Does everyone have ADHD these days?
In an interview, Angelina Boerger, author of *Kirmes im Kopf*, explains why the growing visibility of ADHD is not a trend but a sign of more accurate diagnosis. She discusses underdiagnosed forms of the condition in women, personal coping strategies, and how humor helps to manage the “fairground in her head.” An inspiring look at life with ADHD that offers encouragement and clears up misconceptions.
"I spent a long time looking for help myself"
Dear Angelina, does everyone have ADHD now?
No. But we are currently seeing a large number of unreported cases coming to light . For a long time, ADHD was primarily researched and diagnosed based on a rather narrow definition, while many girls and women with different manifestations were often overlooked: more dreamy than loud, restless on the inside rather than conspicuous on the outside, conformist rather than disruptive.
As a result, many were diagnosed very late—or not at all—and instead learned to pull themselves together, put on a brave face, or interpret their difficulties as a personal failure.
The fact that there’s more talk about it today and more people are being diagnosed doesn’t mean that suddenly everyone has ADHD—it mainly means that diagnosis is slowly becoming more nuanced and a little fairer .
What prompted you to share your personal experiences with your ADHD diagnosis so openly and humorously with the public?
For a long time, I was searching for help, answers, and stories I could truly relate to—and I realized that this kind of honest, humorous, yet well-informed take on the subject was virtually nonexistent.
So at some point, I started writing them myself. My training as a journalist helped me not only to share my personal experiences , but also to contextualize them , research them, and present them in a way that might allow others to truly see themselves reflected in them—perhaps for the first time.
What message is particularly close to your heart when you're performing live on stage, and how does the live experience differ from the book?
On stage, it’s especially important to me to show that ADHD isn’t just a personal problem that you simply need to get a better handle on, but that it also has a lot to do with the structures we live within.
I want people to laugh, to see themselves reflected in this, and—ideally—to realize at the same time: Maybe I’m not the problem; maybe the system is just really bad at dealing with different minds.
Live, it feels even more immediate than in the book, because you can sense people’s reactions right away, laugh together, and suddenly all those individual experiences come together to form a collective feeling.
"For me, humor is also a real survival strategy"
What misconceptions or stigmas about ADHD would you most like to address?
I really want to dispel the misconception that ADHD is just a matter of being a little fidgety, always running late, or losing your keys. For many people, it’s something that deeply affects their daily lives, their relationships, their self-esteem, and their personal history .
And yet, ADHD isn’t just about deficits; it’s often also about creativity, intensity, enthusiasm, and a unique perspective on the world—only in a society that often leaves far too little room for it.
Angelina Boerger was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and shares, in a personal and humorous way, what ADHD means in everyday life. She highlights the strengths of neurodivergent thinking— from creative flights of fancy to unconventional solutions—and speaks openly about the downsides.
June 24, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Registration: " Kirmes im Kopf" with Angelina Boerger
What strategies have personally helped you deal with those "fairground moments" and recognize your strengths?
What helped me the most was stopping constantly measuring myself against standards that were never meant for my brain. I had to learn that I’m not broken, but that I function differently—and that I don’t automatically need more discipline, but often rather different tools, better conditions, and significantly less self-loathing.
And to be perfectly honest: For me, humor is also a real survival strategy, because you can either view certain things as dramatic or eventually accept them with a loving “of course that’s exactly what happened.”
What advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed with ADHD or who recognizes themselves in your descriptions and is still at the beginning of their journey?
First of all, I’d say: You’re not lazy, you’re not wrong, and you’re not just “disorganized.” A diagnosis can help clarify a lot of things, but it doesn’t have to explain or solve your entire life right away. It’s more like the start of looking at yourself with a little more understanding and a little less harshness —and that alone can make a huge difference.
What brings you the most joy in your daily life, or helps you recharge your batteries when your mind is running wild again?
It’s often surprisingly ordinary things that give me the most energy: good conversations, humor, creativity, beautiful spaces, music, or moments when I’m completely absorbed in something. I’m realizing more and more that I don’t recharge when I’m being particularly efficient, but when I stop constantly fighting my brain.
Sometimes that means taking a step back, sometimes toning down the distractions, and sometimes just doing exactly what my mind is genuinely excited about at the moment.
Neurodiversity often feels like a confusing maze. Our "Wunderwerk Gehirn" initiative sheds light on the whole picture: We provide guidance, share evidence-based knowledge, and create spaces for dialogue on equal terms. We highlight what truly defines neurodiverse perspectives—and why they must not only be considered but also recognized in schools, families, and the workplace.