Episode Summary: ADHD & The Female Brain (The Answers!)
Podcast: Change Your Brain Every Day
Hosts: Dr. Daniel Amen & Tana Amen
Release Date: December 12, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen dive deep into the unique manifestations of ADHD (referred to as ADD in the episode) in girls and women. Combining personal anecdotes with decades of clinical experience, they highlight how ADHD in females is often underdiagnosed due to its subtle symptoms, explore brain-based differences between genders, discuss emotional and practical impacts, and offer actionable advice on supporting women and girls with ADHD.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. ADHD in Females: Underdiagnosed & Misunderstood
- Girls and Women Present Differently: Unlike boys, girls with ADHD are often not hyperactive or impulsive. Instead, their struggles manifest as trouble with focus, organization, and distractibility.
- Dr. Amen: “ADD in girls and in women is often not diagnosed because they’re usually not a big pain in the neck like boys are.” [00:36]
- Girls may underachieve for their potential, leading to chronic frustration that can last for years if undiagnosed.
2. The Role of Anxiety in Girls with ADHD
- Anxiety Masks Symptoms:
- Tana Amen: “They have a lot more anxiety. And so the anxiety, that high level of anxiety keeps them from acting out.” [01:25]
- Dr. Amen notes that increased frontal lobe activity in females (linked to planning, judgment, and empathy) both confers strengths and leads to vulnerabilities like anxiety and over-empathy. [01:46–02:23]
3. Gendered Brain Science
- Distinct Female Brain Strengths:
- More connection, empathy, and impulse control due to stronger frontal lobes.
- Increased vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and "too much empathy."
- Dr. Amen: “90% of the IQ for women is in their frontal lobes…any sort of frontal lobe injury…can impact their life dramatically more than a frontal lobe injury will impact a male’s life.” [02:23]
4. Genetics and Family Patterns
- ADHD is Highly Genetic:
- Dr. Amen traces ADHD in boys back to the mother’s side, often unnoticed until diagnosed in adulthood.
- "Now she's 40 years old, and she's like, oh, my God, that's me." [03:30]
- Treating adult women with undiagnosed ADHD can bring relief but sometimes sparks grief over “lost potential”: “If only I knew that when I was 7 or 8 and I got treated, then where would I be?” [03:46]
5. Practical Identification of ADHD in Girls & Women
- Nontraditional Symptoms:
- Trouble completing homework ("Half an hour of homework takes two or three hours").
- Chaotic relationship patterns (seeking excitement through conflict and breakups).
- Chronic distractibility, organization problems, lateness, and impulse control issues.
- Dr. Amen: “Somebody needs to be thinking about ADD because, you know, they may just think, oh, well, this person's just cursed by not doing relationships well.” [05:29]
6. The Ineffectiveness of “Try Harder”
- Counterproductive Advice:
- Tana Amen: "Sometimes telling someone to just try harder not only doesn’t work, but it’s very frustrating to that person." [04:23]
- Dr. Amen: "The harder they try, the worse it gets…it literally turns that part of their brain off when they try harder." [04:39–04:46]
7. Actionable Strategies and Tips
- Physical & Nutritional Interventions:
- Exercise is essential—especially intense exercise—for mood and focus.
- Tana Amen: "When I don’t exercise, I get irritable and I find myself feeling foggy and irritable and that it’s much easier for me to be reactive." [06:38]
- Start mornings with protein (not carbohydrates): “Think eggs with turkey, some steamed spinach.”
- “When you eat protein, it increases focus, it increases dopamine, which stimulates your frontal lobes.” [07:29]
- Use small amounts of protein throughout the day "like medicine for your brain."
- Exercise is essential—especially intense exercise—for mood and focus.
- Supplement Recommendations:
- Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA (not DHA), support focus for people with ADHD. [07:51]
8. Emotional Impact of Diagnosis & Treatment
- Relief and Regret:
- Tana shares that her prior successes masked how hard she was working: “What I didn’t know was that wasn’t even close to my potential. That was the interesting part. And I didn’t realize that it didn’t need to be that hard.” [08:11]
- Since treatment, Tana feels aligned with her mission and passion: “Now I feel like I’m actually living my mission. And that’s what’s so much fun.” [08:48]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dr. Amen, on gendered diagnosis: “ADD is highly genetic, so you totally got it from your mother.” [03:11]
- Tana Amen: “Now I feel like I’ve got this incredible amount of passion for what I’m doing. That’s the difference.” [08:48]
- Dr. Amen, closing: “That’s our goal for you and for those you love, to optimize your brains. And when you do, you clearly can change your life.” [08:59]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:36 — Girls' ADHD symptoms and underdiagnosis
- 01:25 — Anxiety masking hyperactivity in females
- 02:23 — Why frontal lobe injuries impact females more
- 03:30 — Family patterns & adult diagnosis
- 04:23 — Why "try harder" makes it worse
- 05:29 — Relationship drama & behavioral cues
- 06:38 — Exercise and nutrition tips for focus
- 07:51 — Omega-3s and supplement strategies
- 08:11 — Tana’s personal story: Success vs. true potential
- 08:48 — Living with purpose post-diagnosis
Takeaways
- ADHD/ADD in women and girls is often missed or dismissed, but presents real challenges and emotional tolls.
- Recognizing unique symptoms and appreciating the brain-based differences is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective help.
- Practical strategies (exercise, protein, supplements) and self-acceptance can unlock potential and change lives.
- Compassion, understanding, and early intervention are especially important when supporting girls and women with ADHD.
For anyone seeking to support themselves or loved ones with ADHD—especially women and girls—this episode offers science, empathy, and hope wrapped in the engaging, conversational style of Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen.