Abstract
Led by Dr. Oli Meredith and a team of women and gender-diverse researchers with ADHD, this research aimed to create women and gender diverse people with ADHD to share their stories and contribute to the broader ADHD narrative, focusing on their unique experiences and coping strategies via interviews.
Participants shared common feelings of grief, trauma, and frustration navigating life with ADHD, emphasising the need for recognition of the intersecting identities shaping their experiences including, but not limited to, gender. Factors such as ethnicity, culture, rurality, disability, and wealth influenced treatment, experience, and exhaustion. In particular, race and culture complicated ADHD diagnosis and treatment, as individuals often had to mask these aspects of themselves.
Participants reported various coping strategies, including medication, though it was rarely a panacea. ADHD diagnosis opened up additional support options such as EMDR, IFS therapy, ADHD coaching, and educational resources. The role of community was central, with many participants noting how connecting with other neurodiverse people and social media communities helped them cope. Nature, music, and the company of animals contributed to well-being, and physical activity, particularly sports, also helped manage challenging symptoms.
Participants described experiences such as overwhelm, meltdowns, burnout, perfectionism, RSD, binge eating, and symptoms from co-occurring conditions like ME/CFS, OCD, RLS, PDA, and dyslexia. Many women worked part-time or in flexible jobs to manage burnout and health problems, prioritising mental health over traditional work schedules.
Sharing stories and listening to others was valued as a key coping strategy, particularly for healing from the grief of late ADHD diagnosis. This research highlights the diverse ways women and gender-diverse individuals manage ADHD, emphasising both community and self-directed approaches.
The ADHD community healing project, where women share stories of their ADHD experiences, was born from this project.
Participants shared common feelings of grief, trauma, and frustration navigating life with ADHD, emphasising the need for recognition of the intersecting identities shaping their experiences including, but not limited to, gender. Factors such as ethnicity, culture, rurality, disability, and wealth influenced treatment, experience, and exhaustion. In particular, race and culture complicated ADHD diagnosis and treatment, as individuals often had to mask these aspects of themselves.
Participants reported various coping strategies, including medication, though it was rarely a panacea. ADHD diagnosis opened up additional support options such as EMDR, IFS therapy, ADHD coaching, and educational resources. The role of community was central, with many participants noting how connecting with other neurodiverse people and social media communities helped them cope. Nature, music, and the company of animals contributed to well-being, and physical activity, particularly sports, also helped manage challenging symptoms.
Participants described experiences such as overwhelm, meltdowns, burnout, perfectionism, RSD, binge eating, and symptoms from co-occurring conditions like ME/CFS, OCD, RLS, PDA, and dyslexia. Many women worked part-time or in flexible jobs to manage burnout and health problems, prioritising mental health over traditional work schedules.
Sharing stories and listening to others was valued as a key coping strategy, particularly for healing from the grief of late ADHD diagnosis. This research highlights the diverse ways women and gender-diverse individuals manage ADHD, emphasising both community and self-directed approaches.
The ADHD community healing project, where women share stories of their ADHD experiences, was born from this project.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 12 Aug 2025 |
| Event | 2025 Neurodivergence Wellbeing Conference: The Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association - Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Australia Duration: 11 Aug 2025 → 12 Sept 2025 Conference number: 1 https://anzmh.asn.au/nwc |
Conference
| Conference | 2025 Neurodivergence Wellbeing Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Gold Coast |
| Period | 11/08/25 → 12/09/25 |
| Internet address |
