unsung heros.


r/adhdwomen 17h ago

Memes & Humor they're patiently waiting for their day

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saw the post about putting stickers in a drawer until you can find the right thing to put them on

so i thought i'd share my sticker drawer ✨ some of these in here are weeks old but i have some that are at least 6 years old


r/adhdwomen 1d ago

Celebrating Success To whoever shared this advice for falling asleep if your mind can’t stop racing: THANK YOU

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I always struggled to sleep. Since I was a kid, at the time to sleep, my mind has always been a showreel of images, videos, people talking. This would get even worse during stressing periods because my mind would race to work conversations, ruminating about life, my relationship, playing now exams would go.

Someone on this sub suggested they imagine themselves during a process/calm activity (they would do exercising) and somehow this would relax they brain and they would fall asleep. So I tried.

When my mind started racing about work images at 12AM, I started imagining myself preparing my favorite recipe. Very slowly, step by step. IT WORKS.

I realized my mind just needs to be fed with some imagination and I can control it!!! I did meditation and breathing exercises before but somehow I guess the imagination was not strong enough. If you have troubles sleep, try it!!


r/adhdwomen 8h ago

General Question/Discussion Can't get the words out

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In the last couple years I'm noticing that it's getting harder to speak to people correctly. The words and thoughts come out jumbled, I can't think of the correct words, and generally feel like a blithering idiot when I'm trying to explain something. Is this common with ADHD or could it be a deeper issue?


r/adhdwomen 5h ago

Rant/Vent Why am I so bored of everything I do? Be that chores, hobbies, socialising etc.

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Meds or no meds, I get so bored so quickly, it's frustrating. I tried shuffling hobbies but with each shuffle, my interest decreases minute by minute. Tried new things - metaphorically flipped the table because novelty doesn't excite me either, especially if it's challenging (no matter the degree). I've been able to keep focus on my job only because it gives me a salary with some recognition of my skills (not necessarily promotion though). I've been rotting in bed because it's the only second thing I can do consistently.


r/adhdwomen 1h ago

Food Issues Is it just me or is deciding what to eat way worse than actually cooking it?

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Ok so I need to know if this is an ADHD thing or just a me thing.

I genuinely don't mind cooking. Give me a recipe and 20 minutes and I'm fine. The problem happens way before that — it's standing in front of the fridge, opening it, closing it, opening my phone, scrolling through 15 recipes I've saved and will never make, closing the app, opening it again... and somehow 30 minutes later I still haven't decided anything and now I'm too tired/hungry/annoyed to even cook the thing I finally picked.

Some nights it genuinely feels like my brain just refuses to pick ONE option out of infinite options. Like the deciding itself is the exhausting part, not the doing.

I've tried:

  • meal planning apps (still makes me choose from a list, same problem)
  • meal prepping on Sundays (great in theory, I have the executive function of a golden retriever by Wednesday)
  • "just eat the same thing every day" (works for like 4 days then I can't even look at it anymore)

Does this happen to you guys too? And if you found something that actually works, please tell me because I am so tired of standing in my kitchen like it's a hostage situation 😭


r/adhdwomen 18h ago

Cleaning, Organizing, Decluttering Help me celebrate a victory!

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I got over my shame spiral and went all in on decluttering.

I found Cass and the Clutterbug podcast about 2 years ago, I'm a butterfly, and I have been working on decluttering and reorganizing in a way that works for my brain space by space. This has led to the final boss, the major doom room basement.

She has referred to 'your decluttering muscles getting stronger' with practice, and last night was the first time I finally felt what she meant.

Here is my before and after from my night. Started at 6pm, finished at 5am with MANY interruptions (tending to my family's needs, i.e. mom of 3 kids).

I'm logically aware I made serious progress, but emotionally I just hate how bad it was and how much MORE I need/want to do.

Would love some external validation, cheerleading, and/or camaraderie.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk...


r/adhdwomen 10h ago

Cleaning, Organizing, Decluttering Fridge Organization/Hacks?

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Hey all!

My household of 3 (boyfriend 27, brother 31, and myself 26) are all ADHDers. Our kitchen, specifically the fridge, has been the bane of my existence for many months. Hundreds of dollars of food waste a week while eating out because there's "nothing to eat," disgusting fridge with several months expired food because "we should wait for garbage day," the whole drill... I have finally undertaken the dreadful task of a full clean out: vacuuming chunkies, hosing out our produce drawer "soup," lysol fit to kill a horse, etc. It was awful but the "next weekend I swear" job is finally completed.

We are all plagued with the "If I don't see it, it doesn't exist" gene. How can I avoid this going forward? I plan to put the condiments in the produce drawers now, but if there are any other tips and tricks that helped you guys, it would be much appreciated.

(Cupboards are on the docket for another day- happy to hear your tips for those as well ♥️)

Much love to you all! It's hard out here 😪


r/adhdwomen 9h ago

Rant/Vent I’m so fucked n I’m still not doing anything about it

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I’m on week 3 of this semester and I’ve missed 10 assignments already. I bed rot every whenever I’m not at school. I just keep thinking about not being here. I’m not suicidal tho.

How do you find the patience n care to start trying? I’m depressed. I’ve always struggled with depression. So the adhd and depression are just fueling each other rn. I’m trying to take more adhd meds (200mg quelbree) but they’re not doing shit either. I just want to drop out and rot in my room forever.
A part of me is upset at myself but I’m also in denial that I have adhd despite being diagnosed last year so I’m really not helping myself either. I keep treating it like it’s just a skill issue. But that’s not going to get me to start either.
I dunno. Any advice helps.


r/adhdwomen 3h ago

Rant/Vent Cant afford medicine

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This isnt a begging/donation post, i really just want to vent so hearing me out will help.

