adhd: 21 signs women & girls

This video describes 21 common, but often, unrecognized sighs of adhd (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in women and girls (and in anyone with ADHD possibly!).

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ADHD WOMEN & GIRLS ARTICLES, RESEARCH

[JordynLaRee]

if you have adhd watch this at 2x speed. much more satisfying.

[jordana]

I have many of these signs but was never diagnosed in my life and now I'm 70! I was always just blamed and shamed that I wasn't behaving correctly.

[El-aitch]

Just diagnosed at 39 and feel so validated. I’m not lazy and stupid; I just don’t work in the same way. My kids clearly have it and we’re going to get them help early.

[Mcdogmom]

I was severely traumatized years ago as a teenage, got diagnosed with ADHD. Spent my whole life fighting ADHD. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my mom recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

[brandymj]

First specialist I’ve ever heard give attention to women’s monthly cycle and hormonal changes. So good to see!

[KA-mqwj]

Thank you Dr Kim for validating women and girls and all ADHD sufferers who thought they weren’t smart or worthy enough growing up.
I’m a female in my mid fifties. I didn’t know I had inattentive ADD until I was 45 when my children were diagnosed with the disorder.
Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, no one knew or asked why I struggled in school. No one knew what ADD was back then. I went on to college but it was very difficult and I barely got my degree. Those years in school were traumatic and I still experience so much shame from feeling dumb and made to feel dumb. The bullying was incessant at school but also at home. My mother shamed me. I remember high school teachers yelling at me for not understanding the assignment and college professors laughing at me. I know so many others with undiagnosed ADD have experienced the same. I still have nightmares that I didn’t graduate high school or college. I know my kids suffered as well. I had so much trauma from school and teachers growing up, that when it came time to protect or stand up for my kids I froze. I now know more about the disorder and I explain to them why they might be feeling the way they do and how to handle its challenges.
In my adult years I struggle with lack of motivation, procrastination, trauma, anxiety, depression and rejection. Social anxiety is always present and I worry if people like me.
I do like myself when I’m a bit zany, out of the box thinking, funny and quick witted. I’m also a sensitive empath.
Thank you for sharing your video!

[mrod]

Listening to this is making me cry, i do every single one of these things. I’m 36 and i wish u could be my doctor.

[stephaniewood]

I am 56 and I have many of these symptoms and was never diagnosed. I too, was told you’re just not applying yourself you’re just not trying hard enough. I was compared to my older brother who did everything right! It sucks for those of us who are older and have just been ridiculed and have been told it’s all in your head. Here I sit and it’s messed up a lot of my life because my parents didn’t want me to get checked out because then it would make or show that they failed as a parent which is ridiculous!!

[Polar_Bear_]

I'm 17 and I started suspecting that I have ADHD when I was 15. Unfortunately I'm still not properly diagnosed. I don't want to self diagnose but this video just resonates with me so much..

[SpiralMystic]

Thank you.
I also believe that childhood trauma is involved in the development of adhd.

[lauragadille]

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 43. Now I understand why I struggled in school and life.

[breklein]

holy crap, anyone else freak out around 4 minutes when a fluffy pillow started moving in the background? LMAO the cat blended in so well!!!

[rudinetaggart]

My menstrual cycles were emotionally severe due to ADHD

[DaraS]

Phew. The rejection sensitivity hit hard. So many of these fit me and I just thought it was my personality quirks. But...my oldest son has ADHD and my youngest is autistic with moderate support needs so, this makes a lot of sense.

[SandyBee-]

I am shocked that both myself and my daughter have the majority of these in the inattentive type. Wow. I'm not surprised as we both suffered trauma in childhood (generational).My daughter struggled at an early age with the relational and executive functioning aspects. Lack of focus day dreaming, the "ditsy-ness ". Over reaction to things, taking everything so personally. It makes me sad that she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression but it could have been ADHD. 😔 Makes so much sense now. Thank-you so much.

[EarthenCavy]

HOLY CRAP
…my jaw DROPPED when you said autoimmunity and fibromyalgia. I have both. Also, yay for a narcissistic mother.
I know that I have ADHD. I’m not diagnosed yet, but as soon as I’m able to NOT BREAK MYSELF BEING A KLUTZ (dislocated my kneecap on Easter), I want to get into my psychiatrist’s office and get tested.
Also, that rejection dysphoria is so horrible. For me, it’s because of intimacy. My fucking mother told me I’d never be loved, so I sleep around to feel accepted. 💔 It is hell. Utter hell.
And letting people down kills me. 🥺 AND CONSTANTLY COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS. “I’d kill to be that pretty/thin/strong. I wish my hair was like hers. My nose is disgusting.” It’s so painful… 😞
Thank you for making me feel so seen.

[francescagreetham]

The ditzy thing and speaking incredibly fast is scarily spot on. I never knew how to present as a teen when there were lots of people around because it was too overwhelming. And I still struggle with people saying they can’t understand me cos I talk too quickly. I always thought I had something wrong.
And I used to be a chronic daydreamer ever since a small child - what I now realize to be maladaptive daydreaming. I never used to understand how anyone could stay focused on anything at school or on anything that required mental attention for a prolonged period of time. I also used to kind of tic when I did it and no one understood what was going on because it was an internal experience. I presented incredibly “normally” and well behaving except for this thing.
It makes me so glad to hear about all these symptoms because I realise I wasn’t just being “weird”.

[FutureFendiFsnista]

This was extremely validating to watch. I was diagnosed last year just after my 32nd birthday. EVERYTHING was bang on about my entire experience from teen and my 20s. Especially the part about being ditzy. I was shamed for being dumb on countless occasions. I compensated by studying a subject or topic to death so I would appear knowledgeable in it. Also, feeling like people don't like me because they don't respond to my jokes, comments, etc. is something I still struggle with. Combined with complex PTSD makes it so much more challenging...

[MalinoisMadness]

I have 20/21 signs and symptoms. Severe anxiety and social anxiety keep me from seeking help. Im 40, and I really dont want to spend the next 40 living this way. For myself, and my kids. Youe videos are always so helpful.

[An_Smiley]

💕Your videos are excellent, and your tone is gentle and full of wisdom.I am a female doctor with ADHD. I have almost all of these signs. I've had trouble focusing since I was a child. When I'm sitting there, my attention gets drawn to anything around me, and when I study, I can't focus for more than three minutes. I've always felt out of place. But I want to become a doctor. When I was preparing for the USMLE, while most people completed their Qbank in six months or a few months, it took me three years🤯. I couldn't focus, and after finishing one question, I wanted to do something else, like cleaning, watching TV, or listening to music. I simply couldn't concentrate. My mother always said that I never stuck to one thing, couldn't focus, and attributed all of this to my laziness and immature🥺. When I entered medical school and interned in the psychiatric department, my supervising doctor told me I had ADHD. I'm still working hard to improve myself now.