Adult ADHD women are finally being recognised.

I recently shared a post on social media about late-diagnoses of ADHD in women, and was amazed to see so many people sharing their stories.

As an ADHD specialist coach, I did know how widespread the problem was, but it was truly eye-opening to read so many people’s true accounts of living with the undiagnosed condition for so long.

There’s a semi-popular opinion floating around (unfortunately) that this tsunami of diagnoses is just a ‘trend.’ Realistically, it’s just a direct result of people having access to the resources and information they need to actually begin identifying why they are the way that they are.

I’d like to share some of the responses of the women who commented on my post. Although I work with a lot of neurodivergent women and have ADHD myself, their lived experience is something that I can’t claim to have. I did, however, only realise I had ADHD when I was an adult, after a string of addiction issues that were intrinsically linked to my neurodivergence and also: the ADHD diagnosis of my son. I do know what it’s like to suffer without an explanation and how cathartic it is to find one, along with the support you need, even if it comes very late.

Without further ado - here are some of the interesting responses that I want to highlight, as I feel that they deserve a platform to be heard! ??

“As a therapist, back in the day I wasn't trained to identify ADHD, and as a disordered eating specialist I learned over time about the significant crossover between 'disordered' eating and neurodiversity. From sensory processing to poor impulse control, or a high need for control - only through repeated presentations and trial and error I eventually joined the dots. So if I as a mental health professional didn't know what I didn't know... how could teachers, parents or anyone else not specifically trained in neurodiversity, know what's going on with their? family member or student? Thankfully more training and information is available today, but I can't say with confidence even now that neurodiversity is being adequately covered in foundational training for health professionals.” - Emma Murphy MIACP

The evolving understanding of ADHD in the professional world highlights the need for ongoing education and awareness.

“As one of the many women who has been diagnosed late in life (I was 46), I think it is wonderful that so many are finally realising that they are not 'broken', they just don't fit in to what society tells us is 'normal'.

Now, we need society to catch up to the fact that 'normal' isn't quite as normal as was previously thought, and develop structures that support and celebrate neurodivergence.?

And I hope that this new awareness means that girls in schools now are being recognised and supported as neurodivergent, so they can hopefully avoid the devastation to our self esteem that we older women have often experienced as a result of expectations we were never built to meet., and having our genuine strengths dismissed” - Esther Nagle

Recognition and support for neurodivergence are crucial steps towards a more inclusive society.

“I was the girl doodling away too - “away with the fairies” is what my teachers used to say about me.? That’s when I wasn’t being a chatterbox and getting into trouble for being distracted! Frustrating when some people say it’s a trend or jumping on a bandwagon! It’s purely because the possibility of girls having ADHD has gone under the radar for so long and now it’s been spoken about that people are having the ‘lightbulb moment’ and seeking a diagnosis. This is in effect a backlog and I’m sure in the years to come it will start to level out.” - Vicky Nicholson.

One from a bloke, but there’s some fantastic points in there!

“I think it's a reflection of a sh*tty broken system that failed so many young girls (and boys - we weren't all the stereotypes) and it's about time the system caught up and all who need the support get it and if that's a diagnosis then that should not be denied. What p*sses me off is that it doesn't get much better once you get a Diagnosis, you pretty much get it and it's there you go, off you pop. There needs to be a much greater post diagnosis support mechanism in place than what most of us do and Google the sh*t out of it to try make some sense of everything.” - Mike Bedford

I think this is a very salient point for all of us. Once you get your diagnosis, it shouldn’t be a case of ‘what now?’ There should be support on either side of the process.

And finally, this thought-provoking perspective offers a new angle.

"I would actually argue that 1, girls are programmed from an early age to prioritise others’ comfort over their own in social settings, and therefore mask better because it’s what they’re taught society expects of them. I don’t believe that they’re naturally inclined to mask better than boys- it’s a learned behaviour to feel safe." - Katie McManus

To sum up, these stories emphasise the need for greater ADHD awareness, especially in women.

They highlight the importance of evolving societal norms and healthcare practices to better support and understand neurodiversity.

This collective voice underscores the call for more inclusive dialogue and action.

What do you think about the support surrounding ADHD?

I’d love to know your experience.

Yours,

James ??