Adult diagnoses of this condition are on the rise. Here, Philipps, a 45-year-old mom of two, shares how her own eyes were opened.
Busy Philipps Opens Up About a Relatable Diagnosis: “My Story Is Not Unique”
Published on Dec. 18, 2024
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects millions of people, yet ADHD symptoms—like inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity—often go unrecognized, especially in women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15.5 million U.S. adults had a current diagnosis of ADHD in 2023, with nearly half receiving that diagnosis in adulthood. For many women, the signs are easy to miss until they recognize similar patterns in their children.
That was the case for actress, author, podcaster, and mom Busy Philipps. When her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, Busy began to recognize the same symptoms in herself, leading to a diagnosis that brought long-overdue clarity.
Now, the New York Times bestselling author of This Will Only Hurt a Little is teaming up with Supernus Pharmaceuticals to raise awareness about ADHD and Qelbree, a once-daily, non-stimulant treatment approved for both children (age six and older) and adults. As the first non-stimulant medication authorized for adult ADHD in two decades, Qelbree carries no recognized risk of abuse and allows for monthly refills without a new prescription.
Between parenting, the hustle of the holiday season, and her ongoing mental health advocacy, the 45-year-old shared her ADHD story with us via email. Read on as she opens up about how her diagnosis changed her life, how she found the right treatment, and why she’s determined to help other women who may be silently struggling with undiagnosed ADHD.
This interview has been edited for length.
The Healthy by Reader’s Digest: Busy, can you tell us about your journey in discovering your own ADHD diagnosis and how you were able to find the right treatment for you?
Busy Philipps: I was first diagnosed with ADHD as a kid. Although there were limited treatment options, my doctor prescribed me an ADHD treatment to help manage my symptoms, but it just wasn’t a good fit. My parents took me off my medication, and because I was so young, I eventually forgot I had ever been diagnosed, leaving my ADHD untreated for a long time.
My ADHD symptoms manifested in a few ways. I have trouble focusing and the chaos I was feeling in my life and not understanding what was happening was causing me to have low self-esteem and a negative self-view. It wasn’t until my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in third grade that I realized all the symptoms her doctor described were things I was experiencing, too. When we were going through the checklist for ADHD, I thought, “I have every single one of those.” I ended up seeing my own doctor and was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.
Following my diagnosis, I immediately began treatment. After discussing different treatment options with my doctor, they eventually prescribed me a non-stimulant called Qelbree. Qelbree helps manage my ADHD symptoms so I can do everything I did before, without working overtime. And because it is a non-stimulant and non-controlled substance, Qelbree can be conveniently refilled without the need for a new prescription each month. This has been especially helpful for me because I travel a lot and often need to bring a larger supply of my medications with me. When you finally get diagnosed and find a treatment that works for you, you feel a profound sense of relief, like you’re suddenly able to take a deep breath.
The Healthy: How has sharing an ADHD diagnosis with your daughter shaped your parenting and relationship with her?
Busy Philipps: Although parenting while trying to manage my own ADHD symptoms can be difficult, sharing a diagnosis with my daughter has allowed me to better understand what she might be going through. We’re able to relate to each other on so many levels and I think this has enabled me to be a better parent. I also think it’s important and helpful for kids to understand that their parents are people, too, so both of my kids know that when it takes me longer to get out of the house or I’ve forgotten about a school event, it actually is because my brain works a bit differently.
The Healthy: What advice would you give to other mothers who might be overlooking their own ADHD symptoms because they’re so focused on taking care of their kids?
Busy Philipps: I’ve found that my story of how I was diagnosed is not unique. Many women don’t receive an ADHD diagnosis until their late 30s or 40s, sometimes prompted by their child’s diagnosis. Women do an exceptional job at masking and coping with their ADHD symptoms, coming up with ways to overcompensate and ending up working harder than everyone else to get things done. We’ll often put our children’s needs before our own and ignore our symptoms completely. I’m sharing my story to raise awareness about ADHD and help others who may be struggling with their diagnosis find a treatment option that works for them like Qelbree has worked for me.
My advice to anyone struggling to manage their ADHD symptoms, talk to your doctor and ask whether Qelbree might be the right choice for you. Also, it’s extremely important to be open and honest about your experience with ADHD. The only way we can improve the ADHD journey and treatment experience for women is if we continue talking openly about it and raise awareness.
The Healthy: With the holidays approaching—a time that’s both exciting and can get pretty hectic—how are you planning to stay balanced and prepared during the season?
Busy Philipps: I know now how to delegate, and I very much rely on to-do lists in order to keep track of everything. I also find that getting the kids involved in decorating and wrapping of gifts helps greatly! And I attempt to delegate as much as possible—something I used to struggle with but knowing that I have ADHD, I now am not so hard on myself for not being able to do it all on my own.
The Healthy: We know you’re big on skincare as a self-care ritual you never skip. Is there another self-care practice you always make time for?
Busy Philipps: Moving my body! Even if it’s 10 minutes of stretching and yoga, I need to move my body every day!
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