Podcast Summary:
ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka
Episode 372: Motherhood, Hormones, Trauma, and Addiction with Dr. Anupriya Gogne
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Tracy Otsuka
Guest: Dr. Anupriya Gogne, Board-Certified Addiction Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor at Brown University
Overview
This episode explores the intersections of ADHD, motherhood, hormones, trauma, and addiction—particularly as they affect women. Tracy Otsuka speaks with Dr. Anupriya Gogne, a psychiatrist specializing in perinatal and reproductive mental health, about her personal ADHD/NVLD diagnosis, her clinical experiences with neurodivergent and addicted mothers, and how biological, psychological, and social factors collide in the perinatal period. Their conversation brings lived experience, empathy, and scientific insight to bear on issues often overlooked—especially in ADHD women.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dr. Gogne’s Story: Personal & Professional Journey (06:01–09:17)
- Path into medicine as both family expectation and true calling.
- Experienced undiagnosed ADHD/NVLD during intensive post-residency demands.
- Personal life changes (moving in with partner, getting a dog) converged to tip her into seeking a diagnosis.
- The process included official neuropsychological testing, which also uncovered NVLD (Non-Verbal Learning Disability).
Quote (on diagnosis):
"I kind of had a sense that I probably do have ADHD... I did the testing, and then I got the results. The ADHD diagnosis happened around, like, six years into that, eight years of working, and that was a little bit expected. But what I didn’t expect was the NVLD diagnosis..."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [08:00]
2. Understanding NVLD vs. Autism (10:34–16:17)
- NVLD primarily impacts visuospatial functioning, not always flagged as a social issue.
- Differences from autism: less severe social deficits, but trouble reading nonverbal cues due to difficulties integrating visual/contextual information.
- Everyday manifestations: getting lost, trouble parking, difficulties with facial recognition and spatial orientation.
- Importance of context for social understanding and the overlap with ADHD inattentive symptoms.
Quote (on NVLD):
"NVLD basically stands for non Verbal Learning Disability... very specifically the visuospatial functioning is affected in this particular learning difference. It can manifest socially, but also the social deficits... might not be as severe [as autism]."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [10:34]
3. ADHD and School vs. Work Structure (19:42–22:12)
- Cultural and educational structure in India buffered symptoms for Gogne; strict systems provided context and routine.
- Found ways to adapt by forming friendships with highly organized classmates.
- Recognized that professional fit (psychiatry, not surgery) aligned with her strengths and limitations.
Quote:
"If I had chosen a surgical branch... I would be miserable, because I would think I’m a bad doctor because I could never do it. My abilities won't have aligned with the differences."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [21:31]
4. Childhood & Coping Strategies (22:24–26:44)
- Described as an inattentive, introverted, daydreamer child; not driven or competitive, content with being “mediocre.”
- Coping mechanisms included befriending good note-takers and eventually finding a specialty/mentor that engaged her curiosity.
- Bullying experiences and subsequent self-reflection on behavior as a defense mechanism.
Quote:
"As a child, I was an introvert... I could be the kid, like on the last bench just staring out the window... But once I realized that as a kid, I was always very good at making friends with kids in the class who were very good at taking notes."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [22:24]
5. ADHD Diagnosis Impact & Acceptance (32:11–37:07)
- Diagnosis prompted her to screen more carefully for neurodevelopmental disorders in adult women.
- Necessary to grieve missed opportunities, but acceptance brought self-compassion and empowerment.
- Emphasized modeling acceptance and self-disclosure with patients to foster connection.
Quote:
"Once I understood that... if I’m on the spectrum somewhere because I do have some difficulties, social difficulties or differences... Accepting that has really taken off that pressure to fit in."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [35:44]
6. Trauma and Addiction: The Inseparability (37:31–44:20)
- Addiction often rooted in attachment disorders stemming from trauma, especially with neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities.
- Substances are used as coping mechanisms for emotional regulation and overwhelm.
- Emphasized need for social connection; relapse risk if new, healthy attachments aren’t built.
Memorable Insight:
"I think there is definitely something about addiction that can be understood as an attachment disorder... The more they attach to the substance, the more they detach further from people."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [39:00]
- ADHD brains particularly vulnerable; addiction as a maladaptive attempt to manage overwhelm.
- Intergenerational and genetic factors can heighten susceptibility.
- Some substances (e.g., opioids) pose uniquely high physiological risks regardless of trauma history.
7. Stimulant Use, Substance Abuse, and Clinical Fears (44:20–51:54)
- Cautions against “phobia” of prescribing stimulants to those with substance history; risk assessment and phase-specific vigilance advised.
- Importance of dual-diagnosis (psychiatric + substance use) clinics that can provide nuanced, multipronged care.
- Calls for flexibility and creativity in treatment plans for mothers (considering sleep, sensory needs, developmental changes).
