ADHD in Women

let's talk about ADHD in females when I was a kid ADHD was the boy who couldn't sit still constantly fidgeting or interrupting the class but for many women and girls ADHD can look very different and it often goes unnoticed and underdiagnosed and something to note is that ADHD doesn't have different causes for different genders or people the underlying issues are the same challenges with attention and impulsivity and regulation but how those issues present often depend on external factors like gender expectations gender Norms can influence how ADHD shows up girls are often expected to be neat

attentive and compliant which can push them to mask their struggles and internalize a lot of their symptoms while boys may act out cultural scripts can lead girls to turn their frustration inward leading to feelings of shame or inadequacy of course everyone's experience is different but we're talking about the gender Norms that we see and hear about the most another important note to make is that historically ADHD research focused on boys leading to diagnostic criteria that doesn't account for how it presents in girls symptoms like daydreaming emotion disregulation or chronic overwhelm are often misattributed to anxiety

depression or laziness it's not uncommon for women to get diagnosed in their 30s or 40s long after they've been misdiagnosed or left untreated so let's talk about the five ways ADHD might present differently in females number one hyperactivity hyperactivity in girls with ADHD often presents differently than the more stereotypical signs associated with the condition making it harder to recognize while hyperactivity in boys might involve overt physical disruptions in girls it often takes on subtler or more socially acceptable forms one common expression is excessive talking where a girl might feel an unrelenting urge to speak interrupt

conversations or dominate group discussions this isn't out of rudeness but stems from their fast processing Minds which make it difficult to hold back overall this Behavior reflects the internal restlessness of ADHD where thoughts and ideas demand immediate expression we can also feel emotional restlessness which can cause us to feel perpetually on edge unable to relax even during downtime this might lead us to constantly switch tasks or stay busy to manage the chaos in our minds physical hyperactivity in girls can also show up as smaller like more repetitive actions like tapping a pencil bouncing a leg

or twirling our hair beh that are often dismissed as harmless habits but are critical outlets for internal energy take Emily for example who struggles to sit still during family movie Nights she often gets up to do chores or Pace around unable to relax because her mind feels too chaotic While others might see her as simply busy or industrious these behaviors are rooted in the challenges of ADHD girls's quieter less disruptive hyperactivity often leads to misunderstandings with behavior being misinterpreted or dismissed resulting in missed opportunities for support and early diagnosis because the hyperactivity in girls is

often verbal emotional or just more subtle it's easy for their ADHD to go unnoticed or misunderstood instead of being labeled hyperactive girls are often described as chatty overly sensitive or she's just such a busy bee these labels can mask the underlying ADHD delaying diagnosis and leading girls to feel frustrated or even ashamed because they don't understand why they just can't calm down number two in attention inattention is a key feature of ADHD but it often presents differently in girls which can make it harder to recognize girls with inattentive ADHD tend to internalize their challenges making

their struggles less visible to teachers and parents they may appear engaged nodding along pretending to take notes or maintain maining eyee contact while their minds are elsewhere lost in Daydreams overthinking or replaying past interactions this quiet internal distraction often goes unnoticed allowing their difficulties to remain hidden social conditioning also plays a role here is girls are often encouraged to be polite and attentive this can lead many to mask their struggles giving the appearance of focus even when they're not processing what's going on they may procrastinate leave tasks incomplete or feel overwhelmed by where to start

but these behaviors are often attributed to personality traits like shyness or perfectionism rather than what they are signs of ADHD number three impulsivity impulsivity is a defining trait of ADHD often leading individuals to act without thinking about the consequences it's kind of like my dog Roxy the vet always says she jumps first thinks later but while this character ISC is typically associated with obvious or disruptive behaviors in girls impulsivity frequently manifests in subtler emotional ways this makes it harder to recognize and address as their struggles are often internalized or misinterpreted girls with ADHD May impulsively

overshare personal details you know like when you feel like it's like verbal diarrhea to Shared everything can also share too much of our feelings too soon and this can leave us feeling vulner vable in social situations where our openness isn't quite reciprocated the way we wanted we can also struggle with saying yes to every request or commitment driven by a desire to please others or avoid disappointing them this pattern can quickly lead to overwhelm as we take on too much without considering our own limits emotional impulsivity may also surface through outbursts or quick reactions to

