A clinical psychologist has shared the signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in women and girls. Stephanie Georgiou, a psychologist and author who offers expert guidance to her TikTok followers, recently highlighted seven behaviours often seen in women and girls with ADHD.
The NHS defines ADHD as a behavioural disorder, commonly manifesting as restlessness, difficulties with focus, and impulsive behaviour. Symptoms usually emerge during early childhood, becoming more noticeable in settings such as beginning school.
However, in some cases, ADHD may remain undiagnosed during childhood, only being identified in later life. Stephanie posted a video exploring the signs of ADHD in women, including behaviours they’re “more likely” to display.
In the short clip, Stephanie said: “Let’s talk about symptoms of ADHD in women; they are more likely to have lower self-esteem and doubt themselves because their whole life they’ve been told they’re not enough. Perhaps they were labelled as sensitive or moody, but the truth is they have rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
“They tend to swivel in their chair or fidget or shake their leg, they have strange eating patterns or they struggled with binge eating, because of that dopamine and chaotic eating patterns.
“They are overly critical of themselves and often minimise their symptoms and put it down to anxiety or stress because I think they should be able to do it all.”
Stephanie added: “They say they’ve got a terrible memory, but the truth is they don’t remember where they put things, they lose items or they misplace objects unless everything is written down. They forget appointments and things that they have to do.”
Most common signs of ADHD in adults
The NHS outlines that symptoms of ADHD can affect your ability to focus (inattentiveness), result in high energy levels (hyperactivity) and impact your impulse control (impulsivity).
You may show signs of being inattentive, such as:
- being easily distracted or forgetful
- finding it hard to organise your time
- finding it hard to follow instructions or finish tasks
- losing things often, like your wallet, mobile or keys
You may show signs of being hyperactive and impulsive, including:
- having a lot of energy or feeling restless
- being very talkative or interrupting conversations
- making quick decisions without thinking about what might happen as a result
Most people with ADHD will exhibit symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Some only display signs of one type, with symptoms typically manifesting before the age of 12.