Invisible ADHD in Women: Misdiagnosis, Signs, and Tools That Work with Shanna Pearson

12/08/2025 1h 0min
Invisible ADHD in Women: Misdiagnosis, Signs, and Tools That Work  with Shanna Pearson

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Episode Synopsis

This is StRest! Shanna Pearson—founder of Expert ADHD Coaching, the world’s largest 1:1 ADHD coaching company (nearly 500,000 sessions delivered)—joins Kerstin to reframe adult ADHD, especially in women. They unpack why so many midlife women are missed or misdiagnosed with anxiety/depression, the “everything-all-at-once-now” brain, and how ADHD often shows up internally for women (rumination, emotional surges, drama-magnets) versus more external risk-seeking in men. You’ll learn practical, ADHD-friendly systems: mood-based scheduling, “facts over what-ifs,” physical state changes (from stairs to mint+cold water), and why exercise reliably boosts focus.

Shanna explains how meds can help you focus—but won’t help you focus on the right thing without skills and structure. If social media hijacks your day, relationships feel like eggshells, or overwhelm stalls you at point A, this episode gives concrete tools—and a path to proper diagnosis—with insights from Shanna’s new book, Invisible ADHD: Proven Mood and Life Management for Smart Yet Scattered Women (foreword by Dr. Daniel Amen).



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CHAPTERS



00:00 Social Media Triggers

00:54 Why ADHD Now; Meet Shanna

05:03 Writing the Book; ADHD-I Basics

07:31 Signs Start Early; Not Late-Onset

11:27 Women vs. Men: Internal vs. External

16:34 Coaching That Works (Action-Based)

22:58 Meds Help; Skills Make It Stick

25:47 Mood Scheduling & Focus Routines

30:34 State Changes & Exercise Gains

40:05 Relationships, Misdiagnosis, Next Steps



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Connect with Shanna Pearson


LinkedIn: Shanna Pearson



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