Why ADHD Is Different for Women: Gender-Specific Symptoms & Treatments (with Ellen Littman, Ph.D.)

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 25 дек 2024

Комментарии • 318

  • @Lsirianni
    @Lsirianni Год назад +19

    I had no idea that sensory overload was part of ADHD….my life makes so much more sense now

  • @rfernandezlorain
    @rfernandezlorain 2 года назад +182

    You have just told my life story and explained everything that is happening to me now in one video. I am a 54 yr old undiagnosed woman. I am weeping, thrilled, hopeful and sad all at once. Very little hope that I will find a doctor who can really help, but You have decoded my situation like nobody ever has. God bless you

    • @yournamehere5444
      @yournamehere5444 2 года назад +16

      I’m same age as you, Rose. Was diagnosed (by a female psychologist by the way), when I was 47.
      I’ve always done a lot of introspection, self analysis, etc. One of my Nephews was diagnosed when he was a little kid. But I never considered the genetic factor as being beyond parental genes passed down.
      I’d been to therapy when I turned 30 because a lot of pivotal life changes occurred and I (thought I was looking forward to turning 30) became depressed.
      But not until one of my favorite entertainers died, did I put the pieces together about my own life challenges. Robin Williams had undiagnosed ADHD/ADD until late in life, and he self-medicated because of it.
      I took an online ‘Do you have ADD?’ quiz on my health insurance website , and lo and behold…I scored the highest level of “We recommended you talk to your doctor” 😂
      Fast-forward to 2020 (just weeks before Covid was announced as being in the US), I finally gave in and added medication to my treatment.
      It’s really helping, but on days when I forget to take my meds, I notice the difference.
      Not every treatment works for everyone, but I highly recommend finding a therapist trained in *adult* ADHD/ADD - especially for women.
      I’ve had many regrets in my life, and one of them is regretting not going the medication route much earlier.
      💜

    • @katejones2172
      @katejones2172 2 года назад +7

      @@yournamehere5444 me too 64

    • @laurafisher4199
      @laurafisher4199 2 года назад +5

      Me too...!!!

    • @sofisundar2201
      @sofisundar2201 2 года назад +5

      Me too, 57!

    • @tamaramurdock7046
      @tamaramurdock7046 2 года назад +5

      I'm 36 and I feel the same way!!

  • @maryblue75
    @maryblue75 2 года назад +64

    The fact that she has the knowledge 30 years and that it’s not being picked up, shows a great deal of the misogynistic society we live in.

  • @gdeborall
    @gdeborall 3 года назад +321

    ADHD Tip: listen at 1.25 speed or more or you may wander off.

    • @universaltruth2025
      @universaltruth2025 2 года назад +41

      Lol - I have started listening to all my videos at 1:75 at least - it really helps me stay focused and weirdly helps me as a mood regulator. I find the faster talk soothing to listen. Maybe partly as it doesn’t allow for the introjection of other thoughts. And partly maybe it acts a bit like white noise - although I do actually listen to what is being said.

    • @AA-rr9ly
      @AA-rr9ly 2 года назад +23

      2x speed for me lol

    • @szulakane1566
      @szulakane1566 2 года назад +9

      or use it as a body double to do a mindless task like data analysis :D

    • @countessk
      @countessk 2 года назад +25

      Thank you! I was trying to listen but got so frustrated at how slow it was going and started to tune out. This is an awesome tip.

    • @goldenglowladore3842
      @goldenglowladore3842 2 года назад +9

      @@universaltruth2025 Currently and usually have playback set at 1.75x's.

  • @mpeixoto6440
    @mpeixoto6440 3 года назад +73

    I don’t think anyone in my life has ever been able to see me like Dr. Littman just did and we never met. Im a psychology student and just been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 33. I will share this information with everyone I know! Thank you so much 🙏

  • @babyboomer1697
    @babyboomer1697 2 года назад +12

    Older women that are diagnosed in their 70's and 80's finally have explanations to their messed up lives. But finding that info as overwhelming.

  • @heftyhefty_
    @heftyhefty_ 2 года назад +64

    I really enjoyed this presentation. It’s a constant struggle being a woman with ADHD. Especially when you don’t live up to the societal expectations placed on women in the household.

  • @lisatutler-jones5992
    @lisatutler-jones5992 Год назад +7

    I'm 55 and recently diagnosed. I joined the Air Force in 1986. I was extremely successful in basic training and technical school. However, once I left those structured environments, I performed very poorly. The biggest hurdle was my inability to complete self-directed correspondence courses needed to promote. I was also placed in a very mundane office position. I wish we knew the things about ADHD then as we do now. It's painful to think about all I could have accomplished had I known about this and received the treatment and accommodations I needed.

  • @Cole_Cross
    @Cole_Cross Год назад +24

    Man. This was eye-opening. Diagnosed as a preteen, wasn't taken seriously or given medication until age 32 (now 38). Stay strong, ladies. Advocate for yourselves! After taking my first ever dose of ADHD meds, I had to NAP (never napped before!), then woke up and cried because everything was SOO easy. Don't deny yourselves that!

