ADHD in women being under diagnosed

[nats2011]

I was delighted to see a report from BBC national news this morning about how ADHD in girls is not picked up as easily as with boys. Boys display a more hyperactivity whereas girls not so much. As such it means that many girls are going undiagnosed which goes onto affect their everyday lives.

As an adult (yet undiagnosed) I discovered it was very likely I have ADHD which would explain why my relationships have suffered over the years and why I found myself stuck in my career.

I need to get a formal diagnosis (did consider going private) but good to hear that the Government are going to try and make it easier for women to be diagnosed.

I would love to hear from anyone else who has had a diagnosis and whether this gave them opportunities to get some proper support.

Thanks

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59038116

I would be interested too. DD1(19) it at university with support from the wellbeing team and I'm hoping they can get her more help/diagnosis. For 5 years now she has been told it's 'just' anxiety without looking further into why she suffers, and got fobbed off for months (15 months once) at a time and then when she turned 18, guess what, no referral was made to adult mental health support.

She has so many of the symptoms of inattentive ADHD (and autism too) and she really struggles on a daily basis.

I was diagnosed recently after waiting just 1 year (after referral to NHS) but I am in my 50's. Some people feel very emotional obviously after so long feeling different and not knowing why. To be honest I didn't feel like this, but the meds help me to focus, but it's not like I'm now able to get on and do all the things I have in my head. It just means I can get on and do what I have to do when I have to do it. Rather than the additional things I want to do - projects that will give me pleasure for myself.

I definitely think I have it but feel like I won't be taken seriously 😞 I'm already being fobbed off for anxiety and been told by my GP to 'talk to friends' yeah thanks, hadn't thought of that

So I continue to struggle with organisation and underachieve in life.

@AugustRose Yes putting it down to anxiety seems to be the default. I thought it was anxiety myself and have been on medication for years. I think that the more this is being brought to the forefront in the media the better. Perhaps use that link to show to your doctor and just keep pushing. At 19 she has a chance to get this diagnosed and some real help early on. I soooo wish I could have discovered it at 19. It would have saved me a lot of heartache. Good luck lovely x

@MolyHolyGuacamole ha yes of course - being fobbed off. The angle on the coverage this morning was "gender bias" and that is why it is not taken seriously in women - but that could just be a spin from the media. But we have to push on this and as I said above hopefully it coming into the forefront more will help raise awareness. Good luck xx