Sept. 19, 2024 -- Actor and podcast host Busy Philipps has been a bright light on screens for years, from her breakout roles in Dawson’s Creek and Freaks and Geeks to her more recent success on Girls5eva. But behind the scenes, Philipps, 45, has been living with ADHD, a condition that shaped her life, though she didn’t receive an official diagnosis until adulthood.
“I always knew something was off,” says Philipps. “As a kid, I struggled with focus and organization. It wasn’t until later that I realized those were signs of ADHD.”
Years later, while at the doctor’s office with her daughter Birdie, now 16, Philipps had a revelation. After hearing the doctor describe ADHD symptoms during Birdie’s diagnosis, she turned to her ex-husband and said, “This sounds like me.” He agreed. Soon after, at age 39, Philipps underwent an evaluation and was diagnosed with ADHD herself. Suddenly, many aspects of her past behavior that had puzzled her for years began to make sense.
“I asked my mom, ‘Was I ever diagnosed with ADHD?’” Philipps said. “At first, she said no, but then, we realized that the symptoms were there.” If there ever was a formal diagnosis as a child, it “kind of got lost in our family timeline,” she said.
It’s her experience with ADHD that has led the actress to use her platform to advocate for others with the condition, offering insights and support for those facing similar challenges, like a later-in-life diagnosis.
ADHD as a ‘Lost Diagnosis’
Experts say that ADHD should be thought of as a long-term condition, not something that’s outgrown.
“There is quite a bit of evidence that ADHD fluctuates through a patient’s lifespan,” said Anne Arnett, PhD, a scientist in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, MA.
In fact, a childhood diagnosis, even if it’s forgotten, is key.
“The diagnostic criteria for ADHD includes onset in childhood by age 12,” said John T. Mitchell, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. “If someone has symptoms as an adult, by definition, they had to have had it in childhood.”
Researchers are now exploring the idea of a "lost diagnosis" for many ADHD patients. While there has long been debate about whether children with ADHD can outgrow the condition, a new Swiss study challenges that assumption. Tracking more than 180 adults who were diagnosed with ADHD as children, researchers found that many lost their official diagnosis as they transitioned into adulthood. However, 33% of them experienced a return of symptoms later in life, leading to a second diagnosis. This suggests that, like depression, ADHD may ebb and flow for some patients.
A recent international study involving researchers from the U.S., Canada, and Brazil yielded similar findings. The study revealed that 60% of ADHD patients who were diagnosed in childhood and believed to be in remission experienced a resurgence of symptoms in adulthood. In contrast, only about 11% of the patients were able to stabilize their symptoms as adults.
ADHD After Childhood
ADHD is an extremely common childhood condition in the U.S. CDC data show that an estimated 7 million kids aged 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. While some children may be diagnosed earlier in life, perhaps after showing signs in school -- like being easily distracted, blurting out answers in class, or having a shorter attention span for than is expected for a child’s age, for instance – others can be diagnosed around times of significant change.
“For example, puberty,” Arnett said. “That can be a very vulnerable time of change. Often a teenager will get their driver’s license and start having accidents. More serious issues, such as someone with ADHD also having problems with addiction, are a common phenomenon.”
For adults, starting a new career, getting married, or having children can be a catalyst for symptoms.
“ADHD symptoms may be stable, but then factors in a patient’s life may become stressors,” said Mitchell. “It’s important to anticipate changes in life and prepare for them.” Mitchell said cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful for those with ADHD.
Often, adults diagnosed with ADHD also have conditions like anxiety or depression. Adults with ADHD can also blame themselves for their behavior unnecessarily.
Philipps relates to this.
“I think I always felt a low-grade depression, but I feel much better about myself now, knowing my diagnosis,” she said.
Managing ADHD
“ADHD is not something to eradicate, but something to manage,” Mitchell said. Medication for ADHD, which works by boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, can help reduce ADHD symptoms.
There are three main types of ADHD medication: stimulants, non-stimulants, and antidepressants. Philipps started searching for the medication that worked best for her. She said there was some trial and error at first when she tried taking stimulants.
“Side effects were a problem,” she said, like trouble sleeping and loss of appetite. It can also be difficult to get a month’s supply of these meds at one time.
“For me, a nonstimulant medication has really helped. It’s important to talk to your doctor about the medication type that works best for you,” she said.
Be Proactive
If you recognize signs that you may have ADHD, push for the right diagnosis. A study from Washington University School of Medicine and the University of California Los Angeles found that although there is concern about over-diagnosis of the condition, it’s important for people who recognize that they may have symptoms to get the access to the evaluation and treatment they may need.
Philipps is living proof of how receiving, and addressing, an ADHD diagnosis can make life so feel so much easier –and better.
“I understand now that my brain just works differently,” she said. ”There is no shame in having ADHD.”
