Millie is a middle-aged professional who is known for getting things done. When met with a task, she uses laser focus to complete it as efficiently as possible.
Tired of underperforming in middle school, she cultivated this approach in high school and never looked back. She takes a competent, high-energy, high-achievement approach to most areas of her life. She is organized but still struggles with losing important items and getting mixed up on where and when she is supposed to be somewhere or complete a task.
She often feels her life resembles a game of Whack-A-Mole as she scrambles between responsibilities. She feels like she drops the ball a fair amount, and when she does, she feels ashamed. She is a poor sleeper. Her house isn't as neat as she would like it to be, causing her to feel stressed and embarrassed.
Worst of all, when she feels stressed, she quickly becomes emotionally overwhelmed and has a hard time not snapping at those around her, most especially her husband and her children.
What is going on with Millie? Chances are, she may have undiagnosed ADHD.
ADHD occurs in women and men at similar rates; however, it is consistently underdiagnosed and thus undertreated in women. Why does this happen? Because ADHD often looks different in women.
In boys and men, ADHD often looks like restlessness, fidgeting, hyperactivity, impulsivity, difficulty focusing, problems with respecting others' personal space or waiting your turn, and a tendency to say the wrong thing or to interrupt others. This is generally what we picture when we think of ADHD.
Girls with ADHD often fly under the radar. They don't tend to get into trouble or to be as noticeably hyperactive as boys. Girls with ADHD tend to be daydreamers with messy rooms who forget their homework and lose themselves in their favorite activities. Women with ADHD often look a lot like Millie.
Many people would consider Millie an example of someone doing fine, maybe even better than fine. The truth is that Millie is doing well, but she is exhausted, and her life is harder than it has to be.
Psychologists can help. Psychologists perform the highest-quality ADHD evaluations. They also offer treatment targeted to ADHD. This therapy technique is called executive functioning coaching. Whether combined with ADHD medication or not, executive functioning coaching provides considerable relief for adolescents and adults—men and women!—who are struggling with symptoms of ADHD.
This technique addresses the wide array of symptoms related to ADHD, such as trouble focusing, disorganization, distractibility, impulsivity, forgetfulness, feeling overwhelmed by complex tasks, difficulty regulating emotions, restlessness, and constant fidgeting. Treatment is tailored to fit individual needs and challenges. When delivered by a psychologist with specialized training, it takes only about 12 weeks to yield considerable results.
Help is available, and progress is possible! If you recognize yourself on this page, reach out to a psychologist to discuss how ADHD evaluation and treatment could benefit you.