frustration which are often misunderstood as over sensitivity or maturity for example a girl might impulsively agree to numerous extracurricular activities in an effort to appear accomplished and well-rounded only to burn out under the weight of unrealistic expectations the societal pressure for girls to be calm composed and accommodating can obscure these impulsive tendencies causing them to be dismissed or overlooked this lack of recognition can have long-term consequences including anxiety from trying to meet everyone else's expectations strained relationships due to impulsive interactions and burnout from overc committing addressing the unique ways impulsivity presents in girls with ADHD

is crucial for providing the understanding and support they need to navigate these challenges effectively number four internalized emotional disregulation in girls with ADHD emotional disregulation often manifests in subtle and internalized ways making it harder to recognize rather than expressing their feelings through visible outbursts or anger girls may turn their emotions inward leading to distress that is deeply felt but less obvious to those around them this internalized emotional turmoil can take many forms such as heightened sensitivity to criticism feelings of Shame and an overwhelming sense of inadequacy when facing setbacks we can struggle with perfectionism and

feel devastated when even minor challenges come our way it's can make us think that we failed or that others are judging us harshly social situations can also become sources of anxiety as we can overanalyze our interactions or replay conversations in our minds convince we've done something wrong these Tendencies are often misinterpreted as over sensitivity or anxiety leading girls feeling misunderstood and unsupported in their struggles the long-term consequences of unre recognized emotional disregulation can be significant internalized feelings of Shame and inadequacy can increase the risk of anxiety depression and even low self-esteem girls may also withdraw

from social situations or friendships out of fear of judgment which just perpetuates our already existing feelings of isolation the constant pressure to meet high expectations can lead to burnout as we continue to strive for Perfection at the expense of our own emotional well-being number five coping mechanisms coping mechanisms are strategies that we develop to manage or even mask the challenges of ADHD often as a way to conform to societal expectations or to hide the internal chaos associated with the condition for girls these mechanisms are frequently shaped by the pressure to appear organized capable and in

control while these strategies can help us navigate daily life and meet some of our external expectations they often come at the expense of our own emotional well-being and sense of self girls with ADHD May adopt behaviors that align with societal ideals such as striving for Perfection being overly helpful or becoming kind of a quiet achiever perfectionism often serves as a shield against judgment with girls working tirelessly to avoid being perceived as lazy or disorganized for instance a student may obsess over every detail of a school project fearing that anything less than Perfection will reveal her

struggles others may take on the role of the helpful one constantly volunteering and prioritizing everybody else's needs above their own just to gain approval or maybe to avoid conflict which can lead obviously to burnout and even resentment still some girls adopt a lowprofile approach quietly excelling at tasks while suppressing their difficulties resulting in feelings of isolation and a lack of recognition these gendered coping mechanisms often stem from societal Norms that encourage girls to internalize their struggles emphasizing emotional control and self-awareness therefore girls behaviors may seem socially acceptable or even admirable sometimes but the long-term impact

can be harmful the Relentless pursuit of perfection or the pressure to please others can lead to anxiety emotional exhaustion and a disconnection from their true selves and personal Passions recognizing the hidden toll of these coping mechanisms is crucial girls with ADHD deserve support in managing their symptoms in ways that prioritize their emotional health allowing them to embrace their authentic selves without fear of judgment or rejection in conclusion ADHD often presents differently in females shaped by both neurological factors and societal expectations while girls may not exhibit the more overt symptoms often associated with ADHD they often

develop coping mechanisms such as perfectionism or people pleasing to mask their struggles these behaviors can make it difficult to recognize ADHD in girls as they may go unnoticed or be misinterpreted as positive traits understanding how ADHD manifests in females is crucial for providing the right support and fostering environments where they can Thrive authentically by addressing these unique expressions of ADHD we can encourage healthier coping strategies and reduce the stigma surrounding this often misunderstood good condition thank you so much for watching and I will see you next time [Music]