Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered

Hyperfocus, Friendship, School Mums & The Reality of Neurodivergent Motherhood
This week is less expert advice and more of a catch-up.
The kind of catch-up where one mum accidentally loses half a day to Pinterest strategy, another starts demolishing a bathroom at 11pm, and somehow both of them end up discussing friendship, parenting, school communities and why socialising feels so complicated as a neurodivergent adult.
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon reflect on the aftermath of Lexi's birthday party, the surprisingly big emotions their daughters experienced after saying goodbye to each other, and what it looks like raising children who feel everything deeply.
They also dive into:
Hyperfocus and losing hours without realising it
Why socialising can feel exhausting even when you enjoy people
School mums, playdates and creating community
Neurodivergent friendships
Parenting emotionally intense children
Supporting kids through friendship challenges
Why finding "your people" matters so much
The difference between socialising because you want to and socialising because you feel like you should
This episode is funny, honest, completely unstructured and incredibly relatable.
Basically, exactly what happens when two neurodivergent mums sit down for a chat.
💡 What We Talk About in This Episode
• Hyperfocusing on completely the wrong thing• Late-night DIY projects and impulsive decisions• Birthday party planning and recovery• Why their daughters struggled after saying goodbye• Big emotions in neurodivergent children• School friendships and playground dynamics• Building community as a parent• Why socialising can feel so draining• The pressure of school parent culture• Playdates, birthday parties and finding your people• Neurodivergent parenting wins• Matching your child's energy instead of fighting it• Why some friendships feel easy and others feel exhausting• The invisible mental load of motherhood
🔑 Key Takeaways
• Hyperfocus isn't always productive — sometimes it's Pinterest strategies and washing Lego.
• Neurodivergent children often experience friendships and separations very intensely.
• You don't need hundreds of friends — you need the right people.
• Parenting often means pushing through your own discomfort to support your child's needs.
• Matching a child's energy can sometimes work better than trying to force them to calm down.
• Not every social event is worth your energy.
• Community matters — for both mums and kids.
👩‍👧 Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
• Neurodivergent mums• Women navigating school friendships and playdates• Parents of emotionally intense children• Women who feel exhausted by socialising• ADHD and AuDHD mums• Anyone who has ever lost three hours to a random hyperfocus project
💬 A Message From This Episode
Sometimes motherhood looks like:
Having a perfectly packed lunch.
A clean kitchen.
A child who is fed and thriving.
And absolutely none of the things you actually planned to do that day.
And that's okay.
Because progress doesn't always look the way we expected it to.
📲 Follow & Connect
Follow along for clips, conversations and weekly chaos:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered for weekly episodes on:
• ADHD in women• Neurodivergent motherhood• Emotional regulation• Parenting neurodivergent children• Identity, friendship and community• Real life without the filter
New episodes released every Thursday.
💥 Highlights
Hyperfocusing on Pinterest instead of the actual to-do list
Washing and sorting thousands of pieces of second-hand Lego
The emotional fallout when best friends live in different states
Why school friendships become more complicated as kids get older
Socialising as an introverted neurodivergent mum
The surprising parenting strategy that helped calm a hyper child
The difference between having lots of people around and having people who truly get you

Why are so many women only discovering they’re neurodivergent later in life?
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon are joined by psychiatrist Dr Clinton White to unpack what’s really happening with late ADHD and autism diagnoses in women.
From missed signs in childhood to years of being labelled with anxiety or depression, this conversation dives into how easily neurodivergence is overlooked — especially in women who have spent their lives masking, coping, and “holding it together.”
Dr White shares openly about the limitations of psychiatric training, why autism has historically been seen as a “male condition,” and how even professionals can miss it.
The conversation explores the moment everything clicks — when women receive a diagnosis and suddenly their past, behaviours, and struggles finally make sense.
“The veil of confusion about their life just lifts… and that alone changes everything.”
They also dive into common misdiagnoses, including anxiety, depression, and burnout, and explain why these are often symptoms rather than the root cause.
