ADHD Videos

What Does ADHD Look Like in Women?

ADHD is not gender biased. Symptoms are just as common in girls as they are in boys. But far fewer women get accurately diagnosed. Too many women are mislabled or misdiagnosed. This video puts an end to all that.

Sari Solden: Psychotherapist for Adults and Women with ADHD
By Sari Solden, M.S., LMFT, ADDitude Editors Verified Updated on February 26, 2024
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Women and men are equally likely to have attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), even though it’s often mistakenly thought of as a male disorder. In fact, adult women are the fastest growing population of ADHD diagnoses.

Does your life feel like one big struggle? Are you perpetually disappointed and frustrated? It could be an undiagnosed condition causing those problems. Find out, in this video.

What Does ADHD Look Like in Women?

ADHD is not gender biased. Symptoms are just as common in girls as they are in boys.

But far fewer women get accurately diagnosed.

Why?

  • Misconceptions that ADHD always means physical hyperactivity
  • Inattentive symptoms that are easy to overlook

These ‘invisible’ symptoms are often mislabeled as:

  • Hormones
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Learning disabilities

Undiagnosed women may live their whole lives being called:

  • Ditzy
  • Spacey
  • Chatty
  • Lazy
  • Selfish
  • Dumb

If you think you might have ADHD, answer these self-test questions:

  1. Do you take rejection very hard, and feel every comment is a harsh criticism?
  2. Are you spending all your energy looking for things or catching up?
  3. Do you feel like an imposter “passing for normal?”
  4. Do you feel overwhelmed at parties because you can’t shut out all the noise?
  5. Have you been called selfish because you forgot to express thanks or reciprocate?
  6. Is money incredibly difficult for you to manage?
  7. Have you stopped inviting friends to your house because you’re ashamed of the mess?
  8. Have you watched others of equal intelligence and education pass you by?
  9. Were you labeled as “too chatty” or a “drama queen” in school?
  10. Are you clueless how others manage to lead regular lives?

If you agreed with a majority of these statements, you may have symptoms that resemble ADHD. Take your results to a healthcare professional and request an evaluation.

This self-test video is not intended to diagnose or replace the care of a healthcare professional. An accurate diagnosis can only be made through a clinical evaluation. For personal use only.

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Self-Test: ADHD Symptoms in Women and Girls
Sister. Wife. Mother. Living with ADHD.