    • @Cole_Cross
      @Cole_Cross Год назад +2

      Also re:Qs at the end: I'm in the process of checking my t3/t4 and getting referrals to obgyn for hormone testing because I just feel SOO out of whack as of late. Having a new Dr hear me/believe me, and not scoff at me for sending a paper/article feels like an impossible task. I hope I can find these articles she's referring to!

    • @shanekamorris693
      @shanekamorris693 Год назад +1

      ❤❤❤

  • @awildmeow
    @awildmeow Год назад +5

    OMG FINALLY SOMETHING VALIDATING THAT MY ADHD SYMPTOMS ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM IN MY CYCLE 😭

  • @kathysmith1843
    @kathysmith1843 Год назад +2

    This has saved my life this talk. I’m a 58yr old woman and I’m just starting on this journey and it’s arduous going here in Australia getting a psychiatrist versed in female adhd hormone stuff etc etc.I’ve been battling suicidal ideation for the last 10yrs plus self harming. The shame and pain I’ve experienced has been next level but I masked it well till I went into full blown menopause. Help is hard to get and the Lord has kept me but now the mask is off and he’s opened the door to getting well. THANKU THANKU THANKU

  • @stephaniegiles4324
    @stephaniegiles4324 8 месяцев назад +3

    I’m 28 years old.. one week today on vyvanse for ADHD/binge eating/ help with addiction / alcoholism..(iv struggled with stimulant drug addiction and alcoholism since 14)…. I can finally think… I feel like I can finally relax. I can sit and paint, I can read a book for over an hour with no distractions… I sat and folded my laundry for the first time since I can even remember. It’s like a blanket of calmness has been wrapped around me and my body and mind finally know we’re okay. I haven’t had a drink or drug in 8 today after a 3..4 month bender again. FINALLY AT 28 I actually have hope for a better future.

    • @kesses9041
      @kesses9041 5 месяцев назад +2

      How are you doing now? ❤

  • @starkskincare
    @starkskincare 2 года назад +20

    I was diagnosed at 40. Life-changing. My life makes so much more sense to me now. Hoping more women can get help!

  • @Val-pe1ch
    @Val-pe1ch Год назад +20

    I feel like most women start to notice symptoms when they finish high school because the structure of routine isn’t there anymore. But even then we blame it on our hormones or our upbringing.

    • @hspinnovators5516
      @hspinnovators5516 Год назад +1

      Exactly. The fall out starts after school and there's no tools for that. Just that we can't survive 🤷

    • @lightitup33333
      @lightitup33333 Год назад

      So tired of every therapist immediately blaming my parents.

    • @bellyfulochelly4222
      @bellyfulochelly4222 8 месяцев назад

      Yes! This is exactly what I've been saying. After high school is when it all goes to crap bc there's no scaffolding of that structure imposed on us from outside.

  • @stknmggs1788
    @stknmggs1788 2 года назад +38

    Thank you for this! I am a 64 yr old female lay person who is as yet undiagnosed but am fairly certain I have had adhd and am now learning. I already know that if a lecture is more than a year old I pretty much ignore it. It seems there is a quantum leap happening for females in acknowledging our difficulties and unique needs. Good on you for speaking up for us!

    • @demitrepetinatos4336
      @demitrepetinatos4336 2 года назад +7

      What a coincidence! I am also 64 and not diagnosed. I feel that i can no longer postpone a visit to a doctor. It can be another issue though and I'm not referring necessarily to you or me. I do not know if it can be an unhealthy attachment, covert npd, anxiety or something else. That is why a diagnosis is needed. I feel i have read enough to reach out to a doctor. Good luck to us.

    • @countrysister700
      @countrysister700 Год назад

      I just entered long rambling response in the thread but I was a little pre-65 when my adult son was diagnosed. I found an MD who helps with generic Adderall ( all I can afford). Helps some but not great. Now I'm past 65 and of course Medicare does nothing.

  • @catchingstars7
    @catchingstars7 2 года назад +54

    Amazing! I want to see more content about ADHD and hormonal regulation in women in ADDitude. After all, you have such a big audience! This gives good dopamine, you've got me hooked.