This episode is honest, validating, and deeply eye-opening — especially if you’ve ever felt like something didn’t quite add up.
💡 What We Talk About in This Episode
• Why ADHD and autism are often missed in women• Masking and why it hides symptoms so effectively• The emotional impact of late diagnosis• “Rewinding your life” and finally making sense of things• Why anxiety is one of the most common misdiagnoses• The limitations of psychiatric training• The difference between symptoms vs root cause• Why diagnosis alone can be life-changing• How understanding your brain removes shame• ADHD and autism as both strengths and challenges• The role of hormones and PMDD in neurodivergent women• Common co-occurring conditions (binge eating, burnout, trauma)• Why so many women are only discovering this now
🔑 Key Takeaways
• Many women diagnosed with anxiety may actually have underlying ADHD or autism • Late diagnosis often creates a powerful “everything makes sense now” moment • Masking is one of the biggest reasons neurodivergence is missed in women • Diagnosis doesn’t change who you are — it explains who you’ve always been • Shame often comes from misunderstanding, not from the behaviour itself • Many co-occurring challenges (burnout, binge eating, PMDD) are linked to neurodivergence • Awareness alone can be life-changing, even without treatment
👩‍👧 Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
• Women with ADHD• Women who suspect they may be neurodivergent• Late diagnosed ADHD or autistic women• Mums navigating overwhelm, burnout or anxiety• Women who feel like they’ve never quite fit in• Anyone questioning whether their diagnosis tells the full story
💬 A Message From This Episode
You weren’t missing something.
You weren’t failing.
You were working with a brainthat no one had properly explained to you yet.
And once you understand it?
Everything starts to shift.
📲 Follow & Connect
Follow for more real, relatable conversations:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered for weekly episodes on:
• ADHD in women• Autism in women• Late diagnosis• Neurodivergent motherhood• Emotional regulation• Identity and self-trust
New episodes released every Thursday.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): Why Everything Feels So Personal
Why does a delayed reply feel like rejection?Why does one comment spiral into a full identity crisis?And why do we care so much about whether people like us… even when we don’t like them?
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon unpack one of the most intense and misunderstood parts of ADHD:
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).
From overthinking text messages to spiralling after perceived criticism, they break down what RSD actually is, why it happens, and how it shows up in everyday life — especially for women who were diagnosed later in life.
They explore the difference between real rejection vs perceived rejection, and why your brain can react just as strongly either way — even when logically, you know it’s “not a big deal.”
This episode also dives into:
People pleasing and chasing validation
Over-apologising and assuming you’ve done something wrong
The impact of RSD on friendships, work, and dating
Why motherhood changes your tolerance for certain relationships
And how awareness can help you respond differently — even if the feeling doesn’t go away
This is one of those episodes where you’ll likely hear yourself in every example… and finally understand why.
💡 What We Talk About
What Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) actually is
Why ADHD brains default to worst-case thinking
Perceived rejection vs actual rejection
Overthinking texts and delayed replies
“I must have done something wrong” thinking
Fear of judgment and fear of failure
Social media anxiety and posting vulnerability
Being triggered by tone, feedback, or exclusion
Dating and caring more about being liked than liking someone
People pleasing and masking
The impact of RSD on friendships and relationships
Why motherhood changes your standards and capacity
How RSD affects work, feedback, and confidence
Misdiagnosis as anxiety or depression
Talking it out vs spiralling internally
Reframing thoughts and building awareness
🔑 Key Takeaways
RSD is an intense emotional response to perceived rejection — even when it’s not real.
Your brain can logically know something isn’t a big deal… and still feel it deeply.
Many women were misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression instead of ADHD.
RSD can lead to people pleasing, over-apologising, or withdrawing from relationships.
It often impacts friendships, dating, and work more than people realise.
Awareness doesn’t remove RSD — but it helps you respond to it differently.
You don’t need everyone to like you — and most of the time, nothing has actually gone wrong.
