Adult ADHD

Plays well with others, has no indoor voice.  That was the teacher feedback  on my first grade report card.  

The comments grew in the following years.  Chatty.  Spacey.  Off topic.  Excitable. Dramatic. Smart.  Lacks motivation.  Talks too much.  I was chastised.  Given extra assignments.  Offered busy tasks. I was placed in a gifted program.  I was the bane of many teachers and the quirky conundrum for others.  I was so many things…but not ADHD.

Then in college, my psychology major friends approached me when they needed a subject to diagnose.  Lindsey, we’re learning about attention deficit disorder and I’d like you to take a test.  I was shocked.  In 20 years, no one had ever told me that I could have ADHD.  I knew several wild boys in middle school, but theater girls had never been candidates for Attention Deficit Disorder.

I called my mom (a special educator for those 20 years) and she told me that I’d been tested as a child but they’d chosen not to medicate me.  My brain exploded.  I had an explanation for all the wild thoughts and behaviors that I struggled to control, but I still didn’t see anyone talking about ADHD women like me.

What is Adult ADHD?

According to the Mayo Clinic: Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other problems.

Adult ADHD often goes undiagnosed because doctors and therapists tend to focus on anxiety and depression, which are symptoms of ADHD.  And insomnia.  And panic attacks.  And confusion.  And mood swings.  All of the things I’ve been treated for or chastised for are all connected to my brain, my ADHD brain.

It’s only as an adult that I’ve finally been able to focus on the root cause of so many of my issues.  I’m not the only one.  Until recently, ADHD has not been widely researched in women. Much more is known about how it affects children and men.  This makes it difficult to receive a diagnosis and get appropriate treatment.

Women’s ADHD often gets overlooked until college, when we begin to show a lack of self-regulation and self-management.  We get overwhelmed, exhausted, and often revert to risk taking behaviors.  These behaviors are more subtle and present differently than in men.  What does ADHD look like in women?

What ADHD May Look Like In Women

• You talk more than anyone else you know
• Your mind drifts during conversations unless you’re the one talking or it’s a topic you find very interesting.
• Friendships can be difficult to navigate because social rules seem complicated.
• You get overwhelmed easily by everyday tasks
• You don’t feel organized with money and are usually behind with bills. 
• You often overcompensate for other problems (you don’t have a clean outfit to wear, so you buy a new one) 

Other conditions can also be present along with ADHD. When you have more than one condition, they are called comorbid or coexisting conditions.

Coexisting Conditions with ADHD

• Anxiety Disorders
• Substance use Disorders
• Sleep Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Eating Disorders 

It’s good to be aware of these coexisting conditions because they can cause symptoms that look similar to ADHD and often that is what medical professionals look at first.  So many of my obvious symptoms are just ways that my ADHD manifests.

If this rings true to you, definitely start researching ADHD.  You don’t have to be bouncing off the walls to be a candidate.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, starting the health discovery process can be incredibly helpful.  Even if it just means putting a name to your issue.  Welcome to the club chatty girl.

For great resources on ADHD or other mental health conditions click here