Hello So, my dad and brother have AD/HD and I used to be really organized on school stuff until some years ago, I started thinking I may have it too, but without the hyperactivity, so I was wondering if you know of why it goes undiagnosed in girls?
WHY DOES ADHD GO UNDIAGNOSED IN GIRLS?
Hello anon! I’d check with a doctor if you’re truly concerned. Your age and environmental change has a large part to do with whether or not you may have ADHD, and while it’s largely genetic, you may also just be negatively influenced by the constant chaos that stems from your dad and brother. It’s best to look at yourself holistically instead of zeroing in on a few aspects of ADHD and, because you’ve been exposed to it for so long, subconsciously start trying to connect yourself to a diagnosis you may or may not have.
ADHD is largely misinterpreted for depression and/or anxiety in girls, depending on how closely the psychiatrist in question analyzes the girl. Now, people (girls in particular) with ADHD are far more prone to developing other mental illnesses than your average person, so it’s not THAT uncommon to suffer from at least 2/3. Girls with ADHD are also more statistically likely to develop eating disorders, due to the obsessive/hyperfocus qualities that ADHD has, so you can imagine how complicated it must be to sift through such similar symptoms when ADHD is never quite the direct answer. This is why visiting several professionals and being very introspective is vital in determining what the root of the issue is.
Girls tend to be less hyperactive (even if they are, it’s not akin to the 8 year old boy chasing a squirrel stereotype that we see in media) and more prone to turning their pain and stress inward, which, although coming from the stressors of having ADHD, are sometimes mistaken as solely depression.
The female brain also matures earlier than the male brain, which may be why we have slightly greater control of our motor abilities (hence, why we tend to be less hyperactive.) I myself am pretty hyperactive most of the time, but in less noticeable ways!
We also can’t deny social cues, and even though the social expectations of boys and girls has been loosening the past couple of decades, it doesn’t erase the fact that the stereotype in media and the misconception in most people’s minds is that ADHD is a “boy’s disorder.” It is largely incorrect either way, because while a girl who may have an inattentive or combination type of ADHD will go unnoticed, boys with those two types of ADHD are often overlooked too.
To sum it up, girls are undiagnosed because we tend to be less vocal and make conscious efforts to hide our feelings and struggles. We’re also physically composed in a way that conflicts with society’s general view of ADHD (aka a little less hyperactive, a lot more inattentive, etc...) Hope this helps anon!
Sources:
Anderson, Jenny. "Decades of failing to Recognize ADHD in Girls Has Created a “lost Generation” of Women." Quartz. N.p., 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
@greatschools. "Understanding Girls with ADHD." Parenting. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
