The ADHD Doctor: How to Focus, Stop Procrastinating, Manage Your Emotions, & Feel in Control

If you have ever been told that you are too emotional, sensitive, anxious, hormonal, disorganized, or simply not trying hard enough, this episode is for you. There’s a chance, according to Mel’s expert guest today, that like Mel, that the root cause of what you’re struggling with is actually ADHD. Today, Dr. Sasha Hamdani, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and leading expert on ADHD, gives you the full and comprehensive explanation you deserve. She shares that ADHD is not just about attention. It can affect your emotions, motivation, energy, sleep, appetite, relationships, and ability to handle the demands of everyday life. And these symptoms often get completely missed in women and girls. Mel gets deeply personal about being diagnosed at 47, the anxiety she experienced for decades that was due to untreated ADHD, and the emotional overwhelm she never realized was connected to ADHD. Dr. Hamdani explains why ADHD is mistaken for anxiety, depression, OCD, burnout, or hormonal issues (this is why so many people spend years believing there is something wrong with them!). This is the ultimate guide to adult ADHD. In this episode, you’ll learn: -Why ADHD is not just attention and focus; it’s also about regulating your mood, sleep, motivation, and energy. -Why ADHD is so often missed in women and girls -Why anxiety, depression, OCD, burnout, and ADHD are often confused (even by medical professionals) -Why criticism feels so overwhelming for anyone with ADHD -Why perfectionism, overworking, and people pleasing can be signs of ADHD -What is happening inside the ADHD brain -Why ADHD is not always a “superpower” -The four critical steps to take if you think you or someone you love may have ADHD -The medication, therapy, coaching, tools, and systems that may help ease symptoms of ADHD -What you can start doing while you wait for professional support -The difference between the way ADHD can look externally and how it can feel internally -How hormonal changes during puberty, postpartum, and perimenopause can intensify ADHD symptoms This is an episode about understanding your brain, recognizing lifelong patterns, and learning what kind of support may be available to you. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-426/ Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 02:32 What Are the Symptoms of ADHD? 07:15 Why ADHD Goes Undiagnosed in Women 10:09 Why Is ADHD So Hard to Diagnose? 13:50 What Does ADHD Do to the Brain? 22:10 The 3 Types of ADHD Explained 25:03 ADHD Symptoms in Girls and Women 28:38 Can ADHD Cause Anxiety and Depression? 31:52 What to Do If You Think You Have ADHD 36:36 ADHD Masking Explained 38:41 Is ADHD a Superpower? 41:31 What Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) in ADHD? 50:56 The 3 Steps to Getting Proper ADHD Treatment 01:01:41 ADHD Tools You Can Start Using Now 01:04:09 Should You Get Tested for ADHD? — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel RobbinshostDr. Sasha Hamdaniguest

Aug 20, 20261h 7mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: August 20, 2026
Duration: 1h 7m
Channel: The Mel Robbins Podcast
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

If you have ever been told that you are too emotional, sensitive, anxious, hormonal, disorganized, or simply not trying hard enough, this episode is for you. There’s a chance, according to Mel’s expert guest today, that like Mel, that the root cause of what you’re struggling with is actually ADHD. Today, Dr. Sasha Hamdani, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and leading expert on ADHD, gives you the full and comprehensive explanation you deserve. She shares that ADHD is not just about attention. It can affect your emotions, motivation, energy, sleep, appetite, relationships, and ability to handle the demands of everyday life. And these symptoms often get completely missed in women and girls. Mel gets deeply personal about being diagnosed at 47, the anxiety she experienced for decades that was due to untreated ADHD, and the emotional overwhelm she never realized was connected to ADHD. Dr. Hamdani explains why ADHD is mistaken for anxiety, depression, OCD, burnout, or hormonal issues (this is why so many people spend years believing there is something wrong with them!). This is the ultimate guide to adult ADHD. In this episode, you’ll learn: -Why ADHD is not just attention and focus; it’s also about regulating your mood, sleep, motivation, and energy. -Why ADHD is so often missed in women and girls -Why anxiety, depression, OCD, burnout, and ADHD are often confused (even by medical professionals) -Why criticism feels so overwhelming for anyone with ADHD -Why perfectionism, overworking, and people pleasing can be signs of ADHD -What is happening inside the ADHD brain -Why ADHD is not always a “superpower” -The four critical steps to take if you think you or someone you love may have ADHD -The medication, therapy, coaching, tools, and systems that may help ease symptoms of ADHD -What you can start doing while you wait for professional support -The difference between the way ADHD can look externally and how it can feel internally -How hormonal changes during puberty, postpartum, and perimenopause can intensify ADHD symptoms This is an episode about understanding your brain, recognizing lifelong patterns, and learning what kind of support may be available to you. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-426/ Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 02:32 What Are the Symptoms of ADHD? 07:15 Why ADHD Goes Undiagnosed in Women 10:09 Why Is ADHD So Hard to Diagnose? 13:50 What Does ADHD Do to the Brain? 22:10 The 3 Types of ADHD Explained 25:03 ADHD Symptoms in Girls and Women 28:38 Can ADHD Cause Anxiety and Depression? 31:52 What to Do If You Think You Have ADHD 36:36 ADHD Masking Explained 38:41 Is ADHD a Superpower? 41:31 What Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) in ADHD? 50:56 The 3 Steps to Getting Proper ADHD Treatment 01:01:41 ADHD Tools You Can Start Using Now 01:04:09 Should You Get Tested for ADHD? — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

SPEAKERS

Mel Robbins
host
Host of The Mel Robbins Podcast and author/speaker focused on personal development and behavior change.
Dr. Sasha Hamdani
guest
Psychiatrist and ADHD specialist focused on diagnosis, treatment, and education around ADHD and emotional regulation.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Mel Robbins and Dr. Sasha Hamdani, The ADHD Doctor: How to Focus, Stop Procrastinating, Manage Your Emotions, & Feel in Control explores adult ADHD explained: emotional regulation, missed diagnoses in women, and treatments Dr. Sasha Hamdani and Mel Robbins reframe ADHD as a whole-body regulation condition affecting emotion, motivation, sleep, appetite, and energy—not just attention.

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