ADHD LOOKS DIFFERENT IN WOMEN

Sep 17

Why are so many women with ADHD still overlooked, misunderstood, or diagnosed later in life?

In this episode of ADHDtime on Air, I speak with Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, an award-winning clinical psychologist, author, and longtime leader in the field of ADHD in girls and women.

Sound bites

"ADHD is very nuanced and complex"

"Untreated ADHD can seriously impact women’s health"

"Focus on quality of life, not just symptoms"

Dr. Nadeau explains why women’s ADHD is often hidden behind years of masking, overcompensating, apologizing, and working extraordinarily hard to meet expectations. We discuss why effective ADHD care must look beyond a list of symptoms and consider the whole person, including her environment, responsibilities, relationships, physical health, stress, and quality of life.

Our conversation explores:

• Why girls and women with ADHD continue to be missed
• The difference between being “bothersome” and being internally bothered
• How masking can conceal significant struggles
• Why treatment should focus on quality of life, not only symptom reduction
• Practical ways to simplify daily life and reduce unnecessary demands
• How a person’s environment can increase or reduce ADHD-related challenges
• The importance of movement, nature, connection, and community
• Why clinicians need more comprehensive training in ADHD across the lifespan
• The questions clinicians and coaches should ask to determine whether support is genuinely helping

We also discuss Dr. Nadeau’s new book, A Clinician’s Guide to ADHD in Women: Diagnosis and Treatment, written with Patricia Quinn, MD, and Michael Morse, MD. Although written for professionals, the book offers accessible and practical insights that women with ADHD may also find valuable.

Dr. Nadeau also introduces the Institute for Lifespan ADHD Training, or ILAT, which provides practical, evidence-based, case-focused education for clinicians working with people with ADHD across the lifespan.

Resources:

📘 A Clinician’s Guide to ADHD in Women: Diagnosis and Treatment
By Kathleen Nadeau, PhD, Patricia Quinn, MD, and Michael Morse, MD
Purchase the book: https://amzn.to/4hwoQ8D

Institute for Lifespan ADHD Training
https://ilat.org/

CONNECT WITH DANIELLA KARIDI, PhD

🌐 Website: https://www.adhdtime.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @adhdtime
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellakaridi

This conversation is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care.

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