  • @HSunday40
    @HSunday40 8 месяцев назад +2

    I have a messed up story behind my ADHD diagnosis. When I was almost 37 & had a 4 yr old son, I decided I couldn’t continue barely getting by in my daily life. My son was extremely well cared for, but that meant my life went to the wayside. I could only take care of one of us, & I chose him. I go to my appt & tell the psychiatrist my story & how overwhelmed I am. I tell her I have fibromyalgia & take methadone daily for it. She immediately started telling me “even IF you have ADHD I can’t treat you for it.” So I kept asking “well do I have it & you just don’t want to treat me, or do I not have it at all?” She repeated the same phrase again, which made me confused whether she thought I did or didn’t have it. She then told me “I’m sorry you’re struggling with being a mom. Some women just have a hard time with motherhood.” I broke down at that point. I cried hysterically in her office, which made her double down even more on diagnosing me with anxiety. After the appt I had to sit in her office for 10-15 mins to gather myself & stop crying. Fast forward 3 yrs & the VA sent me to a psychiatrist during a review to increase my fibromyalgia disability rating. I was so confused because I wasn’t diagnosed with any psychiatric symptoms or illnesses, nor did I request to have any evaluated for my disability rating. I ask the dr why I was there & he said because the VA wants me to evaluate your ADHD, even though they won’t give you disability for it since it started in childhood. I was SHOCKED!!!! I told him the entire story of the awful psychiatrist & he was so empathetic & apologized for anyone treating me that way. He told me that other psychiatrist did diagnose me but put in her notes she was concerned I was a liability because I was on methadone & refused to treat me. I can understand that completely. That’s 100% logical & responsible to be cautious, just in case someone is an addict & just seeking pills (which she also accused me of). However, lying to me about a real medical condition she was diagnosing me with is unacceptable!!! I’ve never been treated that despicable in my life by another Dr. Thank goodness because I couldn’t handle it if someone had. She left the VA shortly after that, or I would’ve reported her, & worse. Today, I’m being treated & my life has changed completely. My entire life has finally made sense to me when I look back on certain situations from my past.

  • @mclarlinda
    @mclarlinda 2 года назад +21

    This has been a huge A HA moment for me, especially as a struggling menopausal woman. I feel like my ADHD has been getting the better of me lately, now I know it’s not just me being a procrastinator.

    • @JordynLaRee
      @JordynLaRee 6 месяцев назад

      I’m premenopausal
      & I believe adhd also affects hormones more severely than other women. Lately I’ve been absolutely losing it a week before my period. It’s like I’m 13 again.

  • @ukminuteman
    @ukminuteman 2 года назад +27

    As a mum who is trying to understand her daughter's insistence that she has ADD I have found this webinar very helpful because I was working off an understanding of the male ADHD model. ( the only one we hear about). Thanks to your explanation of the female experience, I am now beginning to see why my girl is so different from the model I previously understood, that she is presenting many of the symptons, and that she is probably right. I can now get on with helping her get the understanding and help that she needs. Thank you so much, Dr Littman.

  • @antheaanthea6644
    @antheaanthea6644 2 года назад +17

    Thank you Ellen and ADDitude for disseminating this critically important information. I am a high IQ woman and have struggled all my life

  • @jennylynn8314
    @jennylynn8314 Год назад +1

    Wow wow wow. I'm dumb founded. I'm 43 and was in therapy over half my life for abuse and trauma. I've battled depression and now live a happy life.
    HOW DID I NOT KNOW I HAD THIS?!?! My 4 adult children have been telling me the last couple years they thought I had it. I brushed it off. If I've lived this long, I should not need to make something out of nothing.
    However, now, my work life is a mess and I CAN'T FOCUS for nothing!!!!!
    This video just answered SO many questions I'm mindblown. Even little things that I didn't know why I did or was frustrated I never figured it out.
    Tysm for this. I'll be getting on with a doc asap. So relived to have some answers!

  • @superkateroo
    @superkateroo 4 года назад +29

    I have never felt so seen in my entire life. I felt like she was describing me exactly.

    • @haiewill
      @haiewill 3 года назад +3

      same, this was amazing

    • @haiewill
      @haiewill 3 года назад +5

      like there were several times I laughed out loud because I feel like she has to be a mind reader or something 😂

    • @gamzeyilmaz5284
      @gamzeyilmaz5284 2 года назад +4

      Exactly❤

    • @wendyhannan2454
      @wendyhannan2454 Год назад +2

      Hiding masking, I did that, I still do. It’s hard work, I felt I needed to protect myself from criticism. I know I’m intelligence, my brain just works in a different way. 😉 Thank you I loved this video.

  • @annak29
    @annak29 2 года назад +27

    46:50 "So I don't know how much more startling the data on outcomes needs to be before women with ADHD get the attention they deserve." 🎤 drop

  • @Elisa-gv6rh
    @Elisa-gv6rh 3 года назад +13

    I feel like I can finally understand myself... and help my family understand me, so that they can also help me.

  • @annak29
    @annak29 2 года назад +8

    30:38 should be "clinicians cannot *OVERESTIMATE* the extent to which women measure their self worth by their success in conforming to gender expectations" ... Meaning, it's so much a compensatory strategy to overcome internal limitations that clinicians will not be able to appreciate how intensively women work to achieve an appearance of normal functioning. They have to work harder for "normal" . This is true for men as well, hence their regular agitated, reactive, angry "normal" states.

  • @jinmunsuen
    @jinmunsuen 4 года назад +66

    How can we increase the visibility on women with ADHD? Feels like most of the medical and mental health professionals I've seen don't know the first about ADHD let alone women who have it.

    • @latasha5763
      @latasha5763 3 года назад +12

      100%! Couldn't agree more!!

    • @jefferyalpha803
      @jefferyalpha803 2 года назад +9

      Probably by women getting into the field and doing the research and sharing the results with other professionals and to the public.

