Adhd in Women

A day in the life

of a Woman with ADHD

You wake up with the best of intentions—today’s the day you’re going to be productive, organized, and finally check off everything on your to-do list. But as soon as you get out of bed, things start to go off track. You might start making coffee, but before it’s done, you’ve wandered off to tidy the living room. Then, while picking up the laundry, you remember an email you forgot to respond to yesterday, so you rush to your phone. By the time the coffee’s cold, you’ve already lost an hour, and your mind is buzzing with half-finished tasks and nagging reminders. “Why can’t I keep it together?" And that’s if you even have the motivation to do anything at all.

Work…

At work, staying focused is another uphill battle. Your brain constantly shifts between projects, and just when you’ve settled into one task, a notification pops up, or you remember something you needed to do days ago. Your desk may be a mess of sticky notes and scattered papers, but somehow, nothing is where it needs to be. Deadlines loom, but the overwhelm of where to even begin leaves you paralyzed.

Socially…

In social settings, it’s not much easier. You might find yourself talking too much, interrupting, or losing track of conversations. And you don’t mean to, which has built up this underlying fear of being “too much” or worrying that you’re coming off as scattered or even “self-centered” (btw- you’re not). You may even overcompensate by being hyper-organized in certain areas or by masking how exhausted you feel trying to keep up with life. Us, women, are excellent maskers.

There’s also the emotional toll

It’s more than just forgetfulness

ADHD doesn’t just mess with your schedule; it messes with your emotions, too. One minute, you’re feeling unstoppable—like you can take on the world—and the next, you’re overwhelmed and spiraling because you forgot a small detail. It’s like living on a rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for.

Then, there’s the rejection sensitivity—where every bit of criticism, no matter how small, feels like a gut punch. Even the tiniest comment can leave you feeling unworthy or doubting yourself for days (hello, overthinking!). And don’t even get me started on the guilt and shame cycle that ADHD loves to drag you through—it’s brutal (out here).

it can be exhausting..

People only see the outside: the missed appointments, the “scatterbrain” moments, the disorganization. But what they don’t see is the insane amount of energy you spend trying to keep it all together. The countless mental lists, the strategies you’ve developed to compensate for forgetfulness, the emotional juggling act of trying to meet everyone’s expectations—including your own. It’s exhausting. The emotional weight of ADHD is real, and it’s heavy. But the good news? You don’t have to carry it alone, and you definitely don’t have to keep pretending like everything’s fine. It’s fine. I’m fine, right?

Thriving with adhd

**Making ADHD Work for You, Not Against You**

You’ll find yourself mentally unstuck and no longer carrying the burden of “you’re not enough” or something is “wrong” with you. You’ll have tools in place to help with managing your time, to stay organized based on works best for you (or at least, organized enough), and have tools to help you combat the cycle of overwhelm. You can focus on what really matters—whether it’s your career, relationships, or just enjoying a moment of peace.

And emotionally? Shame and guilt? They’re no longer running the show. Instead, you feel empowered, confident, and maybe even a little proud of how far you’ve come. You’ll trust yourself, know your worth, and aren’t constantly second-guessing every decision. The inner critic is quieter, and when she does pipe up, you know how to handle her.

You’ll be living life on your terms, not just surviving the chaos. You’re able to enjoy the highs without getting knocked down by the lows. ADHD might still be along for the ride, but you’re the one steering the ship.

Also, It’s not about “fixing” ADHD—it’s about learning how to work with it so that it enhances your life instead of holding you back. I want to help you get there.

Did you know….

“It is estimated that 50-75% of girls with ADHD go undiagnosed, which has resulted in women not getting diagnosed until their 30’s & 40’s”

How Adhd shows up in Women

If I were to ask you what you pictures when I mentioned ADHD, it’d be the young boy bouncing off the walls, right? What you might not know is ADHD in women often looks way different, and that’s probably why it’s been flying under the radar for so long. Below is some info on how ADHD tends to show up in women and how it might differ from men’s experiences.

ADHD in women? It's less “can’t sit still” and more “wait, what was I doing again?” You might be juggling a million things in your head, getting lost in your thoughts, or constantly feeling like you’re forgetting something. Guys? They’re more likely to show those classic hyperactive symptoms, like fidgeting or blurting things out.
If you’re wondering why your emotions are constantly at 110%, ADHD could be to blame. Women with ADHD often experience all the feels—intense emotions, mood swings, and feeling overwhelmed easily. Men might experience this too, but women are pros at internalizing it, which can lead to anxiety or guilt over not “keeping it together.”
Ah, the pressure to have it all together. Many women with ADHD are in a constant battle between perfectionism and complete overwhelm. You’re working overtime to make sure everyone thinks you’ve got it all handled. Men? They tend to let things roll off a little easier, while women may spend extra time masking or overcompensating for their ADHD.
Whether it’s losing your keys for the hundredth time or feeling like your life is one giant to-do list, women with ADHD often struggle with organization and time management—but guess what? You’re not alone. Society puts a lot of pressure on women to be the “organized one,” and ADHD makes it that much harder. Guys with ADHD deal with this too, but they’re not always expected to juggle as much.
Let’s face it—society kind of expects women to be put-together. So, what do we do? We mask. Women with ADHD become masters at hiding their symptoms. You’ve learned how to sit still in meetings, nod along in conversations, and maybe even appear more organized than you feel (because that’s what we do, right?). Men? They’re often more “allowed” to be impulsive or scattered without the same judgment.
Here’s the kicker—hormonal changes (yep, we’re talking periods, pregnancy, and menopause) can make ADHD symptoms even more intense. It’s like someone turned up the volume on all your symptoms. Men don’t get that fun little side effect.

How therapy can help

Personalized ADHD Support: From Understanding to Empowerment

As someone who not only understands ADHD from the inside and also has the training to help others manage it, I’m uniquely positioned to support you on this journey. Whether you’ve been diagnosed for years or are just beginning to explore what ADHD means for you, we can work together to create a personalized plan to help you thrive.

We’ll start by really digging into your unique experiences and challenges with ADHD. Together, we’ll identify the areas of your life where ADHD impacts you the most—whether it’s at work, in your relationships, or your personal well-being. Then, we’ll develop practical strategies to address those specific pain points. This might include time management techniques, building supportive routines, mindfulness practices, or even just learning how to better understand and navigate your emotions.

I also focus on helping you shift your mindset so that you’re not constantly fighting against ADHD, but instead learning to embrace it as part of what makes you, you. We’ll work on reducing the feelings of shame, overwhelm, or self-criticism that often come with ADHD, and replace them with confidence, self-compassion, and empowerment.