ADHD & the “Right” Way to Parent with Climbing the Walls Host Danielle Elliott

In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Elliott—science and health journalist, documentarian, and host of the podcast Climbing the Walls, which explores the surge in ADHD diagnoses among women. Danielle shares her personal journey of receiving an ADHD diagnosis and navigating pregnancy as a single mom by choice, offering a refreshingly honest perspective on how ADHD uniquely shapes her experiences and decisions.


We dive deep into the intersections of ADHD, hormones, anxiety, perfectionism, and motherhood. Danielle reflects on the expectations society places on women—especially moms—and how she’s redefining what it means to prepare for parenthood on her own terms. 


Danielle Elliot is a science and health journalist, podcast producer and documentarian. Her most recent series, Climbing The Walls, asks why so many women are being diagnosed with ADHD. It reached No. 8 on the Apple podcast charts.


 


Episode Highlights:


[0:59] - Meet Danielle Elliott: Journalist, podcaster, and newly pregnant mom navigating ADHD
 [3:00] - The motivation to understand ADHD before becoming a parent
 [6:26] - Hormones, IVF, and how ADHD symptoms shift during pregnancy
 [9:08] - What Danielle learned from creating Climbing the Walls and interviewing ADHD moms
[11:50] - Strategies to tune out external expectations during pregnancy
[14:03] - Ditching the smartphone for a Light Phone to stay present with her baby
[16:43] - Reducing postpartum anxiety by preparing early and mindfully
[18:40] - Emotional dysregulation, anticipatory anxiety, and the importance of therapy
[21:57] - Seeking postpartum ADHD support and community resources
[23:15] - Over-preparing with love: labeled bins, frozen meals, and realistic expectations
[27:29] - Building a strong support system of family and friends
[32:01] - Setting boundaries with loved ones and advocating for postpartum needs
[38:44] - Danielle’s top advice for moms-to-be with ADHD: let go of the pressure and follow what works for you


 


Links and Resources:


·         Listen to Danielle’s podcast: Climbing the Walls (https://www.understood.org/podcast/cl...) on Understood.org


·         Follow Danielle on Instagram: @danielle.elliott (  / danielle.elliott  )


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