Tom Sawyer vs. The Day Dreamer
An ADHD Girls' struggle

ADHD girls struggle just as much as the boys, maybe even more. Like men, there are ADHD women too. ADHD women and girls have a whole different set of problems than the boys do. It is harder to find in girls and the effects may be more severe.

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Good news is that a combination of ADHD treatment works just as well with females as it does with males.

ADHD girls may be unknown.

Girls are made of,
Sugar and spice,
and everything nice.
and
Boys are made of,
Frogs and snails,
and puppy-dogs' tails.

The definition of ADHD has evolved to become more precise. There has been a lot of effort put forth to tackle this disorder. The big surprise is that one obvious thing has been missed.

The simple fact that ADHD shows up differently in females than it does in males has been missed.

The symptoms of ADHD are the same for all but they show up in very different ways in girls than they do in boys. The medical field has not caught up with this fact yet. The DSM-IV definition of ADHD is based on little boys, leaving out the specifics for adults, girls and women.

This imbalance has left many ADHD girls and women undiagnosed and untreated. Living in frustration without knowing there is help. Help that can change their lives.

ADHD Shows Up Differently In Women

In comparison boys tend to be more aggressive than girls. Being hyper and impulsive shows more and it is easier to see disruptive behaviour in them.
That’s cause it’s disruptive!

ADHD girls will have the frustration of inattention and underachievement just like the boys. Going unnoticed they may start to blame themselves and feel bad for their faults. The guilt and anxiety will build as they fall further behind.

Misbehaving ADHD girls may be ignored and written off as just hormonal or just going through a phase. They may act out as much as the boys, but sometimes a double standard exists.
They may not be recognized as someone who needs help like a boy would. A misdiagnosis or possibly no diagnosis may occur. By the time the girl is recognized as someone who does need help, their behaviour may have become much worse.

Some of the Differences

Skip to the invitation on this page for your chance to give a woman’s perspective on this. The woman's perspective is the only true capture of how it is. I give the chance for you to share your stories with everyone who visits this page. Please help me and all of us understand ADHD women so much better.

Boys and girls are taught very different things from the beginning.
These” lessons” translate into ways to deal with problems.

Differences

• From an early age women are taught that appearances and belonging are important.
  Media and fashion teach these values;
  Girls are princesses and boys are adventurers.
  Staying in the crowd and being safe, be pretty to attract a man.
  And so on.
  Real great stuff!?!
  I don’t think so.
  As a male it is one thing for me to see skinny women on T.V. and then think that is way they "should" look. It is a totally different experience for a female to see that and then compare themselves to that unreal "ideal".
  
• To compensate for the symptoms of ADHD problems unique to girls pop up. Difficulty with sleeping, eating, depression and low self esteem may turn into other more serious problems. Fueled by the desire to keep up and make others happy ADHD affected girls may find other ways to fit in.
  
• Many believe that women mature faster than men. They develop better control of their ADHD symptoms than the boys and they do it earlier. Because of the increased maturity they may make their symptoms better and go unnoticed. Even though they are suffering just as much as a boy would.
  
• ADHD women as mothers take on a larger role in the family. Some suggest that women are more tolerant of ADHD in men than men are of the same in women. With no science or studies here, I would tend to agree. In this case the whole family is affected by an undiagnosed ADHD woman, more so if it was the father with the problems.
  
• As a male I know it is tough for me to talk about the differences that a female deals with in puberty, pregnancy and menopause. I plead ignorant on all fronts with this. I can imagine the difficulties faced with ADHD in combination with the unique female chemistry are baffling.

What do you do with a problem like Maria?

It may be more difficult to discover ADHD in women. Taking control of it is the same as with any other.

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