Two adult ADHD diagnoses, opposite reactions (Sam Pittis and Katie Breathwick’s story)

Two adult ADHD diagnoses, opposite reactions (Sam Pittis and Katie Breathwick’s story)

From ADHD Aha! by Understood.org, Laura Key

May 26, 2026 · 30 min · Episode 133

About this episode

Sam Pittis and Katie Breathwick discuss their contrasting reactions to being diagnosed with ADHD.

Sam Pittis and Katie Breathwick — best friends and co-hosts of You’re Wrong About ADHD — compare their very different reactions to being diagnosed with ADHD. Katie came to her ADHD diagnosis through her teenage son and felt a sense of excitement and clarity. Sam felt shaken. He began to see his years of depression, emotional crashes, and coping habits in a new way. Hear how ADHD shows up uniquely in the two of them, from emotional dysregulation and sensory struggles to disorganization and missed signs in childhood. Also in this episode: gender differences, late diagnosis, and the quiet grief of wondering what might have been.

People in this episode

Host: Laura Key

Guests: Sam Pittis, Katie Breathwick

Topics covered

  • ADHD diagnosis
  • emotional dysregulation
  • gender differences
  • late diagnosis
  • personal experiences

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • diagnosis
  • emotional struggles
  • sensory issues
  • disorganization

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: You’re Wrong About ADHD

More episodes of ADHD Aha!

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the ADHD Aha! podcast page.