👩‍👧 Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Women with ADHD
Late diagnosed ADHD women
Women who overthink everything they say or do
Anyone who spirals after a message, comment, or interaction
Mums navigating friendships, dating, and identity
Women who feel like they’re “too sensitive”
Anyone who constantly worries they’ve upset someone
💬 A Message From This Episode
You’re not too sensitive.You’re not overreacting.And you’re not imagining it.
But…
It also doesn’t mean it’s real.
Sometimes your brain is trying to protect youby looking for danger that isn’t actually there.
And once you can see that?
You get to choose how much power it has.
📲 Follow & Connect
For more real, relatable conversations:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered for weekly episodes on:
ADHD in women
Neurodivergent motherhood
Emotional regulation
Late diagnosis
Relationships, identity & self-trust
New episodes released every Thursday.

Neurodivergent Kids, PDA & Parenting Without Breaking Their Spirit
What if your child isn’t being “difficult”…but actually can’t do what you’re asking?
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon dive into the reality of parenting neurodivergent children — especially when their brains work in ways that don’t respond to traditional parenting approaches.
Alisha shares her experience navigating an occupational therapy (OT) assessment for her daughter, including the moment she realised there were far more signs of neurodivergence than she initially recognised.
From struggles with transitions and emotional regulation to seemingly “defiant” behaviour that isn’t actually defiance, this episode explores what it really looks like to parent a child with a different neurotype — and how confronting that can be as a parent.
They also unpack Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) — including the constant negotiation, refusal, and resistance that can show up when a child feels a loss of autonomy, even in everyday situations.
This is an honest, nuanced conversation about shifting from“why won’t they just listen?”to“what’s actually going on in their brain?”
💡 What We Talk About
The early signs of neurodivergence in children
Masking at school vs behaviour at home
What an OT assessment actually involves
Why many behaviours get dismissed as “just being a kid”
The difference between defiance and neurological response
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) explained in real life
Negotiation, refusal and “I can’t do it” responses
Emotional meltdowns vs typical tantrums
Sensory sensitivities and everyday struggles (clothes, food, routines)
Parenting styles that don’t work for neurodivergent kids
The impact of traditional discipline approaches
Reparenting yourself while parenting your child
The emotional load of trying to “get it right”
🔑 Key Takeaways
Many neurodivergent children mask in structured environments like school, but release everything at home.
What looks like defiance is often a nervous system response, not a choice.
PDA can show up as refusal, negotiation, or saying “no” — even to things they actually want.
Traditional discipline strategies often don’t work for neurodivergent children.
Understanding your child’s brain helps reduce frustration — but doesn’t make parenting easy.
Parenting a neurodivergent child often requires unlearning how you were raised.
👩‍👧 Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Mums of neurodivergent children
Women who suspect their child may be neurodivergent
ADHD or AuDHD mums parenting similar traits in their kids
Parents struggling with “defiance,” meltdowns or emotional regulation
Anyone trying to parent differently from how they were raised
💬 A Message From This Episode
Your child isn’t trying to make your life harder.
They’re trying to navigate a brainthat doesn’t always let them do what’s being asked.
And you?
You’re learning in real time how to support themwhile undoing everything you were taught about how parenting “should” look.
That’s not failure.
That’s awareness. ✨
📲 Follow & Connect
For more real, unfiltered conversations on ADHD, autism and motherhood:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered for weekly episodes on:
ADHD in women
Neurodivergent parenting
Late diagnosis
Emotional regulation
Identity, overwhelm & self-trust
New episodes released every Thursday.

ADHD Tax: The Hidden Cost No One Talks About
Ever bought something…lost it…then bought it again?
Or filled your fridge with “healthy food”only to throw it all out a week later?
Welcome to ADHD tax.
In this episode, Alisha and Rhiannon unpack the very real (and often expensive) ways ADHD shows up in everyday life — from impulse spending and forgotten bills to unused subscriptions, wasted groceries, and hobby graveyards.
It’s funny.It’s painfully relatable.And it’s probably costing you more than you realise.
