What Lockdown Revealed About ADHD That Success Had Hidden for Years

Late Diagnosis, Perimenopause, and the Career Questions No One Prepared Us For

What happens when your routines fall apart, your symptoms get louder, and a late diagnosis suddenly makes your whole life look different? In this episode, I talk with Gina Molinas about what it was like to be diagnosed during lockdown while also moving through perimenopause—and why that combination changed everything.

We talk about the grief, relief, anger, and clarity that can show up after a late diagnosis. Gina shares how old memories started to make new sense, why some workplaces drain neurodivergent people more than others, and what many professionals get wrong when they blame themselves for struggles that may be tied to environment, burnout, or masking.

We also get into career transitions, rejection sensitivity, and the question so many people quietly ask: Do I need a new job, or do I just need a workplace that fits me better? There’s a lot in this conversation that may leave you rethinking your own story.

About the Guest

Jeanna Malines is an ADHD coach and career transition guide who supports neurodivergent professionals. Through her company, Trajekta, she helps people better understand how they work, what they need, and where they can thrive.

Timestamps

0:02 - I welcome Gina and we get into her late diagnosis during lockdown

5:24 - What became easier to notice when routines disappeared

14:26 - The grief that can follow a late diagnosis

16:53 - How perimenopause complicated ADHD traits

20:15 - Rebuilding your identity after diagnosis