This Women’s Month, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) highlights the ongoing challenge of ADHD in women—often undiagnosed or misunderstood for decades.
Dr. Wisani Makhomisane explains that ADHD is commonly seen as a disorder of hyperactive boys, but in women, it presents differently. “ADHD in women is not less severe, just less visible,” she says. Many women internalize symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis or dismissal.
Boys are diagnosed nearly twice as often as girls. In South Africa, adult women’s ADHD remains underdiagnosed, often confused with anxiety or depression. This delays proper treatment, with many women prescribed sedatives or antidepressants instead of ADHD-specific care.
Girls tend to appear dreamy, anxious, or perfectionistic, masking their symptoms to meet social expectations. This leads to exhaustion, burnout, and low self-esteem. Motherhood can worsen executive dysfunction, making daily tasks overwhelming.
Signs of ADHD in females include forgetfulness, mood swings, chronic overwhelm, emotional sensitivity, and co-occurring anxiety or depression.
“Women often cope with unhealthy strategies like emotional withdrawal or perfectionism, delaying diagnosis and increasing mental health risks,” Dr. Makhomisane warns.
She urges healthcare workers and families to recognize ADHD in women as emotional burnout and perfectionism rather than hyperactivity.
Treatment includes medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes like exercise and good sleep to improve overall health.
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