💡 What We Talk About
What ADHD tax actually is (and why most people don’t realise they’re paying it)
Buying things twice because you lost them
Letting bills go unpaid → then paying fees or fines
Wasting money on groceries you don’t cook
Ordering takeaway when food is already at home
Subscriptions you forgot to cancel
The “I’ll be this person” hobby purchases
Storage units, offices, and unused spaces
Delivery convenience vs saving money
Why autopay is both a saviour and a trap
The cost of needing convenience to function
Decision fatigue and avoidance behaviours
🔑 Key Takeaways
ADHD tax isn’t about being “bad with money” — it’s about how your brain works.
You often spend more to compensate for executive function challenges.
Convenience (like delivery or pre-made food) isn’t laziness — it’s a support strategy.
Avoidance (like not opening mail) can lead to bigger financial consequences.
Subscriptions and systems only work if they match your behaviour — not your intentions.
Awareness helps reduce shame… even if it doesn’t fix everything.
👩‍👧 Who This Episode Is For
Women with ADHD (diagnosed or questioning)
Mums feeling overwhelmed by life admin
Anyone who impulse buys or forgets to cancel things
Women trying to “get organised” but struggling
People constantly starting systems… and abandoning them
💬 A Message From This Episode
You’re not lazy.You’re not careless.You’re not “bad with money.”
You’ve just been trying to survive in a systemthat wasn’t designed for your brain.
And sometimes…that comes with a price tag.
📲 Follow & Connect
Follow for more real, unfiltered conversations:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
🎧 Subscribe
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered for:
ADHD in women
Real mum life
Emotional regulation
Overwhelm & identity
Systems that actually work

ADHD in Real Life: The Chaos, The Humour & The Truth
This episode is not polished.It’s not structured.And honestly… that’s exactly the point.
Because this is what ADHD actually looks like in real life.
From losing essential podcast equipment minutes before recording, to impulse Kmart shopping, overstimulation at family events, rage-driving home for a disappointing soft serve, and late-night dopamine spending spirals… this episode is a raw, funny, and very real glimpse into the everyday chaos of neurodivergent mum life.
Alisha and Rhiannon unpack what happens after overstimulation hits — the coping mechanisms, the habits, the “ADHD tax,” and the ways their brains try to regulate (whether that’s helpful… or not).
They also dive into:
Why eating can feel like “too many steps”
How decision fatigue shows up in parenting
The reality of masking at social events
The difference between accountability vs rebellion
And the constant search for systems that will finally “fix everything”
This episode is messy, relatable, and packed with those “oh my god, I do that too” moments.
💡 What We Talk About
Losing things you just bought (ADHD tax in action)
Impulse spending and dopamine chasing
Overstimulation after social events
“Enrichment time in my enclosure” (aka recovery mode)
Emotional spirals over small things (like ice cream…)
Masking and social exhaustion
Parenting while overstimulated
Why eating feels overwhelming or gets forgotten
Simple “survival food” strategies
The all-or-nothing trap with routines
Public accountability vs PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)
Exercise motivation struggles
The obsession with “fixing” life through systems, gadgets & hacks
Trying to build habits that actually work with ADHD
🔑 Key Takeaways
ADHD doesn’t just show up in big ways — it’s in the tiny, everyday moments.
Overstimulation often leads to coping behaviours like spending, overplanning, or avoidance.
“Simple tasks” (like eating or cooking) can feel disproportionately hard.
There is no perfect system — only what works for you in this season.
Awareness doesn’t always change behaviour… but it does create compassion.
You’re not broken — your brain just works differently.
👩‍👧 Who This Episode Is For
Mums with ADHD
Women who feel constantly overstimulated
Anyone who impulse shops then regrets it
Women who forget to eat… then crash later
People who feel like life is “chaotic but functional”
Anyone tired of trying to be organised and failing
💬 A Message From This Episode
You’re not the only one doing life like this.
