ADHD in Women With Christina Crowe

What this episode covers

<p>Ever feel like you're running on fumes, forgetting everything, and wondering if everyone else got the life manual you missed? In this episode of <em>Sisters in Sobriety</em>, Sonia and Kathleen sit down with Christina Crowe, a Registered Psychotherapist and founder of Dig a Little Deeper, to unpack how ADHD—especially when undiagnosed—can shape our mental health, relationships, and recovery. Christina brings her clinical expertise <em>and</em> lived experience with ADHD to this conversation.</p><p>Together, they explore questions like: Could undiagnosed ADHD be fueling your anxiety or substance use? Why is it so commonly missed in women? </p><p>They also talk about how impulsivity, self-medicating, and the pressure to hold it all together affect women differently—and how to spot the signs that something deeper might be going on.</p><p>You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how ADHD can show up in everyday life, why it often gets mistaken for depression or anxiety, and what tools actually work. </p><p>Christina gets personal, talking about her own late-in-life diagnosis, how her son’s journey opened the door to her own, and what it’s like to finally have words (and support) for what never quite made sense before.</p><p>This is <em>Sisters in Sobriety</em>—the support system helping women change their relationship with alcohol and rediscover themselves in the process. For more resources, journal prompts, and mocktail magic, check out our Substack.</p><p>Episode Highlights</p><p> [00:01:00] Christina’s career pivot: from biotech to therapy</p><p> [00:03:30] How her son’s ADHD diagnosis helped her see her own</p><p> [00:05:10] The “invisible” nature of ADHD symptoms</p><p> [00:06:45] Why so many people with ADHD turn to substances like cocaine, cannabis, or food</p><p> [00:08:30] What makes ADHD-related substance use different</p><p> [00:09:50] Why it’s <em>not</em> that hard to diagnose ADHD—if you know what you’re looking for</p><p> [00:11:30] How substance use can mask ADHD (and delay treatment)</p><p> [00:12:50] Christina breaks down the fear of taking stimulants in recovery</p><p> [00:14:15] The difference between addiction and dependence (and why it matters)</p><p> [00:16:00] The potato chip aisle: a metaphor for cravings and impulse control</p><p> [00:17:45] Real talk about impulsivity and Amazon carts</p><p> [00:20:30] Why women often get missed—or misdiagnosed—for years</p><p> [00:23:00] SSRIs, dopamine, and feeling “stuck”</p><p> [00:25:15] Hormones and ADHD: how estrogen impacts symptoms</p><p> [00:27:10] Tips for navigating the health system when you have executive dysfunction</p><p> [00:30:30] How to talk to your doctor about ADHD (and what might be getting lost in translation)</p><p> [00:32:15] The three-legged stool: meds, therapy, and executive function support</p><p> [00:34:25] How to find a therapist who truly <em>gets</em> it</p><p> [00:36:00] The post-diagnosis “reckoning” (aka rethinking your entire life)</p><p> [00:38:00] Mindfulness for ADHD brains—yes, it can actually work (with the right approach)</p><p>Christina's Links</p><p><a href='https://digalittledeeper.ca/'>💡 Christina Crowe – Dig A Little Deeper, Psychotherapy &amp; Counselling</a></p><p>SIS Links</p><p>💌 <a href='http://sistersinsobriety.substack.com/'>Sisters In Sobriety Substack</a> – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen</p><p><a href='mailto:[email protected]'>📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email</a></p><p>📸<a href='https://www.instag