S2 E1 Why ADHD Girls Are Still Being Missed | Louise Belshaw | Part 1

Why are so many girls with ADHD still being missed?

In the Season 2 premiere of Angry on the Inside, Jess and Jeannine welcome their very first guest, ADHD life coach & researcher Louise Belshaw, for Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation about the girls who grew up feeling misunderstood.

Drawing from her research on women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, Louise shares the common themes that emerged again and again: perfectionism, friendship struggles, puberty, masking, emotional overwhelm, and the moment everything seemed to change. Together, they explore why so many girls were labeled as "difficult," "dramatic," or "not trying hard enough" instead of being asked a much more important question:

"What's really going on?"

This conversation goes beyond ADHD symptoms. It's about the emotional cost of being missed, the lifelong impact of late diagnosis, and why curiosity from parents, teachers, and other trusted adults can change a girl's future.

Whether you're a late-diagnosed woman with ADHD, parenting a neurodivergent child, working in education, or trying to better understand the girls in your life, this episode offers an honest conversation filled with insight, compassion, and hope.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why ADHD in girls is still frequently overlooked
• Puberty, perfectionism, and emotional dysregulation
• The hidden signs of ADHD in girls
• Friendship, masking, and growing up misunderstood
• How curiosity can change the trajectory of a young person's life
• What educators and parents can do differently

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Louise Belshaw.

Part 2 drops this Thursday, where the conversation shifts from the girls who were missed to what happens when those girls become women. Together, we explore late diagnosis, grief, anger, self-discovery, and what it means to finally understand yourself through an entirely different lens.

If this episode reminds you of a girl who needed more understanding and fewer assumptions or someone who still does share it with them.