The chaos.The overwhelm.The random bursts of motivation.The “I’ll fix my whole life tomorrow” energy.
It’s not just you.
And maybe…you don’t need fixing as much as you think.
📲 Follow & Connect
Follow along for more real, unfiltered motherhood conversations:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
🎧 Subscribe
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered for weekly episodes on:
ADHD & neurodivergence in women
Late diagnosis
Emotional regulation
Mum life without the filter
Identity, overwhelm & self-trust

In Hindsight: The ADHD Signs We Missed Growing Up
Looking back now… it all makes so much more sense.
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon reflect on the signs of ADHD and neurodivergence that were completely missed growing up — especially as girls.
From constantly rearranging bedrooms and hyperfixating on new ideas, to being labelled “chatty,” daydreaming in class, and leaving everything until the last minute… this episode is a deep dive into the patterns that were always there — just never recognised for what they were.
They talk about the reality of growing up neurodivergent in a time where ADHD was only really associated with “naughty little boys,” and how so many women were overlooked, misunderstood, or forced to mask just to fit in.
This episode is part reflection, part validation — especially if you’ve ever looked back at your childhood and thought:
“How did no one pick this up?”
What We Talk About in This Episode
The ADHD traits that were missed in girls
Why so many women are diagnosed later in life
Constantly rearranging rooms and needing change
Hyperfixation, impulse buying and dopamine chasing
Having a million hobbies (and unfinished projects)
Procrastination and last-minute productivity
Being “chatty” vs being disruptive
Daydreaming, doodling and struggling with traditional learning
Creativity vs the pressure to follow a “proper path”
Perfectionism and fear of not being good enough
Masking, people pleasing and trying to fit in
Identity struggles and not knowing “who you are”
Rejection sensitivity and fear of feedback
Emotional intensity and empathy
Losing things, forgetting things, and mental overload
Parenting neurodivergent children (and reparenting yourself)
Key Takeaways
ADHD in girls often presents very differently — and is easily missed.
Many women grow up masking, people pleasing, and trying to fit into expectations that don’t suit them.
Hyperfixation, impulsive decisions, and constant change are often driven by dopamine needs.
Procrastination isn’t laziness — it’s often how the brain creates urgency to function.
Rejection sensitivity can impact friendships, work, and confidence deeply.
Many of the things you were criticised for growing up… were actually traits of how your brain works.
Understanding this now allows you to show yourself (and your child) more compassion.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Women questioning if they might have ADHD
Late-diagnosed ADHD women
Neurodivergent mums
Women reflecting on their childhood experiences
Anyone who felt “different” growing up but couldn’t explain why
Parents noticing similar traits in their children
A Message From This Episode
You weren’t lazy.You weren’t too much.You weren’t disorganised, dramatic, or difficult.
You were navigating a world that didn’t understand your brain.
And now?
You get to understand it for yourself. ✨
Follow & Connect
Follow the podcast on Instagram for more relatable content, clips and conversations:
@motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
Subscribe & Follow the Podcast
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:
ADHD in women
Autism in women
Late diagnosis
Neurodivergent motherhood
Emotional regulation
Masking and burnout
Identity, confidence and self-trust
New episodes released every Thursday.

ADHD, Autism & Overstimulation: Why Everything Feels Like Too Much
Why do some days feel completely manageable… and others feel like everything is just too much?
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon go deeper into what it actually feels like to live with a neurodivergent brain — from emotional intensity and sensory overwhelm, to decision fatigue, task paralysis, and the invisible load of trying to function in a world that doesn’t quite fit.
They unpack the reality of ADHD and autism in women, including the constant mental noise, the need for clear direction, and why even simple tasks can feel impossible without structure. From needing step-by-step instructions to struggling with transitions, this episode highlights the parts of neurodivergence that often go unseen.
This episode also explores sensory overwhelm and overstimulation, and how things like noise, temperature, clothing, interruptions, and emotional demands can build up to the point where everything feels unbearable — often leading to irritability, shutdown, or feeling like you’re “not yourself.”
