How Is Adult ADHD Different in Women Than It Is in Men?

"ADHD symptoms in women frequently show up as feeling frazzled. Rather than hyperactivity, there is mental clutter. Because women in our culture are encouraged to be team members, to 'be nice,' and to collaborate, they often accept more work than it's possible for them to do. I see that many women describe difficulty starting tasks, even when they are important to them, whether they are work-related or personal."

"Importantly, many of these women appear successful on the surface. However, there is a cost. Women with ADHD often work longer hours than necessary. They stay up late finishing tasks they could not initiate earlier. Supposedly high-functioning women with undiagnosed ADHD tend to appear in my office with burnout, depression, and anxiety. The way they have been coping is no longer sustainable."

"For years, the stereotype of ADHD focused on disruptive boys in classrooms. Meanwhile, many girls who were quiet and appeared focused were often trying harder, compensating, and internalizing their struggles. Many adult women are finally starting to ask, 'Could this have been ADHD'?"

ADHD in women frequently goes undiagnosed because symptoms manifest differently than the stereotypical hyperactive presentation seen in boys. Girls often compensate by working harder and internalizing struggles, appearing successful while experiencing mental clutter, difficulty initiating tasks, forgetfulness, and time management issues. Cultural expectations for women to be collaborative and accommodating lead them to accept excessive workloads. Many high-functioning women with undiagnosed ADHD experience pronounced emotional sensitivity, procrastination tied to deadlines, and eventually develop burnout, depression, and anxiety. The coping mechanisms that masked symptoms during childhood become unsustainable in adulthood, prompting late-life diagnosis.

Read at Psychology Today