    • @erap1057
      @erap1057 2 года назад +4

      I think so too and Idk why because it’s far into the 21st century now

    • @lisawhitehall1870
      @lisawhitehall1870 2 года назад +4

      Word! I'm suffering because of this.

    • @OceanFrontVilla3
      @OceanFrontVilla3 2 года назад +13

      Just let pharma know there's 50% of the population they can mine for long term meds dependency and they'll be on it! I can see the tv ad now.. did you know, mom??

  • @karaa7595
    @karaa7595 2 года назад +16

    Makes me so grateful that I was diagnosed at 14. I'm 44 now. Life was hell for me growing up.

  • @youxine
    @youxine Год назад +3

    This was one of the best presentations of the women affected by ADHD.

  • @the_real_littlepinkhousefly
    @the_real_littlepinkhousefly 4 года назад +19

    So much of this is me. I'm so thankful for this. Now to figure out a way to get my husband to be willing to listen...

  • @barbaramongoose9
    @barbaramongoose9 2 года назад +18

    This is a fantastic video. I have adhd which was diagnosed in adulthood. I recognise so much of my problems in this information. It's very helpful.

  • @melissanewcity6685
    @melissanewcity6685 4 года назад +19

    This was insanely informational.

  • @ginachu32
    @ginachu32 2 года назад +4

    Amazing video! So many dots connected for me. Diagnosed with treatment resistant depression, bpd & schizoid in college. Now at 48, I’m thinking it was adhd & autism, which is now exasperated by peri-menopause and thyroid cancer. Hopefully clinicians and psychologists update their understanding of adhd in women asap!

  • @sallybailey5558
    @sallybailey5558 4 года назад +14

    This is such a great presentation thankyou so much for explaining the relationship to estrogen. Really helpful .

  • @daniward7141
    @daniward7141 4 года назад +19

    Thank you very much for this. I feel very seen by this webinar, especially the outcomes.

  • @StellarMonoceros
    @StellarMonoceros 4 года назад +12

    Thank you Dr. Littman, this was a game changer for me and this is such a compelling presentation!

  • @hycynth82828
    @hycynth82828 Год назад +2

    30:40 I’ve found myself comparing myself more when it comes to academic expectations and finding some comfort in gender expectations. I have a VERY hard time reading. However reading for someone else gives me just the push that I need to actually do it.

  • @liladerickson3383
    @liladerickson3383 4 года назад +7

    Thank you! I see a lot of women with ADHD in my clinic and this info is very helpful.

  • @Starbucksgurl21
    @Starbucksgurl21 2 года назад +5

    This explains so much. Thank you for helping me understand. You explained my ups & downs to a T. It's refreshing to hear someone that has real answers other than just being teased & that I'm “PMS-ing” when I'm truly struggling more so than my typical peers. I can now stop wondering why I am the way I am. It doesn't fix it; but at least I know that Im not the only one struggling with this and why.

  • @karengopalakrishna7580
    @karengopalakrishna7580 2 года назад +6

    Thanks. Just thanks! I agree with so many...how could this fit so perfectly in my experience, and why is it so hard to find a provider that understands? Hoping that this information continues to expand and inspire new women to go into the field of helping other women live their best lives! I am 42 and finally going back to school to become a nurse...and I am feeling a tug, or rather a duty almost, to consider becoming a mental health NP so I can help women!

  • @maryblue75
    @maryblue75 2 года назад +3

    Omg you just explained my life. I see that now in my daughter and the therapist have no clue!!!! Thank gods i can understand her… but there is a huge gap!!!, the hormones… I am a super happy person and in the pms phase I almost have suicidal thoughts and feelings, they literally hurt! It’s such a horrible situation, but if you know it, you CAN find ways to control it!!, tapping knocking on the bones of the body has helped me. The knocking sound is like a bell when people have a fight in an apartment, suddenly the fighting stops so that people can see who is at the door. This is the way to trick those feelings out. But you need to know you HAVE a life vest, to use it.

  • @jojozepofthejungle2655
    @jojozepofthejungle2655 2 года назад +11

    It's taken until age 51 before i was diagnosed. Previously I was diagnosed with bipolar which tore my family away, because they believed I could act properly with copious amounts of the wrong medication. It was horrible.

  • @Gunna5067
    @Gunna5067 2 года назад +2

    My goodness, there is so much there that sounds familiar. I just can't believe it. Is this what has been going on all these years?? The hormonal aspect explains so much.

  • @AA-rr9ly
    @AA-rr9ly 2 года назад +5

    everything just makes so much sense! thank you for this lecture, i learned so much about myself. I've always struggled with being hypersensitive to pain, especially stomach pain.

  • @disneybunny45
    @disneybunny45 10 месяцев назад

    I am only 25 years old and you've described my whole life. I was undiagnosed for 22 years, and I experienced so much shame and despair from it. As a kid, it was impossible for me to make true and lasting friendships. As a young adult in college, I struggled with everything. There was nothing I could do as well as I was supposed to.
    Now as an adult in the workforce, I am still struggling but I know where and how I am struggling. I am still not as kind to myself as I should be, but I am healing.

