ADHD in Women and Girls: How It Looks Different and Why Understanding It Matters

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often seen as a disorder that mainly affects boys. We typically picture hyperactive, impulsive children bouncing off the walls, unable to focus. But the reality is that ADHD affects both boys and girls, though the way it presents in women and girls is often different than what we see in boys. Unfortunately, this difference can lead to misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, or women not being diagnosed at all until adulthood, causing unnecessary struggles.

In this blog, we’ll explore how ADHD presents differently in women and girls, the unique challenges they face, and why seeking professional support is key to understanding and managing ADHD effectively.

ADHD in Women and Girls: A Different Presentation

While ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people regardless of gender, the symptoms in women and girls are often subtler than in boys. This can make it harder for those with ADHD to recognize their symptoms, and for others—including parents, teachers, and even health professionals—to spot them. Here are some of the ways ADHD manifests differently in women and girls.

1. Inattention vs. Hyperactivity

The hallmark symptom of ADHD in boys is often hyperactivity: fidgeting, interrupting others, or being constantly on the move. While some girls with ADHD may experience hyperactivity, it’s more common for girls to experience inattention. This means that while they may not be as outwardly disruptive, they can struggle with staying focused on tasks, staying organized, remembering details, and managing time.

In girls, this may look like frequently losing track of assignments, being forgetful, or daydreaming during class. These symptoms often go unnoticed or are dismissed as laziness or lack of motivation, especially because girls are often expected to be more organized and self-controlled than boys.

2. Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation is another key feature of ADHD that often affects women and girls more intensely. People with ADHD can experience strong, intense emotions that can be difficult to manage. For girls, this might show up as feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or angry about small things, or experiencing rapid mood swings that seem disproportionate to the situation.

In addition to emotional outbursts, many women and girls with ADHD often experience low self-esteem and feelings of failure due to their struggles with organization, time management, and focus. These emotional challenges can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, which often overlap with ADHD but can sometimes be misdiagnosed.

3. Internalizing Symptoms: Anxiety and Depression

While boys with ADHD are more likely to display external behaviors like acting out, girls with ADHD are more likely to internalize their struggles. Instead of outwardly showing frustration, girls may suffer silently, feeling overwhelmed by tasks that seem easy to others. This can contribute to anxiety, depression, and low self esteem.

Women with undiagnosed ADHD are often more likely to experience feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt, especially as they try to meet societal expectations to be perfect in all aspects of their lives—whether it's being a successful student, professional, or mother. These emotional struggles can make it even harder to manage ADHD symptoms and make seeking help even more important.

4. Hormonal Changes and ADHD

Women go through significant hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives—from menstruation to pregnancy and menopause. These fluctuations can affect the severity of ADHD symptoms, making them more difficult to manage during certain times in life. For example, many women report that their ADHD symptoms worsen during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause due to changes in estrogen and progesterone.

Unfortunately, this connection between hormonal changes and ADHD is often overlooked, which can make it even harder for women to get the proper treatment and understanding for their symptoms. Recognizing the impact of hormones on ADHD can help women seek the right support at the right times in their lives. It should be noted that research in this area is very new and we are continuing to learn more everyday about the impact of hormones for women.

Why ADHD is Often Missed in Women and Girls

ADHD is frequently misdiagnosed in women and girls because their symptoms don’t fit the stereotypical ADHD image of an impulsive, hyperactive child. The symptoms of inattention, forgetfulness, and difficulty organizing tasks are often overlooked, particularly in a society that expects women to be organized, attentive, and responsible.

Additionally, many women and girls are socialized to mask their symptoms. They may compensate by working extra hard to stay organized, avoid appearing forgetful, or hide their emotional struggles. This can be exhausting and may lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression.

Furthermore, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD were originally developed based on studies of boys, which means that the way ADHD is diagnosed and understood may not fully capture the ways in which it presents in women and girls.

The Importance of Seeking Professional Support

If you or a loved one suspects that ADHD might be impacting your life, seeking professional help is the first step toward understanding and managing your symptoms. A psychological assessment can help clarify whether ADHD is the root cause of your struggles and provide insight into how ADHD is affecting your life.

Therapy and counseling are also important components of ADHD treatment. A psychologist who specializes in ADHD can work with you to develop coping strategies for managing inattention, improving emotional regulation, and addressing co-occurring conditions like anxiety and depression. Therapy can also help improve organizational skills, time management, and stress reduction techniques.

In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help with focus and attention. Medication can be particularly helpful for women with ADHD who also experience significant emotional dysregulation or anxiety. However, medication is often most effective when combined with other forms of therapy and lifestyle changes.

How Therapy Can Help

A therapist who specializes in ADHD can help you identify and work through the emotional and psychological struggles that often accompany the disorder. Therapy can:

• Help you develop coping strategies for managing ADHD symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness

• Provide strategies to manage emotional dysregulation, such as mindfulness techniques or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Assist you in building organizational skills and creating systems to manage time and tasks more effectively

• Provide support for co-occurring conditions like anxiety and depression, which often arise alongside ADHD

You don't have to face ADHD alone. Whether you're struggling with focus, organization, or emotional challenges, therapy can provide valuable tools to help you live a fulfilling, balanced life. Understanding and managing ADHD starts with recognizing your symptoms and seeking the support you need.

Seek Help Today

If you're feeling overwhelmed by symptoms of ADHD or suspect that ADHD is affecting your life, it’s never too late to seek help. The first step is to undergo a psychological assessment, which can provide clarity about your symptoms and help you understand your condition better. With the right therapy, treatment, and support, you can gain control over your ADHD and improve your overall well-being.

Reach out to a psychologist who specializes in ADHD today and take the first step toward understanding your symptoms. You don’t have to live with the frustration of feeling misunderstood or overwhelmed. With professional support, you can thrive and live the fulfilling life you deserve.

________________________________________

References

1. Brown, T. E. (2013). Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults (3rd ed.). Yale University Press.

2. Nadeau, K. G., & Quinn, P. O. (2002). ADHD in Women and Girls: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment. The Guilford Press.