ADHD in Women: Why It’s So Often Missed and What to Do

Two women smiling in therapy context to represent female ADHD support

ADHD is often missed in women

Many females with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not get diagnosed until their late 30s or early 40s. There is a paucity of research in this area, as symptoms may not be as obvious as with their male counterparts. Often, symptoms get more prevalent when females find themselves struggling with daily life and report chronic stress and exhaustion, or after a child in the family has been diagnosed. Many women are good at masking their symptoms.

Presentations of ADHD

ADHD has three main presentations:

  • Predominantly inattentive
  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
  • Combined inattentive and hyperactive

Women who are predominantly inattentive report specific difficulties with time management, feeling overwhelmed, disorganisation, poor budgeting skills, difficulty maintaining attention, and becoming easily distracted.

Women with predominantly hyperactivity/impulsivity type report difficulties with fidgeting or a need to move frequently, talking excessively, acting impulsively, easily making friends but struggling to sustain them, and often becoming involved in unhealthy relationships. Many feel that they have to work harder than their peers to be equally successful.

Related mental and physical health concerns

In addition to these difficulties, women with ADHD may also experience eating disorders, low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, substance misuse, anxiety, depression, self-harming behaviours, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and sleep difficulties. Hormonal changes and environmental factors, such as differences in how females and males may be raised, may also contribute to differences in presentation.

Common challenges at school and work

In academic and work settings, women often experience:

  • Problems remembering things
  • Difficulty starting and completing tasks on time
  • Procrastination
  • Distraction and forgetfulness
  • Trouble completing admin tasks
  • Interpersonal issues, such as interrupting others, talking too much, or having emotional outbursts

How treatment and support can help

Effective support and treatment often involve a multi-modal approach that may include medication, stress and anxiety management, psychological therapy, counselling, life coaching, and environmental adaptations. However, many women find it difficult to access professionals who fully understand the specific ways ADHD shows up in their lives.

Women with ADHD often benefit from therapy that helps them build self-esteem, develop healthy daily habits, manage stress, and strengthen coping strategies.

What support can include

Support may help you to:

  • Develop strategies for managing distractibility
  • Build effective coping tools for stress and emotional regulation
  • Manage restlessness and hyperactivity
  • Improve planning, organisation, memory, and time management
  • Overcome procrastination and boredom-related blocks
  • Strengthen interpersonal communication
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle and self-esteem

Every individual with ADHD is unique, and support should always be tailored to your needs.