By: Kate Tabor
ADHD affects people of all ages and gender, but how exactly do its effects differ based on gender?
Google defines ADHD as “a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, control impulses, and manage hyperactivity”. A lot of the time, when a person thinks of ADHD, they think of younger boys, so a narrative has been normalized to think of that specific group as people who have ADHD.
Although it may be true that a lot of younger kids, specifically younger boys, have ADHD, this narrative can cause other groups of people to go undiagnosed for longer in their life, and cause them to struggle due to their lack of diagnosis.
This is often because while boys struggle with the more hyperactive side of ADHD, girls often struggle with the more inattentive side of it. However, girls with ADHD can still struggle with the more hyperactive side, while boys can also struggle with the inattentive side.
Because of this difference, girls often go longer in their life without being diagnosed, which can cause them to struggle due to not being able to understand themselves, or get help. The average age of girls diagnosed with ADHD is 23, while for boys it’s 7.
Even though it may not seem like it, being undiagnosed can be extremely difficult for girls with ADHD. Not knowing the root of their behavior can cause a lot of frustration, and lead to mental health issues. Being undiagnosed with ADHD can also create a false narrative around someone. Due to their inattentive nature, people might think they’re just very lazy, and not motivated to do their tasks, which isn’t necessarily true.
Boys may often show more externalized symptoms, such as impulsivity and aggression, while for girls it’s more internalized.This could look like daydreaming, and forgetfulness. Girls with ADHD may also be more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like anxiety or depression (what a great deal, right?).
Getting diagnosed with ADHD can answer so many questions someone might have about themselves, and help them navigate their life in order to be successful. It’s also important for teens who are still growing, and whose brains are still developing. ADHD, like any mental health condition, can manifest differently as we grow up, which can be a struggle if you’re undiagnosed.
This is also a reason it’s so great to have a diagnosis. Without one you might look at yourself and be like why am I all of a sudden like this? I didn’t used to be like this! Once you get diagnosed, you can just be like yeah, this is why I’m like this, and I must just be growing up and changing. Now what’s the first step in making it easier for me?
It’s always good to understand yourself. Even if you’ve never thought about it before, if you feel like you may have any sort of mental health condition, it’s at least worth it to find out, and you’ll thank yourself for it.
You’re still you, and there’s nothing bad about it, your brain just works a bit differently than you originally thought.
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