ADHD has traditionally been regarded as a condition of childhood that primarily impacts young, hyperactive boys.
But a surprising trend is now evident: a recent National Institute on Drug Abuse poll discovered that prescriptions for ADHD in women between the ages of 35 and 64 have risen by roughly 42%.
Within this age group, the number of women prescribed Ritalin and Adderall type stimulants grew from 1.2 million in 2019 to 1.7 million towards the close of the year 2022.
Most of these women, experts say, have been fighting in secret with organization, concentration, and emotional regulation for decades with untreated ADHD.
“Dr. Aaron Brinen of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center states that girls stand a greater chance of being overlooked because they don’t always present hyperactive behavior. Instead, girls internalize their hurdle, which manifests through anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.”
When the demands of life become too much for a woman-job, children, and taking care of the house-here comes breaking point. Some recognize their symptoms only after diagnosing them in their own children. Therapy is occasionally sought when menopause or other hormonal changes enhance ADHD symptoms.
Middle-aged women with ADHD are far less likely to abuse prescribed stimulants than younger people. Experts believe this is because, to them, medicine simply makes daily life easier to manage rather than creating a “high.”
“Hearing women tell me that they feel functional for the first time in their lives is heartbreaking,” Brinen said. “It’s long overdue that women’s adult ADHD be recognized.”