  • @debrac1688
    @debrac1688 2 года назад +10

    "Switch from behavioral model to impairment model!!" 🥳

  • @circadianarchist
    @circadianarchist 2 года назад +7

    "and then if you can also go to yoga, it's great"
    This made me burst into a very genuine laughter. It was a refreshing joke 😅

  • @leannetaylor6022
    @leannetaylor6022 4 года назад +4

    This was very helpful. This gives a good baseline for questions to take to clinicians

  • @christinewright2829
    @christinewright2829 4 месяца назад

    I am so glad o found this! It is exactly what has been going on with me. I have just been diagnosed at age 60! I am now on Focalin which has helped the ADHD. Now i need help getting the RSD under control somehow! Thank you! You got my attention and i plan to use my voice to help others!!

  • @3dchick
    @3dchick 2 года назад +5

    I've been in chemically induced menopause for over a year, and this hits home so much. I was trying to figure out why it's all worse now, specifically. But this makes so muvh sense.

  • @CurlyToedShoes
    @CurlyToedShoes 2 года назад +5

    Such an excellent talk! Eye- opening and helped improve my understanding of ADHD in women.

  • @alicesw1000
    @alicesw1000 2 года назад +1

    This is such an accurate description of my experience. Gave me chills

  • @freespiritdamsel
    @freespiritdamsel Год назад +1

    42:42 hits the spot

  • @morenaa70
    @morenaa70 2 года назад +2

    I actually feel heard and understood listening to this. THANKYOU!!

  • @CarterMaysilles
    @CarterMaysilles 2 года назад +9

    This!!! Wow I had never heard about the possibility of my ADHD symptoms changing with hormone fluctuations before this... it makes so much sense!! More of this, please! Can I donate my blood on a periodic basis to be studied for this?!? I'm so willing!!

  • @vickybooth878
    @vickybooth878 2 года назад +6

    This is amazing, thank you so much Dr Ellen. So much of this applies to me, my childhood, teenage years, hormones, being a young woman, anxiety and depression diagnosis, peri menopause and symptoms being worse executive functioning being much worse as well as sensory issues and finding more things overwhelming Finally at age 46 I'm being assessed for ADHD after researching for my daughter age 6 and Son age 10. It's thanks to social media that I know so much about it, have found people in the same boat which helps greatly. I'm also hoping my diagnosis will help with my daughters journey in particular as she experiences worse symptoms. I'm in a happy place in a new job working as a Learning and Teaching Assistant with children on the spectrum and I'm loving it. I've always suffered in previous jobs especially office roles due to executive functioning, lack of interest and sensory issues so ADHD symptoms have got the better of me and I've experienced burn out/anxiety and depression.

  • @annad6519
    @annad6519 2 года назад +3

    Thank you so much, Dr Littman.

  • @Iamlynie1
    @Iamlynie1 2 года назад +5

    Brilliant video thank you, I am 66 on an ADHD assessment waiting list. I was diagnosed Autistic two years ago. This video is enlightening 😊

    • @BuckitOfSean
      @BuckitOfSean Год назад +1

      May I ask, how is life 2 years out from diagnosis?
      I was diagnosed earlier this year at age 30, and the new context for my life hit like a freight train. I can't imagine how much learning and unlearning such a discovery kicks off in one's 60s! Congratulations on being identified at last!!

    • @Iamlynie1
      @Iamlynie1 Год назад +1

      @@BuckitOfSean hi, for me it's been a funny two years. It's like getting to know myself all over again. I no longer need to feel guilty about things I don't really want to do or eat. I can let my younger self come out, like walking in puddles and cracking ice on top of puddles. I can dress how I want to. It now seems funny how much I had to mask just to try and fit in. As Popeye says "I am what I am" and I can be happy with myself. I can't see me ever getting old 😁

    • @BuckitOfSean
      @BuckitOfSean Год назад +1

      @@Iamlynie1 that's so beautiful. I'm happy for you!

    • @Iamlynie1
      @Iamlynie1 Год назад

      @@BuckitOfSean thanks, enjoy discovering who you really are 😉

  • @hspinnovators5516
    @hspinnovators5516 Год назад +3

    Alot of this overlaps with the female profile of ASD also, which also needs to be compared to the NT female profile and not the ASD male profile. There IS a Biological difference

  • @heidiburton929
    @heidiburton929 2 года назад +2

    This is actually amazing!

  • @dauriankelly7871
    @dauriankelly7871 2 года назад +1

    I was "diagnosed" (only told here take this pill you have ADD) at 12 and now at 28 with 4 kids I'm just starting to understand myself and why I always feel like the world is falling apart around me...

