Let’s face it, college and your early-20’s can be a living hell. Added responsibility, added course load, added everything leaves everyone feeling overwhelmed. But what if every day, even days where your only task is to wash dishes, feels like an uphill battle?
For many people with ADHD, college is full of exciting opportunities as well as insurmountable challenges. It can be easy to feel left behind while your peers are grabbing up amazing internships, making the Dean’s List, and creating massive groups of friends while you’re just proud of yourself for working through your mountain of laundry. While medication and behavioral treatment work wonders on those with ADHD, many people, especially women, are never diagnosed and therefore never treated. Many women who go their childhood and teenage years undiagnosed for ADHD cite college as their “breaking point”.
For many women with undiagnosed ADHD, they tend to hear the following for all their lives; that they’re “spacey”, “imaginative”, “a dreamer”, or worse a “space cadet”, “Chatty Cathy”, “annoying”, or “self-absorbed”. With 50-75% of women with ADHD going undiagnosed many tend to assume these comments as character flaws instead of an indicator of their brain’s unique wiring.
So why do women often miss a diagnosis? Out of the three types of ADHD (predominantly hyperactive, predominantly inattentive, and combined) most research is focused on predominantly hyperactive ADHD and much less is known about the predominantly inattentive subtype. Guess which subtype is the most prevalent in women? That’s right, inattentive.
While college is an adjustment for every student, students with ADHD face different challenges. College is the first time that many people have to create their own sense of schedule, routine, and structure. However, ADHD specifically disrupts a person’s ability to self-impose a routine. This makes it much easier to miss class or homework assignments, leading to poor grades. Whereas a student with ADHD may have excelled in high school, the lecture-based style of college classes leaves students struggling to pay attention. In addition, whereas many people widen their social circles in college, some people with ADHD have difficulty forming and maintaining relationships and friendships. These are just a few reasons why many women who have undiagnosed ADHD struggle the most when they reach college.
The risks associated with undiagnosed ADHD worsen as a person gets older. Untreated ADHD can lead to depression, anxiety, risk-taking behavior, over-spending, drug addiction, and romantic relationship issues. While someone who has been diagnosed with this disorder understands and can take steps to avoid these risks, those who are undiagnosed may not be aware. Including women in conversations around ADHD ensures their mental health and personal safety.
If you thought you were prepared for college only to feel completely overwhelmed, you’re certainly not alone. If you’ve had a suspicion all your life that you have ADHD, but have never seen a doctor about it, you’re in good company. However, ADHD that remains undiagnosed into adulthood is associated with a lower quality and enjoyment of life. Getting a much-needed diagnosis could change your life and your future. And, if you are a woman who has been diagnosed with ADHD, speak loud and proud about your diagnosis. Building a community with others who share your unique struggles will not only benefit you but other undiagnosed women as well.
If you’re feeling totally overwhelmed, still haven’t gotten a hold of this whole college thing, and you suspect you have ADHD, seek out a mental health specialist. The benefits of treatment far outweigh feeling ashamed of needing accommodations. Many people feel that their life truly begins just after diagnosis.