You’ll also hear the contrast that so many neurodivergent women experience — being highly capable, organised, and thoughtful in some areas, while struggling with everyday tasks like emails, bills, and follow-through in others.
This is a real, honest conversation about what it feels like to live inside a brain that is constantly processing, analysing, feeling, and juggling… and why that can be both a strength and a challenge.
What We Talk About in This Episode
Emotional intensity and deep empathy
Pattern recognition and being highly observant
ADHD and autism traits in everyday life
Sensory overwhelm and overstimulation
Irritability and emotional dysregulation
Why simple tasks feel overwhelming
Needing clear instructions and structure
Task initiation and executive dysfunction
Decision fatigue and “too many steps”
Being both highly organised and highly chaotic
Emails, admin and avoidance
Transitions and in-between time struggles
Why interruptions feel so hard
Parenting while neurodivergent
Managing your own needs while supporting your child
Key Takeaways
Many neurodivergent women experience deep empathy and emotional intensity, which can be both a strength and a challenge.
Sensory overwhelm isn’t “being dramatic” — it’s your brain processing too much input at once.
Executive dysfunction means even simple tasks can feel impossible without clear steps or structure.
You can be highly organised in some areas of life and completely overwhelmed in others — both can exist at the same time.
Avoidance (like ignoring emails or tasks) is often a response to overwhelm, not laziness.
Understanding how your brain works helps you create systems that actually support you — instead of constantly feeling like you’re failing.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Women with ADHD
Women who think they might be neurodivergent
Late diagnosed ADHD or autistic women
Neurodivergent mums
Women who feel overwhelmed by everyday life
Women who struggle with executive dysfunction or task initiation
Women who feel like they are constantly juggling everything
Mothers navigating their own needs alongside their child’s needs
A Message From This Episode
If you’ve ever felt like everything is “just too much” — even when nothing looks that big on the outside — you’re not imagining it.
Your brain is processing more.Feeling more.Holding more.
And that doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you neuro-sparkly. ✨
Follow & Connect
Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, relatable content and conversations about:
ADHD in women, autism in women, late diagnosis and neurodivergent motherhood
Instagram: @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
Subscribe & Follow the Podcast
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:
ADHD in women
Autism in women
AuDHD
Late diagnosis
Neurodivergent motherhood
Executive dysfunction
Emotional regulation
Sensory overwhelm
Masking and burnout
New episodes released every Thursday.

ADHD, Autism & Late Diagnosis: When One Diagnosis Leads to Another
What happens when an ADHD diagnosis isn’t the full picture?
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Rhiannon shares what happened after being diagnosed with ADHD — when medication, self-awareness, and deeper reflection started to reveal something more: autism.
This is an honest conversation about what it’s like to navigate multiple neurodivergent diagnoses as an adult, including the confusion, the validation, and the emotional impact of realising that your brain works differently in more ways than you first thought.
Rhiannon takes us through her autism diagnosis process, what the assessment actually involves, and the moment she received confirmation — despite already “knowing.” She also shares how years of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit made that moment both validating and overwhelming.
This episode also explores the overlap between ADHD and autism (AuDHD), including shared traits like sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, emotional regulation challenges, and hyperfocus — and why it can be so hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your ADHD diagnosis explains everything — or if there might be more to your experience — this episode will resonate.
What We Talk About in This Episode
What happens after an ADHD diagnosis
Realising there may be more than just ADHD
The process of getting an autism diagnosis as an adult
Differences between psychiatrists and psychologists in diagnosis
Masking and why autism is often missed in women
Being dismissed or gaslit by professionals and others
Sensory sensitivities (sleep, touch, environment)
Stimming and self-soothing behaviours
The emotional impact of receiving a second diagnosis
Grief vs validation in late diagnosis
ADHD vs autism vs AuDHD
Hyperfocus vs special interests
How neurodivergent brains show love, care and support differently
Key Takeaways
Many women receive an ADHD diagnosis first, only to later realise they may also be autistic (AuDHD).