  • @countrysister700
    @countrysister700 Год назад +4

    I picked my body, chewed the insides of my mouth, bit my nails bloody as a little girl then graduated to Donnatal for my stomach aches by high school. My parents kept being blissfully ignorant as they moved the family multiple times with Dad's career - the last leaving me in yet another new school for my Sr year of HS. Hard to make friends and especially when you at last make a friend or two then get moved. With each year, the "good student" that made A's went to B's then to C's as I felt more a failure and outcast. We at last made it to the locale that was my Dad's goal where I made it through college and found my husband at my post-college work. I loved marriage and sons but the house was always a mess, I always forgot special tasks that made hubs mad, bills late, promises broken. At last nearing retirement (with my life sinking daily into clutter, lost bills, overdue taxes, you name it and yes one friend), my oldest son - miserably depressed like me - was clinically diagnosed as very intelligent, high functioning ADHD. "Who in your family is like you?" My own family laughs at me believing I'm crazy or early dementia. I found an MD that will prescribe helpful generic adderall (all I can afford as I'm uninsured). But I've tried his Vyvanse. Rather than having a buzz or a high or a roller coaster on the couple days I tried it, I found that when I took it I simply realized late afternoon "Hey - this was a happy, good, productive day." But it's a no go at over $400/mo.
    I'm spilling these beans to just let you know the markers here described Are My Life and would love love love to get PROPER professional help. My 2+ years of professional therapy (while I had insurance) found me to be medication resistant clinically depressed. They'd be depressed too if their condition was drugged and not understood. They and I mutually agreed to give it up.

  • @mariabuckley1749
    @mariabuckley1749 4 месяца назад

    Thank you so much, that was very powerful & validating.

  • @irene_f.
    @irene_f. 2 года назад +11

    I was diagnosed with Adult ADHD in my 30's but have had Panic Disorder and Anxiety since my early 20's.

    • @Megdracula
      @Megdracula 2 года назад +4

      Me too. Severe panic disorder. Started when I was 19. Hospitalized bc of it. Anxiety. Then depression. They diagnosed at 36 with adhd

    • @irene_f.
      @irene_f. 2 года назад +2

      @@Megdracula I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is and how little people understand. ((HUGS))💜

    • @Megdracula
      @Megdracula 2 года назад +5

      @@irene_f. thank you n hugs back at you. No one really gets it until they experience it. And I pray they never do…. It’s overwhelming fear that takes over your body and convinces you you’re going to die or pass out. Heart beating so fast clammy hands or tingles up my hands n feet. Had them so badly I couldn’t see straight it disrupted my vision and sent me into confusion and embarrassment at my inability to control it.

    • @irene_f.
      @irene_f. 2 года назад +3

      @@Megdracula I understandand you are not alone. 💜

    • @AA-rr9ly
      @AA-rr9ly 2 года назад +1

      same sis :( i would say the panic disorder has ruined my life more than the adhd though

  • @hoopoe9629
    @hoopoe9629 2 года назад +4

    Thank you for such an informative and detailed presentation! I appreciate your discussing a possible thyroid connection. Just be aware that many regular doctors miss thyroid issues and even endocrinologists may under-treat. Sometimes functional medicine providers are more thorough.

    • @heidiburton929
      @heidiburton929 2 года назад

      I’ve always wished my thyroid was the answer to my problems, but every time I’m tested, my thyroxine is function is normal. I know that’s a good thing but it’s difficult to have such an “invisible” issue when your whole family looks down on you because you can’t “prove” that who you are is valid even when you’ve worked harder than many if not most.

  • @pippywilliams2512
    @pippywilliams2512 2 года назад +1

    This is phenomenal thankyou for this video.

  • @truth-hurts3089
    @truth-hurts3089 6 месяцев назад

    This had just blown my mind.

  • @krissp8712
    @krissp8712 4 месяца назад

    I had no idea about the inhibition stuff around 24:00! It always felt like my masking/camouflaging switch was stuck off and I agree it's a mixed blessing and curse. Thanks for sharing!

  • @dala3en
    @dala3en 2 года назад +1

    As a woman with ADHD I totally agree with you

  • @stacyhughart9363
    @stacyhughart9363 2 года назад +1

    Very thankful for you Dr.

  • @universaltruth2025
    @universaltruth2025 2 года назад +14

    Really interesting. One area that I think hasn’t been explored is the relationship with ADHD and the MTHFR gene. Or to put it more simply - with the individual’s ability to methylate B vitamins effectively. This is a relatively new area of research and knowledge and I think it has links to neurological issues like ADHD.

    • @magneticflux7833
      @magneticflux7833 2 года назад +3

      Gonna check this out ty.

    • @Orangina345
      @Orangina345 2 года назад +4

      I have this! Or some of the markers at least ( found out years ago at a fertility clinic). I think there could be something to this!

    • @wildhorses6817
      @wildhorses6817 2 года назад

      Folic Acid is toxic, Folate with a B minus Complex and B12 ( Hydroxy, Adeno, etc)
      Seeking Health has these supplements

    • @hspinnovators5516
      @hspinnovators5516 Год назад +3

      Yep it's definitely part of the RCCX cluster: MTHFR/ASD/ADHD/Kryptopyrolle disorder/Lyme...eds, pots, etc

    • @universaltruth2025
      @universaltruth2025 Год назад

      @@hspinnovators5516 The list just goes on and on doesn’t it. And a lot of these conditions are invisible to other people. Lucky us.

