This is Why Women are Going Undiagnosed With ADHD and ASD
Experts shed light on how healthcare is failing us
“If I had been a boy, it would have been picked up sooner,” said Gail Muller, 44, of her recent attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.
Like many women getting diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Muller, a UK-based author, educator, and adventurer spent many years struggling to regulate her emotions. Though this affected her ability to handle the demands of day-to-day life, she powered through as best she could.
“I successfully masked and coped for many years,” Muller said, going on to describe the path that led to her eventual diagnosis.
While hiking across the United States, she found herself becoming increasingly overwhelmed. She fought off scattered thoughts and struggled to stay organized despite extensive preparation and training. When some unforeseen circumstances forced her to change course and terminate the expedition, she found herself immensely disappointed and unable to think clearly about which steps to take next.
“My coping mechanisms that I had used to deal with my overactive brain had ceased to be effective,” Muller explained.
Isolated, exhausted, and no longer able to mask her symptoms, she eventually…
