Women with ADHD
Because ADHD looks differently for women
ADHD and women
ADHD looks different for women and girls.
Many women with ADHD like myself, reach adulthood undiagnosed, developing strong coping strategies that can be maladaptive, and cause us to mask in order to fit in. ADHD was only formally diagnosable in UK adults in 2008. Decades of misunderstanding have left many women unsupported – particularly through the hormonal changes of mid-life.
It starts early: in school, boys are often identified early for hyperactive behaviour, but for girls, their hyperactivity can either be internalised, or simply conditioned to behave in socially accepted ways.
Although presentations are not always gender based, girls tend to internalise their symptoms – presenting as dreamy, anxious, perfectionistic, or sometimes overwhelmed. Into adulthood, this can become internalised anxiety. I myself was diagnosed with severe anxiety just a few years ago before receiving a formal diagnosis.
Thankfully, awareness is growing and support is available.
Think you may have ADHD?
Key facts
🌻 In childhood, Girls are chronically undiagnosed, and especially in comparison to boys. In England, girls are diagnosed at just 0.67 per cent, compared with 2.55% for boy. This is despite population estimates suggesting around at least 5% of children have ADHD.
🌻In adulthood, although awareness is increasing, up to 3 in 4 women with ADHD in the UK may remain undiagnosed.
🌻 Women with ADHD are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, depression and low self-esteem compared to women without ADHD.
🌻 Women are diagnosed with ADHD on average 5 years later than men.
🌻 Due to naturally fluctuating hormones, women with ADHD are more severely impacted throughout key stages in their lives, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and postpartum, and perimenopause and menopause.
Coaching and support
Medication can be transformative, but it’s rarely the whole story. We say in ADHD coaching ‘Pills don’t give skills.’ Coaching is recommended by the UK NICE guidelines, but is rarely offered.
Specialist ADHD coaching is forward-looking, collaborative and deeply validating. It helps shift ADHD to become more manageable, from “stuck and self-critical” to “steady and self-aware”.
As an ADHD Works–accredited coach, I work with women who are newly diagnosed, exploring diagnosis, or simply seeking better coping strategies. My approach is:
- Gentle, practical and grounded in compassion and focused on self-acceptance and building sustainable habits.
- Based on the Executive Functioning Framework used by ADHD Works
- Tailored for women navigating perimenopause, menopause or late diagnosis.
Next Steps & Resources
If you suspect hormones or ADHD (or both) are impacting you:
- Speak to your GP or specialist provider about hormone changes and ADHD symptoms together – they are often linked. Private clinics like the Women’s Hormone Clinic provide in depth hormone advice and treatment.
- Explore ADHD coaching to rebuild confidence, routines and calm.
- Get informed – learning about the condition helps provide context to your lived experience. Support is out there, but can be difficult to navigate. Here are some useful UK resources:
Looking for hormone support?
A partnership with…
I have partnered with the Women’s Hormone clinic who offer specialist care for hormone related symptoms for all ages. The clinic offers personalised treatment plans based on full hormone testing without a wait list.
I believe many women with ADHD have been missed in traditional healthcare, so if you are in a position to seek specialist advice, centres like the Women’s Hormone Clinic can offer the expertise to help. The clinic also offer ADHD-friendly range of products.
The Clinic said:
“Whether you’re in your 20s or 30s navigating cycle changes, managing menopausal symptoms in your 40s or 50s, or just seeking long-term balance – we’ll help you feel like you again with care and expert advice you can trust.
Our team of compassionate and highly trained hormone specialists believe every woman deserves to feel heard and supported, with evidence-based care tailored to her individual needs.
Our all-female, British Menopause Society trained clinicians will guide you through all aspects of hormone health: PCOS, PMS, POI, Perimenopause, Menopause and beyond.”
You don’t have to put up with symptoms that stop you doing the things you love.
The Women’s Hormone Clinic offer a 15 per cent discount for clients of Bloom and Spark Coaching. Get in touch for the code!