I am 19(F), a college student and an artist, and Im severely struggling with inattentive ADHD, it has affected my life so much especially my education and hobbies. I am currently in university/college now but i've needed to take a break due to financial instability and i have to help with the bills in order to go to uni. In context, i also have other mental (severe anxiety, adhd, depression) and *PHYSICAL* illnesses (incurable blood disorder) which makes looking for employment even harder for me. Not to mention, i live in asia where a minimum wage wont be enough to survive and ADHD meds are VERY expensive.

I wanted to vent because no matter how hard i try, i can't do shit AT ALL. The only way for me to earn is to do art commissions and even then im mediocre at that, im not necessarily a bad/beginner artist but im not amazing either. My ADHD just makes it worse because it slows my work down despite trying to pull myself back up everytime.

It hurts to see myself and my state like this, i want to be able to do more, and i know that i am more than this and that i can do better. But i do not have the privilege to function like a normal human being. Why??? Do i not deserve to live?


r/adhdwomen 9h ago

Medication & Side Effects I’m so exhausted when I don’t take my vyvanse

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I started taking vyvanse in December of last year and I’ve had a great time with it. I feel a lot more present in my body and am actually able to formulate cohesive thoughts and do things. But my psychiatrist recommended that I take breaks on days I don’t necessarily need to be productive (ex weekends). This wasn’t so bad a few months ago but as of recently on my “tolerance break” days I’m soooo tired. I feel so incredibly exhausted that it’s hard for me to do anything aside from scroll on my phone and some days I feel like I’m not a real person because of how lethargic I am. Does anyone else feel this way?


r/adhdwomen 11h ago

Admin, School, Career I can’t do my job on meds

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I’m a therapist. I go into a very specific mode when therapizing [sic].

When I take Ritalin, I am on time and do all of my paperwork. But - the therapy is not up to par.

I feel like I can’t connect. I know people say they feel cold on stimulants. I feel like I am having a conversation, not engaging in therapy.

I have to stop taking it.

I’m at a point where things are bad enough that I would really appreciate some pharmaceutical support. I couldn’t therapize on Guanfacine, either, even though it felt like it solved all of my other problems.

I can’t think or feel right in therapy on meds. I don’t think the ADHD is helping me therapize as much as the drugs are dampening something that does.

I’m just going to have to live in chaos if I want to make money? I’m feeling very defeated.


r/adhdwomen 23h ago

Emotional Regulation & Rejection Sensitivity Colleague just described something I was really proud and excited about "a bit cringe"

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I a day job and a side hustle consulting on the same thing I do in my day job. Last week I paid for LEGO Serious Play Training which I've been wanting to do for years (because I'm really into creative research and facilitation techniques), paid a few thousand pounds out of my own pocket to attend and came away so inspired and excited to try it.

I've just mentioned in a meeting for my day job that I'd recently been certified and thought it could be exciting and relevant to the project the meeting was about, and a senior woman went "I'm not sure, I've been in one of them and it's a bit ... cringe, don't you think". I said no I didn't think so and she replied "oh ok."

Guys I am a complete mess - this week I've just returned to work from maternity leave, my baby's started nursery (and is hating it) my two elder kids have gone back to school, I've had two freelance deadlines this week and I'm burning the candles at both end and am TIRED and this passing comment has hurt my feelings so much, I can't stop crying (luckily I am WFH).

My self confidence is already teetering on the edge because of being out of the workplace for a year and I'm due on any day which isn't helping my emotional regulation. But I am so angry that this one woman's opinion has completely taken the wind out of sails about something I was really excited and optimistic about ☹️ all I am going to think about now if I try and run a LSP workshop is about how cringe I am. RSD can fuck off, I hate feeling like this.


r/adhdwomen 1d ago

Rant/Vent My job takes everything I have

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I don't even like my job. Or like, it's fine. It's a job. Sometimes I have a good time at work, mostly it's just fine. The money is pretty good.

I HAVE to be medicated at work. I can't do my job otherwise. But this means that when my workday is over, my medicated window is also over. The last hour at work I crash and then I remain in that state until I take my meds again. More or less.

So, my actual life get nothing. My hobbies, relationships... I have nothing left to give. The balance is completely off.

My weekends are me trying to catch up and trying to rest so I can survive next week.

I wish I didn't have to give all my medicated hours to work. I want to give them to the people and things I love.


r/adhdwomen 1h ago

Emotional Regulation & Rejection Sensitivity High decision paralysis

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I do terrible with stress, especially when it comes to making decisions. It feels crippling and I get physically sick.

Example/ been wanting to get out of my current job for a while and worked and prayed hard for one. Got a great offer but making up tons of excuses on why going for it might be a bad idea. What is wrong with me? It feels it’s super high stake, job is going to be extremely high responsibility which probably gave me the cold feet. It is a good thing, and yes probably need more analysis due to the type of business and I wanted to be conscientious about making a rash decision but I don’t think it should take me so much effort to make a decision.

It’s like I don’t really want to be here but I don’t really want to be there either. Does this happen to any of you ladies?


r/adhdwomen 8h ago

Celebrating Success Getting my master’s degree!

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After an extra year in my program just to finish my thesis that I could never get myself to do, I am finally going to submit my thesis and get my degree :’)

ADHD mixed with burnout mixed with depression is absolutely no joke. It still feels surreal that it’s actually happening!