Cases of ADHD in women are far more likely to be missed, or misdiagnosed, than in men. Read on to find out why this damaging mental health disorder continues to hide in plain sight
How about discovering that you’ve got over 40 000 unread emails? If these were boxes, 45-year-old Michelle Beckett could tick every one. She was diagnosed with anxiety as a student, bipolar disorder in her twenties and depression in her thirties. But the condition behind her poor mental health was in fact none of these. Michelle is one of many women living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Exactly how many women, even the experts don’t know. And therein lies a problem.
It’s not surprising that at the mention of ADHD, scenes of schoolboys bouncing off classroom walls spring to mind. That this stereotype is so hard to shake is why cases of ADHD are constantly misdiagnosed. And those most at risk? Women.
So says the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which updated its guidelines on the disorder in March last year in a bid to encourage GPs to think again before diagnosing more common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, in women presenting with ADHD symptoms. It’s a sentiment echoed in South Africa, with new guidelines for treating adults with ADHD developed by the South African Society of Psychiatrists’ Special Interest Group (SIG). And yet, many women will spend their entire lives thinking they’re just ‘scatterbrained’. Why are we all missing the problem that’s staring us in the face?
PR FAIL
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2019 من Women's Health South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2019 من Women's Health South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Irreconcilable Differences?
You’re one-upping your partner on all health fronts and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Here’s how to get over the hurdle of mismatched goals.
Hot And Bothered
Inflammation is all the rage in health conversations right now and research is establishing it as a major player in all sorts of issues you don't want to deal with. But! You can safeguard yourself from the smokin' internal inferno with these smart strategies.
Self-esteem under the microscope
The term brings to mind positive-thinking memes with sunset backdrops and swirly lettering. But could I you sum up self-esteem when asked as part of a pub quiz? Didn't think so. And there's more at stake here than winning the points.
the reset
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
Mind Over Muscle
Could you level up your strength training just by putting your mind to it?
ON BEING THE HEROINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE
Olympian. All-African Games winner. African champion. Record-breaker. Javelin athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk talks mental fortitude and what it takes to live up to your own hype. If there's one thing she can do, it's to throw down. And it's all about to reach peak levels.
Why Women Are Choosing to Be Child-Free
The choice can be liberating, yet stigmas persist. Here, how to cut through the noise with clarity and confidence to make the decision that's right for *you.*
FUEL YOUR SKIN
Inside your body, there's a crew of unsung protein heroes that scientists believe are the key to a healthy, glowing complexion. Heads-up: your routine is about to change for the better.
How To Be Decisive
You could use a Magic 8 ball to help you make a choice. Or, while you're waiting to 'ask again later', let our experts explain the best ways to get unstuck.
Build A Strong Base
You heard it here: the pelvic floor is the forgotten core - and you're selling yourself short by waiting for a specific life stage to train it. Your four-move workout is here.
