Dreamers instead of heartburn: ADHD often presents itself differently in women and girls than in boys and men - and is therefore often diagnosed late or not at all. But how do you recognize ADD or ADHD in women? The most important features!

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is, as the name suggests, characterized by a combination of difficulty concentrating and hyperactivity, often accompanied by severe impulsiveness. ADHD often manifests differently in women than in men. Unfortunately, this often leads to sick women seeking help later and feeling that they are not just different, but "not enough".

Why are girls less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD? ADHD is diagnosed two to three times more often in boys than in girls. It is questionable whether the disorder is more common in boys. What is certain is that sick girls are usually only discovered later and are referred to the appropriate specialists much less frequently.
One reason ADHD is diagnosed less frequently in girls could be the varying severity of the symptoms. There are three different "types" of ADHD: the predominantly inattentive type, the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, and mixed ADHD, in which both traits are present in roughly equal amounts.

The predominantly inattentive form of ADHD (also called ADD) is more common in female patients (but can also occur in boys and men). The hyperactive-impulsive component of the disorder is often absent, especially in girls, which complicates the diagnosis. Because the class clown who constantly interrupts the lesson attracts more attention than the dreamy child who constantly looks out the window and hardly attends the lesson. As adults, women are more likely to have mixed ADHD.

The fact that ADHD is so often overlooked in affected girls can have serious consequences for them - for example, school results that are significantly worse than they would actually achieve. Because their concentration difficulties in class often mean that they hardly take the learning material in their hands. Instead, her thoughts oscillate between different topics.

Additionally, they often stay late, forget their homework, lose their homework, and become messy and irrelevant to teachers, leading to poor grades and ultimately poorer career prospects.

The most striking difference between male and female ADHD sufferers is that the latter are more likely to internalize their symptoms, while boys and men are more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior (excessive hyperactivity, disruptive behavior, etc.). One reason many ADHD sufferers "get" their symptoms may be because they don't stand out as "different."

This often means that they work hard, for example to keep up with their peers in terms of performance. Despite overtime, they often fail. Then they think they are confused or incompetent. This self-image is formed in part at school, when teachers judge the girls in question to be lazy, indifferent, or incompetent. The problem: No one realizes that her overwhelm is due to her undiagnosed ADHD.

Such negative feedback from school or work, combined with a self-critical attitude, can lead to low self-esteem, which is further damaged by repeated failed attempts to keep up with the environment.

For example, by the time they are diagnosed, many people with ADHD have already undergone a range of treatments to improve their self-esteem, improve their time management, or simply get on with life in general. But because they didn't understand the real cause of their difficulties, ADHD, the problems persisted - another "failure" that eroded their self-esteem.

Symptoms of ADHD in women: main symptoms
The following symptoms are more common in women with ADD or ADHD:

Bad concentration:
Affected women have great difficulty concentrating on one thing for a long time; especially if it doesn't interest you personally. They often appear dreamy or distracted. At work, despite great efforts, they sometimes only perform mediocrely. To make up for this weakness, they sometimes work a lot of overtime to clear the backlog. The increased workload also increases the risk of burnout.
Impulsiveness:

As previously mentioned, impulsiveness is not present in all affected women - however, when the symptom does occur it can significantly interfere with daily life. Crying or impulse buying are not uncommon for many women with ADHD.

Chaos in the head and life: Self-organization and prioritization are often very difficult for those affected. As a result, their working methods often appear chaotic. You can get stuck in unimportant things and forget what is important. ADHD women are also often chaotic at home, for example because they cannot stay at work long enough to clean and are constantly distracted by other thoughts or impulses.

General Overload: Grocery shopping, doing laundry, paying bills, and getting work done on time—many women with ADHD feel overwhelmed and unable to go about their daily lives. These problems often arise suddenly when the parents leave, because then suddenly a lot of support in organizing one's life is lost.

"Jerky" Thoughts and Actions: ADHD women often have the problem that their thoughts are constantly jumping back and forth; For example, they may find it very difficult to follow a colleague's speech. The same problem can arise in an everyday activity like cleaning the house: you start with enthusiasm, but after a while the vacuum cleaner is in the corner and you have found another activity that distracts you and makes you forget the original plan. to clean completely. This often creates the feeling that no progress is being made despite great efforts. Difficult women often get stuck writing endless to-do lists that are never fully tackled.

Relationship issues: Many women with ADHD find it difficult to maintain friendships and see friends regularly. Friendships and partnerships change frequently—risky sexual behavior and teenage pregnancy are also more common with ADHD clotting.

Big excitement: ADHD doesn't just cause problems; Victims also have special powers. One of them is undoubtedly their great enthusiasm; Empathy and creativity are also common skills for women with ADHD.

Mothers with ADHD may also find it harder to maintain a particular parenting style than mothers without ADHD. But a mother's ADHD can also have a positive side; namely when the child also suffers from ADHD (the disorder is largely hereditary). Then the mother's better understanding of her child's difficulties can be of great benefit to the child.

In fact, many women are diagnosed with ADHD when their children are diagnosed with the disorder. In this course you will discover that you know the symptoms in yourself.

ADHD or ADD in women: Diagnosis as liberation
Being diagnosed with ADHD is a great relief for many affected women, not least because the "big failure" they have experienced in their lives up to now is suddenly seen in a different light. With the right care, they cope much better with everyday life. Those who suffer often learn to see deficits as opportunities. For ADHD brings with it not only many challenges for women and girls, but also for affected boys and men, but also special opportunities and talents.