After receiving a formal adult ADHD diagnosis, Brianna Ferrante felt like a light had been turned on, “Up until about 30, I didn't know that ADHD presents extremely differently in women than men.” 

Brianna had always struggled with organization and focus. She sought out tools to help but never knew the extent to which the right tools could make a difference, “It’s something I dealt with my whole life, but after getting diagnosed, I had the right label to help me move forward.”

How ADHD helps moms

Now, at 43, Brianna is a mother to a 5-year-old daughter who is in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD. Together, they’ve learned how ADHD can be a superpower of its own, “I’m able to really, kind of do a ton of things at once. Kids have a shorter attention span, so I can switch gears faster to meet what my daughter enjoys and needs.” 

Tools that help me manage ADHD as a mom

Brianna also enlists a few key tools to help keep her and her daughter on track, “Setting timers has been really beneficial. Giving myself smaller amounts of time to do something that I may not want to do allows me to feel like it's more manageable.” If there’s a task that Brianna knows will be challenging, she uses a reward system to give herself an incentive to finish the task. 

While these tools have been game changers for Brianna, there are still challenges that she faces, “Having ADHD, it's really difficult to handle tasks or do things that aren't interesting to you. I'm not super thrilled about sitting and playing with ponies for an hour, but it's part of being a parent. I've learned to allow myself a little bit more grace and patience.”

Why support for women with ADHD matters

Brianna is optimistic that there’s now a larger conversation happening about how ADHD presents in women. When she received her diagnosis, she struggled to find support, “I would have loved to have talked to a person who had ADHD as an adult or even a younger woman. I struggled with school. I struggled with relationships, even. I think it would have been helpful to have had someone or somewhere to learn more tools back then, but I didn't.” This is what drove Brianna to become a Fello. 

Need ADHD support from someone who truly understands? Book a call with Brianna on Fello to hear her story, get practical strategies, and find a community that gets it, “You’re not alone. Even though it is something that maybe wasn't diagnosed as much when certain generations were younger, it doesn't mean that it wasn't there. We just have a name for it, and we have, you know, basically, the tools and ability to help people cope with it.”