it is, actually, in your head
just not the way you think
A peek inside today’s issue:
the history behind 'hysteria'
the real story behind 'female Viagra.'
the real story behind the rise of ADHD diagnoses in midlife women
...and the grift that follows when a women's health issue gets some attention
a beautiful reframe on aging
The Dark History of ‘Hysteria’ (Mental Floss)
“She’s hysterical!” “It must be hysteria.”
This little word has a long history--a misinformed one, first unintentionally and later deliberately.
Hystera is the ancient Greek word for womb, which is innocent enough. The word became a catchall, rooted in their belief that the uterus could wander through the body and cause everything from fainting to rage. This definition was reinforced in 19th century France, where Jean-Martin Charcot staged “hysteria shows” for both the public and the medical community.
You’ll have to click over and read the full article to know what these shows entailed. I’m still mad.
It wasn’t until 1980 that hysteria was removed from the DSM. While women’s health (especially women’s mental health) has inched forward over the past 46 years, it’s been frustratingly slow as it contends with a narrative that’s millennias old, well before healthcare was ever defined.
The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control (The Guardian)
If there’s one person who knows “it’s just in your head!” better than anyone, it’s Cindy Eckert.
She proved it in the development of Addyi, the first FDA-approved drug to treat female sexual dysfunction, with clinical data (including brain imaging).
She continues to prove how woefully underserved women’s health is, despite it serving half of the population. As with the lazy diagnosis of “hysteria”, women were told that their sexual dysfunction was due to stress or overwhelm. Addyi’s development shows that it’s clearly a neurochemical imbalance.
So yes, it’s in her head and deserves to be treated with the same seriousness and care as any other condition.
The documentary is a must watch. If I haven’t convinced you yet, the trailer will:
Why Are So Many Women Getting ADHD Diagnoses in Midlife? (The Cut)
Filed in “it’s in your head, but not the way they mean” is the rise of ADHD diagnoses in women.
Midlife women, namely.
We blame our brain fog and exhaustion to perimenopause, and rightfully so. The drop in estrogen and testosterone during this period wrecks havoc on our bodies and our minds.
And in the case of our minds, it may leave us feeling like we’re slipping. We struggle to focus, we get overwhelmed easily, and we forget the little and the big things.
We used to be able to handle it. ‘Handling it’ may very well mean masking ADHD for decades, until we no longer could.
When I met my psychiatrist for my intake appointment (almost 3 years ago), I came with a Google self-diagnosis of anxiety and ADHD. Mine turned out to be bipolar disorder 2, but I have so many of these symptoms and mercifully have the flexibility to adjust how I work to help manage them (along with Lamictal, which changed my life).
If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone.
I started #5SmartReads over 7 years ago as a way to amplify underreported news and underrepresented perspectives. Your support makes this series possible (has helped me publish more issues a week) . Thank you for your subscriptions (all of them) and for sharing my work with your circles. If budget permits, I would be so appreciative of your paid support of my work.
The ADHD Content Economy: How Algorithms and Incentives Turn Help Into Grift (Hyperfocus Podcast)
A few things are for certain:
the 70 degree weather at the end of February and beginning of March will almost always be followed by a near-freezing stretch.
A Housewife is always going to have a crash-out in the penultimate episode of any Housewives season.
Where there is a women’s health discussion on the rise, there will always be grifters looking to profit.
And so it goes with the rise of ADHD diagnoses in midlife women. I’m glad we’re having the conversation, and I hate that there are grifters peddling so-called solutions that never meet the promises they make.
A supplement, an app, or an overpriced digital course is not what’s going to support you.
Understood is not one of those. It’s a resource I’ve been relying a lot to support my kids and myself with evidence-based resources and tools. Their podcasts are great, and I appreciate how this episode unpacks the ADHD content economy.
Understood built ADHD Unstuck with Northwestern University. It’s a quick tool to help you calm down, recenter, and refocus when the overwhelm starts to build.
It’s built with data and evidence in mind, not to make a quick buck.
Aging, Menopause, and Rethinking Fashion for Comfort in Midlife with Stacy London (TED Talks Daily)
If there’s one person who makes aging look and feel great, it’s Stacy London.
And I do mean literally, on all fronts.
Every time there’s a loss in my family, I can’t help but think about how aging is a gift, and something to embrace with gratitude.
AND we live in a society where preserving youth is the prevailing narrative, bolstered by a rapidly growing longevity economy fueled by grift.
There’s a better way, which Stacy talks about openly. Aging should not be approached with resignation, but an opportunity to invest some time and energy in feeling strong on all fronts. It’s not just about changing your style to embrace this season (though I do agree with her on getting rid of your uncomfortable shoes). It’s about being strong--mentally, physically, and emotionally. And it’s stellar advice for entering any new season in your life.