What do you think?
Rate this book
Allow Me to Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women's ADHD
The world is right—ADHD girls and women do interrupt—but not all of it is unintentional, and almost all of it is extraordinary.
If you picked up this book, chances are you want to learn more about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in females—and you just opened up a Pandora’s box. For many women, the lack of knowledge surrounding ADHD’s unique presentation in their lives has led to feeling misunderstood, criticized, frustrated, and alone. Female biology is complicated, and unfortunately, the mainstream understanding of ADHD often simplifies a condition that isn’t simple.
One thing we are quickly learning about ADHD in women, which seems intuitive, is that the role of emotions and emotion dysregulation have been underemphasized in the ADHD criteria. Think about If it’s hard to control our behavior, it will, by default, be hard to control our emotional responses. And this relationship is amplified for girls, who are more susceptible to anxiety and depression than boys.
Allow Me to Interrupt takes a deep dive into the most unjustifiably underrecognized ADHD emotion dysregulation. In an effort to educate, inspire, and support other women with ADHD, clinical psychologist and writer, Dr. Gilly Kahn, shares other women’s and girls’ ADHD stories along with her own. She also provides specific strategies backed by scientific explanations with a distinct focus on ADHD and emotion regulation in women.
This book is written to empower you and teach you to love your beautifully strong brain. As women with ADHD, we are misunderstood, underappreciated, and unidentified. But it isn’t too late to interrupt the status quo, correct misperceptions, and describe the very real emotional lives of girls and women with ADHD. As Katherine so eloquently interjects in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew:
“Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak, and speak I will.”
If you picked up this book, chances are you want to learn more about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in females—and you just opened up a Pandora’s box. For many women, the lack of knowledge surrounding ADHD’s unique presentation in their lives has led to feeling misunderstood, criticized, frustrated, and alone. Female biology is complicated, and unfortunately, the mainstream understanding of ADHD often simplifies a condition that isn’t simple.
One thing we are quickly learning about ADHD in women, which seems intuitive, is that the role of emotions and emotion dysregulation have been underemphasized in the ADHD criteria. Think about If it’s hard to control our behavior, it will, by default, be hard to control our emotional responses. And this relationship is amplified for girls, who are more susceptible to anxiety and depression than boys.
Allow Me to Interrupt takes a deep dive into the most unjustifiably underrecognized ADHD emotion dysregulation. In an effort to educate, inspire, and support other women with ADHD, clinical psychologist and writer, Dr. Gilly Kahn, shares other women’s and girls’ ADHD stories along with her own. She also provides specific strategies backed by scientific explanations with a distinct focus on ADHD and emotion regulation in women.
This book is written to empower you and teach you to love your beautifully strong brain. As women with ADHD, we are misunderstood, underappreciated, and unidentified. But it isn’t too late to interrupt the status quo, correct misperceptions, and describe the very real emotional lives of girls and women with ADHD. As Katherine so eloquently interjects in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew:
“Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak, and speak I will.”
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2025
36 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 8, 2025
I was given an advance copy of this book, and I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading it. All I can tell you is that I was not expecting it to be this: a fierce, compassionate, punch-in-the-gut validation for every woman who’s ever been told she was "too much." Yeah, that's right.
I only got diagnosed with ADHD (and subsequently OCD and dyslexia) just under two years ago, so I am a newbie to all this on the one hand; but, I also have a PhD, was a humanities professor, and am a published author myself. I love reading and researching and learning and literally did this for a living. That said, in the past two years alone now, I’ve read countless books on ADHD: academic, practical, funny, depressing ... but Allow Me to Interrupt is one that truly made me feel seen. And not just seen, like, f*cking witnessed. Named. Reclaimed. Dr. Kahn doesn’t just describe what it’s like to live with ADHD and emotional dysregulation, she invites us into the intimate chaos, the coping strategies, the grief, and, ultimately, the liberation that comes with unmasking.
This book is scientifically rigorous, deeply human, and impossibly validating. It’s like having your most compassionate friend and your fiercest therapist tag-team the patriarchy on your behalf while helping you rewrite your internal narrative. She captures the lived reality of women with ADHD (especially those of us diagnosed late) with a clarity and care that’s rare. And she does it via an intergenerational lens that culls from her own experience as a little girl gone undetected as well as the therapist to ND children, but also pulls from the real stories of very late-diagnosed women whose neurodivergence was revealed only by the hormonal chaos of perimenopause in particular.
This is not another generic self-help book. It is a radical act of recognition and a roadmap to emotional self-trust. The writing style is informally formal, and Dr. Kahn's knack for storytelling with humor makes a very well-researched book super accessible to read from a dyslexic ADHDer's perspective.
I found this book relatable from every perspective of my identity: late-diagnosed woman, parent of two ND kids (one boy, one girl, so yeah, that stark difference), but also the student I was as an undiagnosed ADHDer as well as the professor I was as an undiagnosed ADHDer witnessing my own ND students with acccommodations still slip through the cracks while I myself needed accommodations, too!
