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ADHD Chatter PodcastADHD Chatter Podcast

Why ADHD Women Learn To Hide Their True Selves

Sarah Warley studied psychology at Oxford University and has continued to train in many game-changing interventions that target the root causes of poor functioning.

Sarah WarleyguestAlex Partridgehost
Aug 11, 20251h 5mWatch on YouTube

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At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Female ADHD risks, root-cause biology, masking, and holistic management strategies

  1. Warley positions mainstream ADHD care as “diagnose and discharge,” advocating a root-cause, multi-therapy model that investigates biology, development, and sensory processing alongside symptoms.
  2. She explains a biochemical theory of ADHD focused on copper–zinc imbalance and related nutrient pathways affecting dopamine and norepinephrine, plus a subset linked to pyrrole disorder impacting zinc and B6 retention.
  3. The episode explores how emotional difficulties (shame, anxiety, rejection sensitivity, low confidence) can be downstream of both neurochemistry and repeated negative feedback from living in a neurotypical world.
  4. Warley highlights overlooked contributors to inattention and overwhelm—particularly hearing hypersensitivity/distortions and retained primitive reflexes (e.g., Moro)—and describes corrective training/exercises.
  5. Medication is discussed as sometimes necessary but not a universal panacea, with attention to risks of stimulants, risks of non-treatment (risk-taking/addiction), and the need for individualized decision-making.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

A diagnosis can validate, but it rarely solves the problem by itself.

Warley argues many people wait for diagnosis as an “answer,” yet effective change usually requires addressing practical and biological drivers, not only labeling symptoms.

Biochemistry may meaningfully shape ADHD traits for a large subset of people.

She cites Walsh Institute data suggesting many with ADHD show a low zinc-to-copper ratio, which may push dopamine toward norepinephrine and amplify anxiety/irritability alongside attention issues.

Sudden or late-emerging ADHD-like symptoms in women may have specific triggers worth screening.

Warley notes hormonal shifts (puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, contraception) and external copper exposures (e.g., copper IUD, old copper pipes) as potential contributors—especially in people who poorly excrete copper.

Some ADHD presentations may be worsened by sensory processing—not just “lack of willpower.”

Hearing hypersensitivity (even to subtle environmental noise) and auditory distortions can increase distractibility; targeted auditory training may reduce overwhelm and improve listening/focus for some.

Retained primitive reflexes can mimic or intensify inattentive ADHD and anxiety symptoms.

Warley describes the Moro reflex (startle) as potentially driving chronic anxiety and rejection sensitivity when retained, and spinal Galant as linked to fidgeting/sensory discomfort—addressable via daily neurodevelopmental exercises.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

I think a lot of people wait forever for a diagnosis thinking the diagnosis will somehow be the solution, and it isn't, and it's a culture of diagnose and discharge.

— Sarah Warley

I've never quite understood why, why it is people that aren't neurotypical have to go the distance to look neurotypical. Why can't the neurotypical people go the distance... and meet them?

— Sarah Warley

The hard work... is fitting in a neurotypical world. That's the hard work.

— Sarah Warley

If you look at the way in which stimulant meds work and the way cocaine works, it's exactly the same.

— Sarah Warley

Your daughter's not sick. There's nothing wrong with her. She's a dancer.

— Sarah Warley

Read the available transcript
The Key Clinic’s drug-free/whole-person ADHD approachCopper–zinc ratio, dopamine → norepinephrine pathwayPyrrole disorder (pyroluria), zinc/B6 loss, oxidative stressHormones, pregnancy/postpartum copper rise, puberty changesAuditory hypersensitivity and auditory integration training (BrightBeats)Retained primitive reflexes (Moro, spinal Galant) and anxiety/fidgetingMasking, identity, purpose (Ikigai), and context-fit for strengths

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SPEAKERS

  • Sarah Warley

    guest

    Oxford-educated neurodiversity/ADHD expert focused on drug-free brain health approaches and founder of The Key Clinic.

  • Alex Partridge

    host

    Host of the ADHD Chatter Podcast.

High quality AI-generated summary created from speaker-labeled transcript.

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