What is it like to discover ADHD in adulthood, especially after becoming a mother?

In this season 5 finale of Latine ADHD, Dr. Janice Castro sits down with therapist Lehuanani, LMFT, to talk about receiving an ADHD diagnosis at age 33 — seven months postpartum — and how that moment reshaped how she understands herself, her culture, and her life.

For years, Lehuanani believed she was navigating anxiety and depression on her own. But after the birth of her child, everyday routines became harder. Systems that once worked stopped working. That turning point led her to ask a new question: Could this be ADHD?

Receiving a diagnosis helped her make sense of a lifetime of feeling different.

In this conversation, we explore the emotional and cultural layers of late ADHD diagnosis — especially for women. As someone who identifies as both Latina and Hawaiian, Lehuanani reflects on the mixed messages she grew up with about being agreeable and “easygoing.” Together, we talk about what it means to move from confusion to clarity — and how people begin building systems that actually support their brain instead of forcing themselves into expectations that were never designed for them.

In this episode, we talk about:

What it can feel like to receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood
Why many women are labeled “too sensitive” or “too emotional”
Cultural messages around gender roles and behavior
How ADHD symptoms can become more visible after major life changes like motherhood
Moving away from people-pleasing and learning to set boundaries
Rethinking self-care in ways that support the nervous system
A calming tool Lehuanani uses: binaural beats

If this conversation resonates with you:

You may also want to listen to Season 2, Episode 4 of Latine ADHD, where Ari shares her experience discovering ADHD after becoming a mother and building systems that work for her brain.

Both conversations explore late diagnosis — through different lenses of identity, culture, and self-understanding.

Resources & Connect with Lehuanani Perez:

Instagram: @lateadhdtherapist

Website: https://www.neuroprismcounseling.com/

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