The Real Root of ADHD Isn't Trauma, It's This | Dr. Sasha Hamdani
August 26, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readDr. Sasha Hamdani, a board-certified psychiatrist and ADHD specialist who was diagnosed with ADHD herself, opens the conversation with a clarifying distinction: ADHD is not caused by trauma. Many things can fragment focus—trauma, PTSD, anxiety, thyroid conditions—but those are not ADHD. ADHD, she argues, is primarily genetic, and its core is not really an attention deficit. She hates the name "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" because it fails to capture what is actually happening. Instead, she reframes ADHD as a regulation issue—of attention, motivation, energy, and especially emotion.
What ADHD Actually Is (and Isn't)
Hamdani explains that the old term "ADD" and the current term "ADHD" refer to the same condition. ADD is simply an outdated label that was used for what is now called the inattentive presentation of ADHD. Today, ADHD is broken into three categories: inattentive (difficulty initiating tasks, forgetfulness, disorganization—the daydreamer), hyperactive (physical and verbal impulsivity), and combined (both). The diagnostic criteria were built on observable data from hyperactive young males, which means many other presentations—especially in women and girls—have been systematically missed.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (03:53) **ADD vs. ADHD Defined** - Dr. Hamdani clarifies the terminology and breaks down the three presentations of ADHD.
- 2 (05:37) **How ADHD Is Diagnosed** - The host asks for the diagnostic process, and Dr. Hamdani contrasts evaluations by different professionals.
- 3 (07:21) **Why Medication Is Often the First Treatment** - The host questions why drugs are typically the first thing prescribed after a diagnosis.
- 4 (08:47) **The Root Cause: Genetics, Not Trauma** - Dr. Hamdani asserts that the primary root of ADHD is genetic, directly challenging the host's personal experience linking it to trauma.
- 5 (12:36) **Distinguishing ADHD from Other Conditions** - The host asks how a practitioner tells the difference when symptoms look the same.
- 6 (14:45) **The Misdiagnosis Cycle for Women** - Dr. Hamdani explains how women are systematically misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression instead of ADHD.
- 7 (20:35) **Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)** - Dr. Hamdani defines RSD and places it on the emotional sensitivity spectrum.
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Show Notes
That feeling when a small comment ruins your entire day? There's actually a name for it, and it's not a character flaw.
Dr. Sasha Hamdani is a board certified psychiatrist and ADHD specialist who spent years thinking something was fundamentally wrong with her before she connected the dots between her emotions and her ability to function. She was diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade but her parents never told her, calling her medication a “vitamin” until she found out by accident in medical school, mid breakdown, after a grade crash she couldn't explain.
In this conversation she breaks down why ADHD is genetic rather than trauma driven, why women are diagnosed on average at 35 instead of childhood, and why so many get handed antidepressant after antidepressant for the wrong diagnosis. She also opens up about rejection sensitive dysphoria, the moment her father's sudden death taught her that unregulated emotion can shut down your whole life, and the years she spent secretly dating her now husband while terrified of rejecting her family's expectations.
If you've ever felt like your emotions hijack your entire day, or you've been told to just calm down when your whole nervous system feels like it's on fire, this one will change how you see yourself.
Pre-Order Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply
Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You!
In this episode you will:
- Distinguish real ADHD from anxiety, trauma, and depression so you stop cycling through the wrong diagnosis and medications
- Uncover why women are diagnosed with ADHD nearly three decades later than men, and what that misdiagnosis actually costs
- Recognize Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) as a neurological response, not a character flaw, so you can finally make sense of overwhelming emotional pain
- Replace well-meaning but harmful advice like “just calm down” with language that actually helps someone spiraling from rejection
- Transform deep sensitivity into a genuine strength instead of a source of shame
- Build emotional regulation habits early so grief, rejection, and stress stop hijacking your ability to function
For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1972
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