  • @laurahill6321
    @laurahill6321 4 месяца назад

    Thank you so much for this informative video, a few weeks ago at 47 I got a diagnosis of ADHD I was gobsmacked ! , how it came across was my menopause symptoms had exacerbated so badly I couldn’t function my dr had to refer me to the mental health team, through tests they discovered it , I just thought I was a highly sensitive person so there you go .
    My life makes sense now my school years were hellish ! , though my diagnosis my 77year old mother has been diagnosed also ! 77 years old ! Women have been failed !

  • @ukminuteman
    @ukminuteman 2 года назад +14

    General Practitioners still don't have a clue about hormones!!!

  • @mzc.8255
    @mzc.8255 2 года назад

    Thank you from a italian woman , thanks from Italy! ❤️

  • @Kv-pk2st
    @Kv-pk2st Год назад

    As a partner of an ADHD woman this answer so many issues I see in the relationship.

  • @KE-xj9vm
    @KE-xj9vm Год назад +1

    I just got diagnosed at 40. I can even see that the Australian government medication controls are based around the old research . In order to get medication you need to have some kind of evidence that you had it before 7. For me having kids and more so now perimenopause that sent me from a bit chaotic to dysfunctional

  • @micaelabriley9996
    @micaelabriley9996 2 года назад +3

    Thank you so much for this podcast. Having ADHD and hormonal imbalances is exhausting. My life feels like I’m treading water and sometimes drowning. Full disclosure, I was actually have views as a young girl I had a eating disorder as a teenager as well I wasn’t diagnosed until I was in my second year of college. And I still to this day at 47 years old Phillp insecure and socially accepted at times. I’ve been in three major relationships and they have been abusive I’ve only been in one that wasn’t. So I want to say thank you again and please if there’s any resources that can help women like me I would love to know what they are and how to utilize them. Best regards, Micaela Briley

  • @Woo94ster
    @Woo94ster Год назад +3

    Thank you for this. How could I restructure my home in a more organised ADHD friendly way? Where can I find information on this?

    • @sheli4795
      @sheli4795 Год назад

      You might start with Sari Solden's book, Women with Attention Deficit Disorder. She has ADHD herself and writes about it with so much empathy and compassion.

    • @AR-fb1nw
      @AR-fb1nw Год назад

      @@sheli4795 thank you

  • @annak29
    @annak29 2 года назад +4

    If ADHD in women is highly mediated by estrogen effects on dopamine metabolism...it could also be true in men with ADHD such that they have abnormally low or highly fluctuating levels of baseline estrogen-testosterone balance (men do have estrogen and women do have testosterone).

    • @raapyna8544
      @raapyna8544 2 года назад

      Men don't really have a hormone cycle like women have. So I don't see how they would be shifting, except for in specific life stages (adolescence and elderhood).

  • @meowhisd4546
    @meowhisd4546 4 месяца назад

    Thank you Ellen.

  • @krystleroy3068
    @krystleroy3068 2 года назад +1

    So true my hormone are so bad I cry almost all the time on my period I always stayed quite and my mind was in another world starting at the wall in school all my life was in sped classes

  • @anne-louisegoldie
    @anne-louisegoldie 2 года назад +2

    So thankful to you for highlighting how important oestrogen is for the brain 🤗xx

  • @ThePeterPan76
    @ThePeterPan76 4 года назад +2

    Thank you.

  • @pennyobernyer7914
    @pennyobernyer7914 2 года назад +4

    I am 66, diagnosed at 34, on and off several medications. The medications helped tremendously, but I would have to get off them after about 3 months, due to terrible headaches, and racing heartbeats. I could have been so successful in life if I didn't have ADD/ADHD !!!! I feel like such a failure so much of the time !!!! This talk describes me & my life perfectly !!!! God Bless all of you who are on this journey, it can be hell, but we are still good people in our own way 🥰

    • @Clemberly
      @Clemberly 2 года назад

      I am 32 and just have been diagnosed with adhd and I’m terrified of going on medication for reasons you describe. 😣

  • @donnaradburn9800
    @donnaradburn9800 2 года назад

    Very informative talk thankyou, the hormonal theories particularly interesting. Too many symptoms thrown in the mix though, to gain a definitive explanation. Every one wins a prize !!!

    • @pameladwyer2244
      @pameladwyer2244 2 года назад

      I understand what you are saying, but you’re being a bit patronizing by remarking that “everyone wins a prize”. It was initially stated that ADHD studies for girls/women are woefully minimal and defined by male ADHD. Never mind the complexities of the human mind.

  • @niamhbyrne4036
    @niamhbyrne4036 Год назад

    Wow, thank you for this 😢

  • @tutupuff6359
    @tutupuff6359 Год назад +3

    Same goes for asd which so many women went undiagnosed (like me). We just work twice as hard to be neurotypical. Every accomplishment is so much harder. I was in therapy for over a decade…..if I told you what they decided was wrong with me? Laughable

  • @kelseyh2082
    @kelseyh2082 Год назад +1

    Presentation starts at 2:32 for my fellow impatient peeps

  • @Astharia
    @Astharia 2 года назад +2

    Anti depreassants have never worked for me.
    They have however made me feel hyperactive when just newly taken up.
    I have the inattentive time but at that time I didn't know that.