Buy it. Highlight it. Dog-ear it. Quote it. Rage with it. Heal with it. And keep an eye on Dr. Kahn. She is just getting started. I feel certain of that.
I only got diagnosed with ADHD (and subsequently OCD and dyslexia) just under two years ago, so I am a newbie to all this on the one hand; but, I also have a PhD, was a humanities professor, and am a published author myself. I love reading and researching and learning and literally did this for a living. That said, in the past two years alone now, I’ve read countless books on ADHD: academic, practical, funny, depressing ... but Allow Me to Interrupt is one that truly made me feel seen. And not just seen, like, f*cking witnessed. Named. Reclaimed. Dr. Kahn doesn’t just describe what it’s like to live with ADHD and emotional dysregulation, she invites us into the intimate chaos, the coping strategies, the grief, and, ultimately, the liberation that comes with unmasking.
This book is scientifically rigorous, deeply human, and impossibly validating. It’s like having your most compassionate friend and your fiercest therapist tag-team the patriarchy on your behalf while helping you rewrite your internal narrative. She captures the lived reality of women with ADHD (especially those of us diagnosed late) with a clarity and care that’s rare. And she does it via an intergenerational lens that culls from her own experience as a little girl gone undetected as well as the therapist to ND children, but also pulls from the real stories of very late-diagnosed women whose neurodivergence was revealed only by the hormonal chaos of perimenopause in particular.
This is not another generic self-help book. It is a radical act of recognition and a roadmap to emotional self-trust. The writing style is informally formal, and Dr. Kahn's knack for storytelling with humor makes a very well-researched book super accessible to read from a dyslexic ADHDer's perspective.
I found this book relatable from every perspective of my identity: late-diagnosed woman, parent of two ND kids (one boy, one girl, so yeah, that stark difference), but also the student I was as an undiagnosed ADHDer as well as the professor I was as an undiagnosed ADHDer witnessing my own ND students with acccommodations still slip through the cracks while I myself needed accommodations, too!
Buy it. Highlight it. Dog-ear it. Quote it. Rage with it. Heal with it. And keep an eye on Dr. Kahn. She is just getting started. I feel certain of that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2025
As a neurodivergent female therapist, reading Allow Me to Interrupt felt like finally sitting in a room where my lived experiences were not only understood but spoken aloud with clarity, compassion, and unapologetic honesty. Dr. Gilly Kahn masterfully blends research, personal narrative, and the voices of other women with ADHD into a work that is as validating as it is educational.
This isn’t another ADHD resource that brushes past the messy, emotional realities—Kahn dives directly into the underrecognized realities of emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) with nuance and respect. She challenges outdated diagnostic criteria, exposes the gender biases baked into assessment tools, and offers language for experiences many of us have carried silently for years.
As a clinician, I appreciated her evidence-based approach and the way she wove in neuroscience without losing warmth or accessibility. As a woman with ADHD, I found myself underlining sentences, nodding through tears, and feeling that rare “seen” feeling that therapy clients often describe when they encounter truly affirming care.
Kahn’s storytelling—both her own and the women she interviews—creates a layered, textured understanding of ADHD in women that goes far beyond symptom lists. It captures the complexity: the grief of late diagnosis, the resilience of living “differently” in a world not built for us, and the unapologetic pride in claiming our space.
For any neurodivergent woman, and for the therapists who walk alongside them, this book is more than a resource—it’s a mirror, a megaphone, and a reminder that our voices matter.
This isn’t another ADHD resource that brushes past the messy, emotional realities—Kahn dives directly into the underrecognized realities of emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) with nuance and respect. She challenges outdated diagnostic criteria, exposes the gender biases baked into assessment tools, and offers language for experiences many of us have carried silently for years.
As a clinician, I appreciated her evidence-based approach and the way she wove in neuroscience without losing warmth or accessibility. As a woman with ADHD, I found myself underlining sentences, nodding through tears, and feeling that rare “seen” feeling that therapy clients often describe when they encounter truly affirming care.
Kahn’s storytelling—both her own and the women she interviews—creates a layered, textured understanding of ADHD in women that goes far beyond symptom lists. It captures the complexity: the grief of late diagnosis, the resilience of living “differently” in a world not built for us, and the unapologetic pride in claiming our space.
For any neurodivergent woman, and for the therapists who walk alongside them, this book is more than a resource—it’s a mirror, a megaphone, and a reminder that our voices matter.
September 6, 2025
Reading "Allow Me to Interrupt" felt like finally being seen. Dr. Gilly Kahn takes what so many of us with ADHD have quietly struggled through—interrupting, being “too much,” riding emotional waves—and puts it into words that are both validating and empowering. As a current ADHD coach and a woman that was late-diagnosed at 37, this book explained so much to me that I wish had I understood so much earlier in my diagnostic journey.
What I loved is that this isn’t just another ADHD “how-to” book. It’s a mix of science, real stories from women, and Dr. Kahn’s own experiences, all blended together in a way that makes you nod along and think, "Yes, that’s me." The focus on emotion dysregulation is huge—it explains so much of what often gets brushed off or misunderstood when it comes to women with ADHD.
