Part 1 was the pink tennis courts and the ball pit. Part 2 is what we brought home: five lessons about ADHD that we can't stop thinking about.
If you caught Part 1, you already know Paris Hilton's Unstoppable ADHD Creator Summit was the prettiest afternoon of our year. But once the sparkly matcha wore off and we were home in our own pillowcases, it wasn't the decor we kept talking about. It was everything we learned. So this one is a little less pink and a lot more heart. Grab a cozy drink, because October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this is a conversation worth having.
Lesson 1ADHD doesn't just belong to childhood
For a lot of us, "ADHD" still brings to mind a little boy who can't sit still in class. The summit gently dismantled that picture. Plenty of adults have ADHD, and many of them only found out as grown-ups, sometimes after years of wondering why everyday things felt so much harder than they seemed for everyone else.
About 15.5 million U.S. adults have a current ADHD diagnosis, and roughly half of them were diagnosed in adulthood.
CDC, 2024
Paris has spoken openly about her own ADHD for years, and hearing her talk about it at home, in front of a crowd of people nodding along, made the point better than any statistic could: you can be brilliant, busy, wildly successful, and still be figuring out how your own brain works.
Lesson 2In adults, it often doesn't look like hyperactivity
This was the one that stopped us in our tracks. In grown-ups, and especially in women, ADHD often shows up quietly. It can look less like bouncing off the walls and more like:
- Losing track of time. Running late again, even when you truly left "early."
- A hundred tabs open at once. A busy brain that won't switch off, especially at bedtime.
- Struggling to start. Staring down the one important task while everything else somehow gets done.
- Forgetting things. Keys, plans, appointments, the reason you walked into the room.
- Feeling overwhelmed. Everyday responsibilities piling up faster than you can sort them.
Reading that list, you may have recognized a friend, a partner, a child, or yourself. We certainly did. Which brings us to the most important lesson of all.
Possible signs are not a diagnosis. Everyone loses their keys sometimes, and stress, sleep and a dozen other things can look a lot like the list above.
A qualified professional looks at whether these patterns are long-lasting, whether they get in the way of daily life, and whether they go back to childhood. If any of this feels familiar, that conversation is the right next step. We are a pillowcase company, not doctors, so please take our word as a nudge and theirs as the answer.
Lesson 4Understanding your brain changes everything
The biggest takeaway of the day: once you understand how your brain works, you can stop fighting it and start working with it. Nearly every corner of the summit was designed around that idea.
At the Shimmer Bar, guests bedazzled mirrors, hats and keepsakes with a strength they wanted to remember: Creative. Curious. Hyperfocused. Big thinker. Brave. Across the lawn, a giant wall invited everyone to add their own words beneath one simple message: Celebrate Minds of All Kinds. Our founder Dale Janée left a note, too.
Even the playful touches carried the message. The alpacas on the lawn, the calming headphone wall, the quiet corners tucked between the activity: it was an event designed for different brains, and you could feel how much more relaxed everyone was because of it. It's a lesson for anyone who hosts, manages a team, or simply runs a busy household.
Lesson 5Support is out there
Awareness is only the beginning, and the summit made sure no one left empty-handed. Paris has put together an ADHD Toolkit full of practical tips (think voice-noting ideas the moment they arrive, color-coding, and taking short breaks to reset), along with helpful tools and outside resources. It's thoughtful, approachable, and a lovely place to start if you or someone you love is just beginning to learn about ADHD.
A few good places to start
- Paris Hilton's ADHD Toolkit: everyday tips, tools and resources
- Understood.org: ADHD education and support for kids and adults
- CHADD: resources and community for adults with ADHD
- Your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional: the right place to ask about an assessment
Even superpowers need their beauty sleep
We were honored to be part of the summit's gifting suite, where guests took home our Luxe Satin Pillowcase and a Superpower Edition Savvy Scrunchie. Smooth satin for hair and skin, a bonus secret pocket for the things you don't want to lose, and machine washable, so there is one less thing to remember.
Shop Satin Pillowcases, from $42
Pass it on
If one thing from this post made you think of someone, send it their way. Awareness spreads one conversation at a time, and ADHD Awareness Month is the perfect excuse to start one.
And we would love to hear from you. Did you learn about ADHD as an adult, for yourself or someone you love? What helped? Pull up a pillow and share in the comments.
A heartfelt thank you to Paris Hilton for opening her home and this conversation, and to Rebecca Grone and the entire 11:11 Media team for creating such a thoughtful, joyful day.
Thank you, Paris, for helping so many of us understand.Welcome to the Slumber Party