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ADHD IN WOMEN OVER 40: THE SIGNS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Season 5 Episode 5
You keep losing your keys, missing appointments, and wondering why everyone else seems to be holding it all together—but maybe it’s not just chaos or poor time management. What if your brain is just wired differently?
In this validating episode of The Forties Formula, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by Dr. Emma Waddington, a clinical psychologist and founder of Us Therapy, to unpack what ADHD and neurodivergence really look like in women—especially those in their forties who’ve spent decades masking, overcompensating, and burning out.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why so many women with ADHD are misdiagnosed
- The tropes of the “hyper little boy” and the “good girl” - why girls learn to mask early
- The feast-or-famine cycle of the ADHD brain
- How to stop self-blame and start using your wiring to your advantage with practical tips from gamifying boring tasks to using novelty wisely
Emma reminds us that ADHD is not a deficit, but a different operating system—one driven by interest, challenge, and stimulation. With self-compassion and structure, ADHD women can rediscover what it feels like to thrive.
Whether you’ve always felt “a bit much” – or you’re just now wondering if something deeper is at play – this conversation will make you feel seen.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts—and if this episode struck a chord, forward it to a friend who might be needing to hear the same perspective. 💌 You can support The Forties Formula by leaving a review or subscribing on YouTube for more great content.
00:00 – Intro to Dr. Emma Waddington
03:21 – Why Women Are Often Missed with ADHD
06:35 – The ADHD Brain: Interest, Stress, Novelty
10:58 – The Dopamine Mining Hypothesis
14:10 – Hyperfocus, Exhaustion & Burnout Explained
17:45 – Parenting, Repetition, and ADHD Fatigue
21:00 – Structure, Routine & Everyday Executive Dysfunction
24:12 – ADHD, Relationships & Emotional Triggers
28:40 – Rejection Sensitivity and Time Blindness
32:30 – ADHD in Couples: Challenges and Teamwork
39:02 – ADHD, Nutrition, Caffeine, and Binge Eating
43:27 – The Spectrum Question: “Does Everyone Have a Bit of ADHD?”
48:50 – What’s YOUR forties formula & Episode Wrap-Up
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Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago