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ADHD in Women

Assessments, Neurodivergence, Services

April 6, 2026

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neuro-developmental condition that affects how a person focuses, regulates attention, manages impulses, and organises behaviour. It often goes unnoticed or under-diagnosed in girls and women (Kooij et al., 2025).

ADHD in girls presents less as bouncing off the walls, and more as:

  • Inattention and Brain Fog: Frequently zoning out, difficulty following conversations, or losing focus, often described as mental restlessness rather than physical hyperactivity.
  • Executive Dysfunction: Severe challenges with organisation, prioritising tasks, time management (“time blindness”), and completing projects.
  • Internalized Hyperactivity: Rather than running around, this presents as racing thoughts, verbal impulsivity (talking excessively), interrupting others, or constant emotional reactivity.
  • Hyper-focus: Paradoxically, women may become intensely absorbed in a stimulating task for hours, unable to switch to more important, mundane tasks.
  • Emotional Dysregulation: High sensitivity to rejection (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria), intense emotional reactions, and frequent mood swings.
  • Chronic Forgetfulness/Disorganization: Misplacing items (keys, phone), forgetting appointments, and losing track of daily tasks.

Because ADHD has historically been studied and diagnosed more often in boys and men, women and girls often are under-represented in data. Women often learn to cope by masking their symptoms which can result in delays in diagnoses or support (ADDA, 2025).

There are three main categories of ADHD:

  • Inattention
  • Hyperactivity
  • Impulsivity

Everyone with ADHD experiences these differently, regardless of gender. How these symptoms show up can also differ biologically by gender (Kooij et al., 2025).

Generalisations

ADHD in Boys:

  • Is more likely to show externally:
    • Physical hyperactivity (restlessness, fidgeting)
    • Impulsivity (interrupting, risk-taking)
    • Disruptive behavior in school or work settings
  • Often identified earlier (childhood) due to visibility of symptoms
  • May struggle with:
    • Anger regulation
    • Academic or behavioral issues noted by teachers
  • These outward signs tend to align with traditional diagnostic criteria

ADHD in Girls:

  • More likely to show internally:
    • Inattention (forgetfulness, disorganisation)
    • Mental overwhelm rather than physical hyperactivity
    • “Busy mind” vs. “busy body”
  • Tendency to mask or compensate:
    • Overworking to appear organised
    • People-pleasing or perfectionism
  • Emotional impacts:
    • Anxiety, low self-esteem, chronic guilt
    • Feeling “behind” or “not good enough”
  • More likely to be diagnosed later in life (teens or adulthood)
  • Frequently misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression first (Wilson, 2026).

Beyond personal difficulties, relationships also tend to be affected by ADHD. This could include interrupting or going off topic during communications, active listening, and not picking up on social cues or body language (ADDA, 2025). These issues can lead to a decrease in confidence in relationships and friendships, and there is also a higher chance of developing issues with sleep, self care and other mood related issues (Attoe & Climie, 2023).

What To Do

Treatment for ADHD in women typically includes a combination of medication, therapy and practical supports.

Therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, focuses on organisation, time management, emotional regulation, and reducing negative self-talk. Psycho-education helps women understand their symptoms and reduce shame, especially when diagnosis is delayed. Lifestyle strategies, routines, and external supports (e.g., planners, reminders) are often used alongside treatment to improve daily functioning and overall quality of life.

At Through the Woods Psychology in Calgary, we not only have psychologists and counsellors but also counselling therapist interns that can offer low-cost or no-cost therapy to those who are unable to afford sessions or do not have insurance. Sessions are done in person or online.  

Visit our website to learn more or to book your free consultation today. You can also get in touch by email at info@throughthewoods.ca or phone at (403) 984-7922. 

References:

ADDA. (2025). ADHD in Women: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment. ADDA – Attention Deficit Disorder Association. https://add.org/adhd-in-women/

Attoe, D. E., & Climie, E. A. (2023). Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women. Journal of Attention Disorders, 27(7), 645–657. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161533

Kooij, J. J. S., de Jong, M., Agnew-Blais, J., Amoretti, S., Bang Madsen, K., Barclay, I., Bölte, S., Borg Skoglund, C., Broughton, T., Carucci, S., van Dijken, D. K. E., Ernst, J., French, B., Frick, M. A., Galera, C., Groenman, A. P., Kopp Kallner, H., Kerner auch Koerner, J., Kittel-Schneider, S., … Wynchank, D. (2025). Research advances and future directions in female ADHD: The lifelong interplay of hormonal fluctuations with mood, cognition, and disease. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1613628

Wilson, N. (2026). Why ADHD goes undiagnosed in girls. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00098-7