  • @gypsypath1
    @gypsypath1 2 года назад +1

    @8:25 THANK YOU!

  • @shmoser1122
    @shmoser1122 Год назад

    Life changing thank u so much

  • @chocolatesugar4434
    @chocolatesugar4434 Год назад

    Thank you 💕💕

  • @karladolman9664
    @karladolman9664 Год назад +1

    There are also all those boys (especially non white who's symptoms are often overlooked due to racial bias) who's symptoms are closer to inattentive women who have also been dismissed. The ADHD type in my family is consistent symptomatically across genders and generations.

  • @babettelarue
    @babettelarue 2 года назад

    This is so helpful!!

  • @JordynLaRee
    @JordynLaRee 6 месяцев назад

    I’ve been diagnosed with major depression & borderline personality disorder. I was misdiagnosed. I don’t have bpd. I have adhd. It’s over looked so often. Many adhd people are misdiagnosed.

  • @jonathanberry1111
    @jonathanberry1111 Год назад

    🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
    00:00 🎙️ *Introduction to the topic*
    - ADHD affects women differently, leading to long-term psychological distress.
    - Women are learning to trust their voices and seek help.
    03:36 📚 *Limited research on women with ADHD*
    - ADHD studies historically focused on boys, leading to a lack of understanding about women's experiences.
    - Women with ADHD remain underserved and misunderstood.
    06:22 🧠 *ADHD presentation in women*
    - Girls with ADHD often overlooked due to inattentive symptoms and less hyperactivity.
    - ADHD symptoms persist differently in women over the lifespan.
    08:45 📊 *Risks and challenges for women with ADHD*
    - Women with ADHD are at higher risk for emotional reactivity, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
    - They often face diagnostic challenges due to their unique presentation.
    11:56 🧩 *Diagnostic challenges*
    - Women with ADHD may be misdiagnosed due to gender bias and atypical symptoms.
    - Camouflaging and intentional hiding of symptoms are common.
    15:05 🕰️ *Gender bias in diagnosis*
    - Gender bias affects the perception of women's ADHD symptoms.
    - Women's symptoms are often perceived as less credible.
    18:18 🌼 *Impact of hormones*
    - Hormones play a significant role in women's ADHD symptoms, with fluctuations affecting daily experiences.
    - Understanding hormonal cycles is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
    23:26 💼 *Implications of hormonal studies*
    - ADHD symptoms in women are influenced by hormone fluctuations.
    - Future research needs to include hormonal data for a comprehensive understanding.
    26:26 🚺 *Gender role expectations*
    - Women with ADHD often struggle to meet society's gender role expectations, leading to self-worth issues.
    - They face difficulties in maintaining relationships and may experience rejection sensitivity.
    31:17 👫 *Challenges in socialization*
    - Women with ADHD may have trouble maintaining friendships due to their impairments.
    - Rejection sensitivity can lead to intense emotional responses and feelings of judgment.
    33:22 👩‍⚕️ *ADHD Symptoms in Women*
    - Women with ADHD often hide their difficulties due to shame.
    - They may withdraw from social situations and isolate themselves.
    - Central nervous system hypersensitivities, more common in women with ADHD, include tactile sensitivities, headaches, stomach aches, and insomnia.
    40:10 🧠 *Impulsivity and Gender Atypical Behaviors*
    - Impulsivity in women with ADHD can lead to gender atypical behaviors.
    - These behaviors may include controlling, demanding, or projecting blame.
    - Women with ADHD are more prone to high-risk behaviors like speeding and addictive behaviors due to estrogen's interaction.
    45:44 ☠️ *Health Risks and Mortality in Women with ADHD*
    - Women with ADHD face various health risks, including earlier mortality.
    - Accidents are a common cause of early death, often related to impulsivity.
    - High cholesterol, obesity, and substance abuse can contribute to earlier mortality in women with ADHD.
    47:20 🏥 *Treatment Considerations for Women with ADHD*
    - Finding a therapist who understands women with ADHD is crucial.
    - Family psychoeducation helps the support network understand the challenges.
    - Therapists can assist with questioning societal expectations, building strengths, and advocating for oneself.
    Made with HARPA AI

  • @C.I366
    @C.I366 2 года назад +1

    Shocking

  • @louise2091
    @louise2091 6 месяцев назад

    This is very interesting

  • @JordynLaRee
    @JordynLaRee 6 месяцев назад +2

    Me over here comfortably watching the video at 2x the speed. 😂

    • @kerilee9886
      @kerilee9886 5 месяцев назад +1

      For real! I wouldn’t have made it out past the first 5 minutes at the regular speed!

  • @shelsea7245
    @shelsea7245 2 года назад +2

    What are have ran across is the hesitation from doctors to prescribe (stimulants) medication for ADHD in adults

  • @maryblue75
    @maryblue75 2 года назад +1

    Thank you, thank you, thank you…