'Undiagnosed ADHD made me think I was broken'

Article excerpt

Women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood describe decades of struggling with unrecognized symptoms, often misattributed to personal failings rather than a neurological condition. The delayed diagnoses, sometimes arriving in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, meant years of self-blame for what they now understand as executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and attention difficulties. These accounts highlight a significant diagnostic gap, particularly for women whose ADHD often presents differently than the hyperactive stereotype more commonly recognized in boys. Early intervention might have changed the trajectory of school, career, and relationships for these individuals. Their stories underscore growing calls for better screening and awareness among clinicians who have historically overlooked ADHD in female patients.