ADHD and people-pleasing: Why can’t you stop?
ADHD and people-pleasing: Why can’t you stop?  
Podcast: MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel
Published On: Tue Sep 09 2025
Description: For some women with ADHD, people-pleasing is more than just being nice. It’s a way to cope with feeling overwhelmed or misunderstood.In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson breaks down what people-pleasing looks like in women with ADHD. Find out how this coping mechanism can impact your life. And learn helpful strategies to stop people-pleasing and live a healthier life.For more on this topicADHD and: Imposter syndromeTips from an ADHD Coach: People-pleasing everyone but ourselvesADHD and: Setting boundariesTimestamps(00:00) Intro(00:39) What does people-pleasing look like in ADHD?(2:48) Why ADHD leads to people-pleasing(4:31)The hidden costs of people-pleasing (7:10) Tips for managing people-pleasing For a transcript and more resources, visit the MissUnderstood: ADHD in Women page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at podcasts@understood.org. Listen to Everyone Gets a Juice Box, a new podcast from Understood.org where host Jessica Shaw has honest talks with parents raising kids who learn and think differently.Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.