Featured in Lippy Magazine's SS22 print: The Bloom Issue.
Written in collaboration with Mae Rose Dyer.
Image Credit: Ria-Jasmine Lavda
See a copy of the magazine feature here. Read the original article in text below this:
ADHD's Late Bloomers: Celebrating the women that often get left behind
“Why don’t you just try harder?” “Doesn’t everyone have ADHD to an extent?” “ADHD is just an excuse for laziness”. - These are all things that people with ADHD hear on a regular basis.
ADHD is a behaviour-affecting condition that causes inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity which interferes with daily function. It essentially works on a dopamine deficit in the brain. This means that the brain is constantly on the lookout for dopamine. When understimulated, fidgeting, lack of ability to concentrate and impulsivity can show up. When overstimulated, executive dysfunction, shut-down and burnout can appear. Typical ADHD symptoms include difficulty organizing, zoning out, forgetfulness, excessive fidgeting and impulsivity. Although these are all things that most people will be familiar with, people with ADHD experience them to such a degree that it makes typical day-to-day tasks extremely difficult.
Neurodiversity appears in many forms, including Autism, Dyslexia and ADHD. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 5.26% of the global population have ADHD, yet for many, the lack of accommodations and understanding of the condition can create a recipe for mental health issues, struggles at work, and much more.
ADHD wasn’t recognised in its 3 types (hyperactivity, inattentiveness and combined) in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) until 1994 which has contributed to the stereotypes and misinformation surrounding signs and indicators of the condition. Due to the first ADHD research being taken on a small sample size of young white boys in the 60s, many women grow up undiagnosed. This narrow view lacks the nuances of the condition, whilst invalidating the struggles faced by those suffering, and contributes to making help inaccessible.
Apart from the negatives the neurotype presents, people with ADHD often experience hyperfocus on the things they’re passionate about, increased creativity, spontaneity and resilience. We need to start seeing ADHD as a difference, not a defect, but in order to unlock the ability to work with and celebrate the positive traits, recognition is essential.
So why is it so hard to get a diagnosis, especially for women?
Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not gender-biased however it is a condition that is typically associated with boys causing many women to grow up undiagnosed.
The gender ratio gap of children diagnosed with ADHD is huge, from 2 to 10x more men diagnosed than women. This gap narrows when looking at adults with ADHD, which suggests that many women go through the entirety of their childhood without a diagnosis, often left wondering why their abilities are so different from those around them at school.
The educational setting is a key one in which the majority of those with ADHD first struggle.
According to the ADHD Foundation, almost half of teachers have not been trained to teach children with ADHD, and even fewer are adequately trained to spot it. Many women therefore go through school with no teacher intervention, being gaslit by doctors, reprimanded for their ‘laziness’ by teachers and colleagues, and being misunderstood by those around them. None of these are symptoms of ADHD itself, but symptoms of the lack of education and understanding of the neurotype in wider society.
Many women who have received a diagnosis are now speaking out and spreading awareness about it. Although it is overwhelmingly positive that there is more discourse surrounding ADHD in women, this is not matched with more funding for assessments. The lengthy, often years-long waiting lists for an ADHD referral on the NHS forces many women to turn to the private sector, where assessments can cost upwards of £600. This disproportionately affects marginalised communities and those without the monetary or time privilege to get diagnosed. Even with the privilege of getting a diagnosis, at the University of Leeds it still takes 4-6 weeks for disability services to get back to you.
According to the National Library of Medicine, as many as 80% of adults with ADHD have at least one coexisting psychiatric disorder. This means that people with ADHD are more likely to suffer from other mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. This can often only be addressed once a diagnosis has been received.
However the benefits of a diagnosis are clear. For many, a diagnosis means the ability to access help and medication and being able to request adjustments and accommodations at school and in the workplace. For example, universities have a range of support that they offer such as extra time in exams, flexible deadlines, marking consideration, and being able to record in seminars.
Due to the effect undiagnosed ADHD can have on your self-esteem, a diagnosis can provide a sense of validation and a bloom in confidence. A diagnosis can come with the ability to nurture the qualities that you do have in order to thrive.
Understanding ADHD enables those who have it to work with their brain rather than against it, which proves more than ever the importance of educating ourselves about ADHD so we can all recognise the symptoms and help the next generation of ADHD to not only survive, but thrive.
We hear from 6 women on their post-diagnosis bloom:
Taneesha Lewis, 23
“I finally and truly understood myself for the first time. I forgave myself for the things I didn’t realise were affected by my ADHD. I started to understand my symptoms and how I could work with them. I stopped trying to hide them. I stopped trying to fit into the neurotypical box I wasn’t meant to fit in (which was tiring). I realised that I was never ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’ or ’too weird’”
Zuva Seven, 26
“I previously studied nursing and psychology at the University of Leeds and I dropped out both times, so I thought it was a sign I couldn't hack university. Being diagnosed felt reassuring, but I also went through a lot of grief. Like, the signs were always there but they were ignored - which made me quite mad. I'm a lot nicer to myself and my quality of life has improved significantly. Medication hasn't cured all my problems, but I feel a lot lighter for sure!”
Olivia Catlow, 22
“It suddenly felt like someone had taken a slice of my brain and shared it online! I couldn’t believe the relief I felt in knowing that other people had similar difficulties (and superpowers!) and that there was an explanation for how I felt.”
Rose Butcher, 31
“It took a couple of hours and a mixture of calls and Skype calls with a Psychiatrist... and close to £600 to deliberate. I was so excited to tell my family and friends because it had been something I knew deep inside for years and I'd finally got professional proof it was real. I could start working on ways to understand and even curb my symptoms and make them work for me.”
Katy, @whatkatysaiduk
“Finally I knew the reasons for certain behaviours. And with knowledge comes power..I am now able to silence the voices that used to tell me I wasn’t good enough. The biggest change though is the fact that I am able to accomplish tasks - even simple things like hanging washing on the line. Before, I’d sit and feel so completely overwhelmed by everything, but now, my brain is able to focus and do each thing on my to-do list in turn. I am now on track to achieve goals that I’d set years ago - something I never thought I’d be able to do.”
Louise, 38, @pinkpearbear_adhd
“Finding out I have adhd at the age of 37 has meant that I finally know why I felt like a square peg in a round hole all my life. Years of depression, anxiety, low self esteem, no energy, binge eating and never achieving my potential all made sense and medication has helped me immeasurably. I am not sad I have adhd, just sad I didn’t know when I was younger. “
To learn more about life with ADHD, you can check out these resources:
King’s College London’s free Understanding ADHD: Current Research and Practice course on FutureLearn.
The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing podcast
Women Behind The Box’s List of the Top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women 2022
The ADHD Foundation Website
@the_mini_adhd_coach
@iampayingattention
@adhd_couple
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