If you’re new to the late diagnosis ADHD Club, you are most certainly not alone - especially if you’re a woman. There are many factors and theories behind why women are entering this new stage of awareness (seemingly all at once). Personally, Covid-19/the Global Pandemic caused a lot of things to shift in my life. I won’t get into the laundry list - as I’m sure it’s been the same for you. This shift caused more anxiety, more stress, and more abrupt change and undoubtedly caused me (and countless others) to find therapy - which led to my ultimate ADHD and Anxiety Diagnoses. It’s undeniable that the pandemic and added stress related to Covid-19 has caused many of us to seek assistance - which in turn has led to more and more women being diagnosed with ADHD.
Here are a few things that we know about ADHD Diagnosis in women:
Women are less likely to be diagnosed than males
Women are less likely to be referred for a diagnosis (this is troubling)
Women with ADHD have high rates of low self-image
Oftentimes, Women with ADHD are diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety/or Bi-Polar Disorder
More in-attentive symptoms
Women with ADHD tend to have symptoms that present differently than males or young boys - which is part of the issue with diagnosis and hopefully as awareness spreads, this will continue to play into women getting diagnosed appropriately and in a more timely manner.
Typical ADHD Symptoms in women:
Difficulty focusing
Disorganization
Forgetfulness
Difficulty managing money/bills
Indecision
Feeling overwhelmed by daily housework/chores
If you’re relating to this list and interested in finding the next steps, I’d start HERE - and take this quick assessment that will give you a better idea of how your symptoms are lining up with ADHD. If you are in the US - you will need to contact a Psychiatrist, Psychologist or even your Primary Care doctor to begin the diagnosis/referral process. I would search for someone who specializes in ADHD. Starting the process for diagnosis can seem overwhelming. My suggestion is to call 2-3 places, leave messages, and reward yourself for doing so. ADHD is hard - but you can do hard things.
