EP. 381: Diagnosing Everyone but Herself with Psychologist Dr. Shawn Horn
EP. 381: Diagnosing Everyone but Herself with Psychologist Dr. Shawn Horn  
Podcast: ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka
Published On: Wed Apr 22 2026
Description: Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup_____The hardest part of ADHD is not the symptoms themselves, but the shame story built around them?Dr. Shawn Horn is a licensed clinical psychologist and the author of Thrive Socially with Adult ADHD. Known as The Shame-Busting Psychologist, she helps adults understand the painful stories they have carried about being “too much,” “not enough,” or “bad at relationships.”Growing up, Shawn was constantly corrected for talking too much, interrupting, and not paying attention. She was placed in special education, misunderstood at school, and spent years believing those experiences meant something was wrong with her. It was not until much later, after earning her doctorate and looking back at her history, that ADHD finally made sense.In this episode, we talk about how shame gets attached to ADHD early, how those experiences shape identity, and why being misunderstood can turn into a lifelong story. We also get into rejection sensitivity, nervous system dysregulation, and why healing starts with changing the story you tell yourself.If you have spent years feeling like you were too much or not enough, this episode offers a different lens. You may not need a new personality. You may need a new story.Resources: Website: https://www.drshawnhorn.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drshawnhorn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshawnhorn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/drshawnhorn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shawn-horn-2934347Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, start with my free training: Stop Trying to “Fix” Your ADHD. You’re Not Broken.ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.That’s why most strategies don’t stick. They were not designed for how your brain actually works. If you’re ready to stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits, start with the free training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signupConnect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyotsukaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heytracyotsukaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyotsuka/Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/adhd-bookVisit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com