ADHD / ASD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other neurodivergent conditions such as Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and OCD can cause additional stress and distress for the person living within an environment (work, home, school, university) that does not support the individuals needs and ways of working / coping
People with a ‘divergent’ or ‘neurospicy’ (as I like to call it) brain type may experience comorbidities of chronic stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, self-harm and eating disorders especially if like for many women and girls they are undiagnosed and therefore unsupported. Health conditions such as fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and hypermobility are also linked to ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Many ‘divergent’ or ‘neuro-spicy’ (love this term) women, experience:
- Chronic stress,
- Anxiety,
- Depression,
- Insomnia,
- Self-harm/suicide
- Eating disorders or disordered eating
- Addiction
- Sexual Trauma
Health conditons linked to ADHD, ASD are:
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Ehlers-Danos Syndrome
- Hypermobility
- Auto-immune conditions
- Cardio-vascular conditions
- Muscle & joint pain
- PCOS
Women and girls are particuarly at risk if they are undiagnosed and / or unsupported!!!
Due women’s health being so under-researched and with many women being undiagnosed due to medical gender bias, research into neurodivergence and women’s health, particuarly hormonal and reproductive health is still very much lacking. However, many studies show the link between oestrogen and nuerotransmitters within the brain which explains why many girls, women or menstruating people can have major fluctuations in thier ADHD symptoms around puberty, during the luteal phase of thier menstrual cycle and around menopause where oestrogen level drop.
Women with ADHD are also vulnerable to the changing hormones following birth where they are at a much higher risk of developing postnatal anxiety and depression due to the hormonal and neuro-biological changes in the the body/mind. For an undiagnosed mama who was not aware of her ADHD before having a baby due to it not being identified / diagnosed due to the lack of information on how conditions such as ADHD / Autism present in women / girls, it may be only after they have had a baby, and become a parent that many of these traits and struggles that may have been managable due to meticulous coping mechanisms beforehand, may start to really become apparent.
Many women manage to get through to menopause age and then the hormonal fall out on cognitive function and again the coping mechanisms used to support neurodivergence may result in the wheels falling off, leaving women feeling exposed and unable to cope / function. It is my own feelings that this is why so many women of menopausal age have mental breakdowns or take thier own lives – they simply cannot cope because they didn’t know they were neurodivergent and did not know how or where to access support.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 44 following extensive research into how ADHD presents in girls and women due to my daughter who clearly exhibited ADHD traits since she was very young. Since then, it is apparent that we are a neurodivergent family each with our own gifts and challenges.
Because I have lived a full reproductive life (post-menopausal) with undiagnosed ADHD and have seen, understood and researched how ADHD has affected my own life transitions and adjustments, and because I continue to research, study, support and advocate for my own children as they navigate their way in a neurotypical world – I am passionate about supporting neurodivergence and the mental health and physical health implications of unsupported, undiagnosed ADHD / ASD. I have supported myself through holistic therapies my whole adult life bringing me back to balance and helping me feel more able to cope. Many of my clients are neurodivergent and struggle with the impact of stress, anxiety and hormonal health.
I am currently training and studying to be an Executive Function Skills Coach with an amazing organisation supporting children, parents and professionals with ADHD called Connections In Mind
In the meantime, I can support you through many of my holistic therapies that support emotional, mental and physical health, help calm / regulate the nervous system and EFT is amazing for the negative self talk and low self-esteem which can be greatly impacted.
If you think you are neurodivergent or that a family member is and you would like a brief chat about it please do book a discovery call and I will be very happy to listen.