Autism in women often looks very different from stereotypes, which is why it is frequently missed or dismissed.
Diagnosis can be both validating and confronting — bringing clarity, but also grief for years spent struggling without answers.
Sensory needs, stimming, and routines are not “quirks” — they are important ways neurodivergent individuals regulate themselves.
There is significant overlap between ADHD and autism, and many people experience both (AuDHD).
Understanding your brain allows you to support yourself better and build a life that works for you.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Women with ADHD
Women who think they might also be autistic
Late diagnosed ADHD or autistic women
Neurodivergent mums
Women exploring AuDHD (ADHD + autism)
Women who feel like ADHD doesn’t fully explain their experience
Women who have been dismissed, misunderstood or misdiagnosed
Women wanting to better understand their brain
A Message From This Episode
If something in this episode resonates, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.
It might just mean you’re starting to understand yourself.
You are not “too much.”You are not “too sensitive.”You are not broken.
You might just be neuro-sparkly — in more ways than you realised.
Follow & Connect
Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, relatable content and conversations about:
ADHD in women, autism in women, late diagnosis and neurodivergent motherhood
Instagram: @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered
Subscribe & Follow the Podcast
Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:
ADHD in women
Autism in women
AuDHD (ADHD + autism)
Late diagnosis
Neurodivergent motherhood
Executive dysfunction
Emotional regulation
Sensory overwhelm
Masking and burnout
New episodes released every Thursday.

ADHD in Women: Alisha's Diagnosis Story, Late Diagnosis & Why Everything Finally Made Sense
What happens when you start to realise that the way your brain works might not be the way everyone else’s does?
In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha shares her ADHD diagnosis story — how she first started recognising the signs, what made her look into it, and why so many ADHD traits in women are missed for years.
For a long time, ADHD was seen as something that affected “naughty boys,” which meant many women grew up thinking they were disorganised, emotional, messy, overwhelmed, or just not very good at life — instead of realising their brain simply worked differently.
This episode explores what ADHD can actually look like in girls and women, why so many women are diagnosed later in life, and how getting a diagnosis can be confronting — but also incredibly freeing.
Because once you understand your brain, you can start to build a life that works for you instead of constantly trying to force yourself into a life that doesn’t.
What We Talk About in This Episode
Alisha’s ADHD diagnosis story
ADHD in girls vs ADHD in boys
Why ADHD is often missed in women
Masking and coping strategies
The corporate world and why it didn’t fit
Feeling like you’re failing at things other people find easy
The relief and grief that can come with diagnosis
Letting go of things you think you “should” be good at
Learning to work with your brain instead of against it
Showing yourself more compassion once you understand your brain
Key Takeaways
Many women grow up thinking something is wrong with them, when actually their brain just works differently.
ADHD in women often looks like overwhelm, emotional sensitivity, disorganisation, masking, and burnout — not the stereotype people expect.
A diagnosis can be confronting, but it can also help you understand yourself and be kinder to yourself.
Once you understand how your brain works, you can start to “life hack” your brain and improve your quality of life.
You don’t have to do things the way everyone else does — you can find ways that work for you and your life.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for:
Women who think they might have ADHD
Women who were diagnosed with ADHD later in life
Women who feel overwhelmed by everyday life
Women who feel like they are “failing” at things that seem easy for everyone else
Neurodivergent mums
Women who feel like the corporate world or traditional work environments didn’t fit them
Women who are trying to understand their brain and how to make life easier
A Message From This Episode
If something you hear in this episode resonates with you, it might just mean you’ve found your people.
You’re not broken.You’re not lazy.You’re not failing.
You might just have a different kind of brain — and once you understand it, everything can start to make a lot more sense.
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ADHD in women, autism in women, late diagnosis and neurodivergent motherhood
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Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:
ADHD in women
Autism in women
Late diagnosis
Neurodivergent motherhood
Executive dysfunction
Emotional regulation
Sensory overwhelm
Masking and burnout
New episodes released weekly.