Quote:
"Do a realistic risk assessment. Keep doing that at different stages in treatment... We can teach people how to use stimulant. And so I think where I differ from a lot of clinicians... I really want the next generation... to not be so scared of controlled substances..."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [47:14]
8. Motherhood, Hormones, and ADHD (51:54–67:18)
- Pregnancy and postpartum marked by seismic hormonal, environmental, and sleep changes that can exacerbate ADHD and mood symptoms.
- High motivation for treatment during pregnancy; dramatic hormone shifts post-birth often precipitate depression/anxiety.
- Social/family systems and gender roles equally decisive in postnatal distress: what we call “ADHD worsening” may be about biological transitions and inflexible expectations on mothers.
- Guilt, shame, and perfectionism are more pronounced in women, especially around help-seeking and not meeting unrealistic standards.
Quote:
"So, you know, like women never really catch a break. They have all these hormonal changes. And estrogen, estrogen, progesterone, are closely related to dopamine and serotonin. And so there is a correlation of symptoms, definitely."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [52:24]
Quote:
"Women internalize that. It affects their sense of motherhood... The perfectionism, cognitive distortions, and the internalization and the rumination I find, is definitely more something to address, more so in women."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [66:26]
9. Advice for Mothers Who Feel Broken (67:49–72:59)
- “Nothing is wrong with you.” Postnatal overwhelm is the predictable result of physiology and life changes—patience and self-kindness are essential.
- Sleep, hydration, and support are not optional luxuries; asking for help is necessary, not a sign of failure.
- Psychiatric consultation is about support—not just prescribing medication, and multimodal care (therapy, coaching, creative workarounds) is best.
Memorable Advice:
"It does not reflect on her motherhood if she asks for help for something... If you don’t and you keep on taking everything on yourself, you’re going to burn out. It’s not a sustainable way to function."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [68:10]
10. Practical Workarounds & Final Thoughts (73:36–79:10)
- Dr. Gogne’s top ADHD workaround: early morning self-care routines made possible by an enthusiastic dog.
- Individualizing routines and matching them to one’s own rhythm and family/work structure is vital.
- Advocates for psychiatrists (and all clinicians) to spend more time supporting the whole person, not just writing prescriptions.
- Dr. Gogne’s book, "Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Adult Women," combines vignettes and research for practical support and understanding.
Quote:
"Waking up early and making that time for myself has, has been super helpful."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [74:43]
Closing Hope:
"Hopefully... people can feel like there's nothing wrong with being a patient or... getting help, like it's just... the same experiences and then... how those things changed after treatment. So hopefully... there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [78:30]
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
-
On the overlooked brilliance and struggle:
"In the thousands of ADHD women that I've had the privilege of meeting, I've never met one that wasn't truly brilliant at something. Not one."
— Tracy Otsuka [02:25] -
On being diagnosed as an adult:
"There’s always like a grieving process when a person is diagnosed as an adult... once I was through that grieving process... then I was able to ... not feel bad about it or not feel like, ‘Oh, I'm weird.’"
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [34:50] -
On stimulant use and stigma:
"I would say to clinicians, don't be scared. Do a realistic risk assessment..."
— Dr. Anupriya Gogne [48:22]
Important Segments & Timestamps
- [06:01] Dr. Gogne’s personal diagnosis story and discovery of NVLD
- [10:34] Explanation of NVLD and differentiation from autism
- [19:42] School/work structure and neurodivergence
- [32:11] Impact of diagnosis: acceptance, grief, and clinical change
- [37:31] The trauma–addiction connection
- [44:20] Addressing stimulant medication fears in addiction
- [51:54] ADHD, hormones, and the perinatal period
- [61:22] Gender roles, environment, and postnatal executive function
- [67:49] Support for struggling mothers—no shame in help-seeking
- [73:36] Dr. Gogne’s ADHD workaround: early morning ritual
Takeaways for Listeners
- ADHD (and NVLD) shapes both challenges and strengths; self-knowledge and acceptance transform shame into strategy.
- Motherhood is a period of vulnerability and potential—biologically, socially, and emotionally. Support, flexibility, and destigmatized help-seeking are vital.
- Trauma and addiction are deeply intertwined with attachment and neurobiology; shame and punitive systems impede healing.
- Psychiatric care for women with ADHD, addiction, or trauma must be individualized, integrative, and compassion-driven.
- Women—especially mothers—require more than medication; therapy, structure, social support, and real-world workarounds matter.
- Early mornings might be one small, powerful routine for gaining a sense of peace and control.
Find Dr. Anupriya Gogne’s book, “Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Adult Women,” for a mix of clinical guidance and real-life stories designed for trainees, clinicians, and laypeople alike.
For further connection, Dr. Gogne practices at Brown University Health (Providence, Rhode Island).