October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this year’s theme “Awareness is Key” focuses on the importance of shining a light on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to help foster understanding and open new possibilities for those who it affects.
As part of our ADHD Awareness Month celebrations, Tamworth Provisional Psychologist Amy Bartlett sat down for an interview and discovery session with PSP Practice Manager Kristy Downes. Amy provided our team with her insights as a practitioner specialising in ADHD education and shared her own lived experiences navigating the world as an ADHD woman.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder
ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder, a shift from its previous label as a behavioural condition. Amy explains, “We now know it is a brain difference. It’s not due to ‘naughty’ behaviour or ‘bad’ parenting or anything like that; it’s a brain difference that you are born with.”
ADHD primarily affects executive functioning in the brain, including skills like time management, organisation and planning, task initiation, and memory. As Amy describes it, “We don’t have a deficit of attention, we have too much attention. Our brains are wired for interest, not priority. So even though we know, “This is work, it’s really important, this is my job, I’ve got to do it”, if it’s boring, it’s really hard to rein that in.”
For individuals with ADHD, focusing on uninteresting tasks can be a challenge, but when something piques their interest, they may enter a state of hyperfocus. In this state, they can become so engrossed in a task that they lose track of time, sometimes forgetting to eat, sleep, or even take breaks. However, as Amy points out, hyperfocus isn’t something they can turn on and off. “It contributes to the perception that ADHD people are not consistent. Sometimes they are meeting their goals and feel ‘on top of things,’ and other times ‘the wheels fall off.’”
Diagnosis in girls and women
One of the major challenges in ADHD awareness is how the disorder manifests differently in girls and women, leading to frequent under-diagnosis. Hyperactivity, for example, may not be outwardly visible in girls but can show up internally as fast-talking, interrupting others, excessive thinking, or overanalysing.
Managing the ‘noise’ in their head while also trying to function in their professional and personal lives can lead to increased levels of fatigue and burnout. Amy shares, “We have so many thoughts going on all the time. I refer to it as multiple internet browser tabs open, so many tabs open and you don’t know where the music’s coming from.”
Impact of gender and social norms
In many cases, societal norms encourage girls to “mask” their symptoms. “Naturally, it’s different per culture,” Amy notes, “but in our culture, girls are still viewed favourably if they don’t make a fuss, are not rambunctious and loud.” As a result, many women with ADHD are misdiagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders. Though these conditions may coexist, ADHD may also be the primary diagnosis, which when treated, can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Emerging research is also examining the link between female hormones and ADHD, particularly how fluctuating hormone levels affect brain chemistry. Estrogen can affect dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine —key neurotransmitters that impact memory, focus and mood. Amy explains, “Estrogen plays a big role with women with ADHD. It’s been linked to dopamine, and when it bombs out in our cycle the week before and the week of our period, our symptomology can go through the roof.”
Challenges in diagnosis for girls and women
For young girls, misdiagnosis and masking can lead to them falling through the cracks, with symptoms often not presenting until they reach high school. “That’s a problem when the criteria in the DSM-V-TR says we have to have evidence of symptomology before age 12 for a diagnosis,” says Amy. She points out that girls often mask their symptoms or receive support with common challenges such as organisation and remembering, making their struggles less obvious in childhood. However, when they face the complexity of high school environments—multiple classrooms, teachers, and assignments—their executive functioning issues often come to the forefront.
Women, like Amy, also face difficulties in diagnosis during adulthood. “I spoke to my doctor many times, advising her that ‘I think I have ADHD. I’m pretty sure I do’. And she didn’t disagree with me. She responded, ‘Yes, you may, but you got through this far, you’ve coped this long.’” Amy stresses that awareness among healthcare providers is crucial, as diagnosis can dramatically improve a person’s quality of life.
The impact of ADHD on daily life
ADHD affects many aspects of life, including relationships, self-esteem, and school or workplace environments. Emotional maturity in individuals with ADHD is often one-to-three years behind that of their peers, impacting emotional regulation, impulse control, and social interactions. “A lot of ADHD kids suffer in their friendships, and it’s sad,” Amy says. “They’re so empathetic, and they love their friends to bits. But there is just this mismatch in the level.”
ADHD in the workplace
In the workplace, people with ADHD can thrive in environments that recognise their strengths whilst also accommodating their challenges. Simple adjustments, like allowing noise-cancelling headphones or offering flexible work environments can make a world of difference. Valuing the strengths the person brings to their role and understanding fluctuating productivity is also extremely helpful. Amy notes, “ADHD will consistently be inconsistent. That’s one of the main things—we’re not consistent and that’s not a choice.”
A helpful strategy for maintaining focus at work is called body doubling—working alongside another person for accountability and motivation. “Just doing a task with somebody provides momentum and motivation. It’s more social and fun, but it’s mostly about accountability. This only works if the ADHD person wants to do it, though. Micro-managing will likely have the opposite effect,” she explains.
Addressing myths and misconceptions
As awareness about ADHD increases, new myths also emerge. One common misconception is that ADHD is overdiagnosed. Amy is quick to correct this: “There’s this myth coming through now that ADHD is overdiagnosed and that there’s an influx in social media encouraging people to self-diagnose. In Australia, 2.5% of adults are estimated to have ADHD, but currently only 0.2% of adults are being treated. Where are the other 2.3%? Are they undiagnosed and struggling?”
Seeking help
If you’re seeking help with ADHD management for yourself or a loved one, our team of experienced allied health practitioners can help. Get in touch with us via our contact form to speak to our team.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5724393/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3000907/
https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-adhd-symptoms-causes-treatments/
https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-executive-function-disorder/
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/adhd-infographics
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/interest-based-nervous-system
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3829464/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5803442/#R53
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-and-hormonal-changes-in-women