For me, the biggest takeaway was that our emotions aren’t weaknesses; they’re part of the extraordinary way our brains work. Instead of trying to “fix” ourselves to fit into systems that weren’t built for us, this book encourages us to love our beautifully strong brains exactly as they are.
If you’ve ever felt alone, criticized, or misunderstood in your ADHD journey, this book will feel like a lifeline. It’s honest, hopeful, and a much-needed reminder that we get to interrupt the old narratives and tell our own stories.
What I loved is that this isn’t just another ADHD “how-to” book. It’s a mix of science, real stories from women, and Dr. Kahn’s own experiences, all blended together in a way that makes you nod along and think, "Yes, that’s me." The focus on emotion dysregulation is huge—it explains so much of what often gets brushed off or misunderstood when it comes to women with ADHD.
For me, the biggest takeaway was that our emotions aren’t weaknesses; they’re part of the extraordinary way our brains work. Instead of trying to “fix” ourselves to fit into systems that weren’t built for us, this book encourages us to love our beautifully strong brains exactly as they are.
If you’ve ever felt alone, criticized, or misunderstood in your ADHD journey, this book will feel like a lifeline. It’s honest, hopeful, and a much-needed reminder that we get to interrupt the old narratives and tell our own stories.
October 14, 2025
Dr. Gilly is a freaking goddess. This book is beautiful, hilarious, and had me in tears. It is well written and researched. Her perspective and knowledge of ADHD in women... including her own... needs to be read by the medical community at large. This should be required reading for every educator, therapist, psychologist, general practitioner, and psychiatrist out there. Especially since the official criteria for diagnosis is based on research of male children conducted in the 80's. If you want to read what it's like to not just HAVE ADHD but understand the full experience of what it FEELS like being a late-diagnosed woman, this book nails it. Do yourself a solid and read this one cover to cover. P.S. The title is chef's kiss because interrupting is a huge part of our ADHD love language.
October 31, 2025
Great book that breaks down the science of ADHD as well as relatable stories of what it is like to live in a neurotypical world with an ADHD brain. This book is like having a conversation over coffee with a super smart friend that always knows how to break things down that just make sense.
As a clinician and woman with ADHD, I'm definitely putting this on my resource list as read this to understand more about your ADHD. The pacing is great, well written, good balance of science and real life. Its touching and I definalety had those "I feel seen moments" while reading it. Oh and it's funny too! Some serious LOL moments.
As a clinician and woman with ADHD, I'm definitely putting this on my resource list as read this to understand more about your ADHD. The pacing is great, well written, good balance of science and real life. Its touching and I definalety had those "I feel seen moments" while reading it. Oh and it's funny too! Some serious LOL moments.
June 24, 2025
This is a must read if you are parent to young children who you suspect may have adhd. I felt comforted by being taken through the experience of a professional who lived with adhd throughout her entire life without knowing and what the journey was like navigating that diagnosis and navigating it now. I had a lot of feelings of relief knowing there was a way to understand my child. It’s about time this topic is being spoken about by a professional, not just a blogger or social media. This is the book you take to your doctors office and ask follow-up questions with!!
June 24, 2025
This book is fascinating and educational - it truly combines science with personalized experiences to help readers better understand ADHD in women. The author is incredibly relatable and funny, and her expert advice is wise. She has a unique perspective as a clinician who has navigated ADHD and every parent should read this book to potentially better understand themselves and their children. This book masterfully discusses how ADHD impacts all stages of life - school, career, relationships, parenthood. I cannot recommend this book enough!
June 24, 2025
This is *the* book I didn’t realize I needed until I read it. Dr. Kahn gives voice to the often overlooked emotional world of women with ADHD in a way that is vulnerable, compassionate, and grounded. What stood out most to me is how Dr. Kahn weaves her personal story with the stories of other women, creating a sense of connection that is deeply moving. There's no shying away from hard truths here either. If you’re a woman, have ADHD, or are a woman *with* ADHD (or love someone who is) this is a must-read!
August 4, 2025
This book is a must-read for women with ADHD and anyone who wants to understand them better. It’s part memoir, part guidebook, and part brain science breakdown, yet it reads with so much humor and heart! Dr. Kahn's writing is raw and relatable, and her book does an incredible job showing how ADHD impacts relationships, moods, rejection sensitivity, and emotional overwhelm. I came away not only entertained but with a deeper understanding of how my ADHD brain works!
August 24, 2025
This book really opened my eyes and helped me understand ADHD in a much clearer way. I found myself connecting with a lot of what was written, and it gave me new perspective on things I’ve experienced and noticed in my own life. It was informative but also very relatable, which made it a really meaningful read for me.
October 20, 2025
Yeah, I got more distracted than I intended for longer than I should have. I should probably read this again.
September 13, 2025
Highly Recommended for ADHDers
What a beautiful book and gift for women with ADHD. I felt seen and understood and most importantly hopeful. I especially loved the detail on RSD.
What a beautiful book and gift for women with ADHD. I felt seen and understood and most importantly hopeful. I especially loved the detail on RSD.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews