Afraid to be the “crazy wife” with ADHD (Sela Carsen’s story)

Romance author Sela Carsen saw herself in her daughter’s ADHD
evaluation 20 years ago. But she didn’t request an evaluation for
herself until just 4 years ago. She was afraid that having ADHD
would have a negative effect on her husband’s military career —
that she’d be the “crazy wife.” 


Once Sela was finally diagnosed with ADHD, she had a big sense of
relief. She felt capable in her job as an author, and that she
“didn’t have to hate herself so much” anymore. Hear this
conversation with Sela and host Laura Key as they chat
about ADHD shame, Gen X’s outlook on mental health, and
neurodivergent book characters. 


Related resources


ADHD and: Procrastination

ADHD and caffeine

Understood.org Neurodiversity at Work Survey: Focus on
Generation Z



Timestamps


(01:46) When did Sela start to notice signs of ADHD in herself?
 


(03:48) Why Sela didn’t pursue an ADHD evaluation while her
husband was in active duty


(05:46) How ADHD symptoms affected her life while she was
undiagnosed  


(08:55) Finally seeking an ADHD evaluation


(14:11) Neurodivergent story characters


(17:45) How being Gen X changes how you approach ADHD


(20:24) What’s next for Sela?


For a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha!
page on Understood.


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listeners. Email us at ADHDAha@understood.org.


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empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like
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