When superstar influencer Laura Clery got a brain scan as part of an evaluation at Amen Clinics, she received a diagnosis she never expected—ADD. “Even though I really struggled to focus growing up… and I struggled to take tests, and I never felt very smart,” she says in the
Instagram TV post she shared with her 10 million social media followers, “I never really thought about [ADD].” The comedian says she thought she was just lazy and easily distracted as if it was a character flaw. When she was younger, Clery had been diagnosed with
bipolar disorder, but that diagnosis didn’t fit.
Clery isn’t alone.
At Amen Clinics, the global leader in brain health, thousands of women who had been previously misdiagnosed have learned they actually have
ADD (also known as ADHD). There are potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions of women across the U.S. who are struggling with undetected ADD. You may be one of them. And it could be impacting your
self-esteem, career,
relationships, and personal health and fitness. In the worst-case scenario, it could be ruining your life.
Why do so many women with this common condition remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed? Because ADD looks different in females than in males.
ADD SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN
Most people think of ADD as a condition that is primarily seen in males who are hyperactive and impulsive. In fact, women are just as likely as men to have ADD, according to a 2016 paper in
The ADHD Report. Even more surprising is the fact that women experience more severe ADD symptoms than their male counterparts, according to a study in the
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. However, women tend to have a different type of the condition that comes with its own set of symptoms.
The
brain imaging work at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior, has helped identify
7 types of ADD. The type that is most common in females is called
Inattentive ADD. Although it’s the second most common type of the condition, its symptoms often go unrecognized by many medical professionals. Unfortunately, many women with Inattentive ADD never get diagnosed. Instead, they’re labeled as slow, lazy, spacey, or unmotivated.
While people with
Classic ADD, the most common type of the condition, bring negative attention to themselves with their hyperactivity, constant chatter, and conflict-driven behavior, women with Inattentive ADD tend to be quiet and distracted. Rather than cause problems, they’re more likely to daydream or look out the window. They’re not as likely to be impulsive or to blurt out inappropriate or hurtful things. They’re frequently thought of as couch potatoes who have trouble finding interest or motivation in their lives.
Core symptoms of all types of ADD include:
- Short attention span
- Difficulty following through (procrastination) on tasks or instructions
- Difficulty keeping an organized area (room, office, desk, filing cabinet, car, etc.)
- Has trouble with time, for example, frequently late or hurried, tasks take longer than expected, projects are “last minute” or turned in late
- Forgetfulness
- Problems with follow-through
- Poor impulse control
Unique symptoms of Inattentive ADD include:
- Problems with focus
- Tendency to lose things
- Makes careless mistakes
- Poor attention to detail
- Forgetful
- Excessive daydreaming
- Complaints of being bored
- Apathy or lack of motivation
- Tired, sluggish, or slow-moving
- Seems spacey or preoccupied
Women with ADD are also more likely than men to have co-existing
anxiety,
depression, and
sleep problems. This can make it more difficult to detect ADD in women and is another reason why brain imaging can be so helpful in getting an accurate diagnosis. Many of the women who come to Amen Clinics with undetected ADD had previously been diagnosed with mood disorders or other issues.
CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED OR MISDIAGNOSED ADD IN WOMEN
Having undiagnosed or untreated ADD comes with a very
high cost. And it increases the risk of many other issues, including:
This often leads many women with undetected or misdiagnosed ADD to engage in unhealthy strategies to deal with their symptoms. In other cases, they may turn to antidepressants,
anti-anxiety pills, and other medications to cope with their discomfort. Not only are these medications ineffective in treating the underlying ADD, they can also be loaded with unwanted side effects. Ultimately, it can create a downward spiral that leaves you frustrated and feeling like a failure.
INATTENTIVE ADD IN THE FEMALE BRAIN
On her IGTV post, Clery shared her
brain SPECT imaging studies, which showed low activity levels in the front part of her brain, especially when she tried to concentrate. In people who don’t have ADD, concentration typically activates an area of the brain called the
prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is involved with focus, time management, planning, organization, and critical thinking. In people with ADD, however, concentrating actually reduces activity here, making it difficult to pay attention. This is why simply telling someone with ADD to “try harder” or blaming them for not having enough willpower doesn’t help. Brain imaging shows that the harder they try, the worse it gets.
The PFC is also involved with sustaining attention span. It trains your mind to focus on important information while filtering out less significant thoughts and sensations. Attention span is required for short-term memory and learning. The PFC, through its many connections within the brain, keeps you on task and allows you to stay with a project until it is finished. The PFC accomplishes this by sending quieting signals to other parts of the brain. In the face of a need to focus, the PFC decreases the distracting input from other brain areas, inhibiting rivals for our attention. However, when the PFC is underactive, less of a filtering mechanism is available and distractibility becomes common.
Problems in the PFC often lead to decreased attention span, distractibility, impaired short-term memory, decreased mental speed, apathy, and decreased verbal expression. Underactivity or damage in the PFC can also lead to a decreased ability to express thoughts and feelings. These are things women may experience when they have Inattentive ADD. But they often chalk it up to being lazy, ditzy, or unmotivated. In too many cases, these are unkind labels they have been given by their parents, teachers, or coaches. A large number of the female patients at Amen Clinics who learn they have ADD say that they spent their whole lives thinking they were stupid. If you have undiagnosed ADD, you may feel this way too.
ENHANCING BRAIN FUNCTION IN INATTENTIVE ADD
The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that even if your PFC is underactive and you’ve had undetected ADD for decades, you have the opportunity to optimize your brain function and enhance your life. With the right treatment, you can be more focused, more organized, and more motivated to reach your goals. This has positive implications for every area of your life—career, health and fitness, relationships, and self-esteem.
Many women assume that medication is the only treatment option for ADD. And some, like Clery, hate the idea of taking stimulant medication. “When I think of ADD I think of Adderall, and Adderall is like legal speed,” says the influencer who openly talks about being a former addict (she’s been sober now for several years). “I think it’s extremely addictive, and I think it can destroy people’s lives if they have that addictive personality like I do.”
Neuropsychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics and 12-time bestselling author who evaluated Clery, has a different view. He says medication should never be the first or only thing you do for ADD. However, he adds, “Withholding appropriate stimulation from somebody who has sleepy frontal lobes is like withholding glasses from somebody who can’t see.”
Dr. Amen is quick to point out that medication is
not the only option for treating Inattentive ADD or other types of the condition. At Amen Clinics, the ADD brain enhancement program includes medications (when necessary) but also focuses on
natural alternatives to ADD medication, including diet, exercise, supplements,
neurofeedback, behavioral interventions, psychological strategies, and more.
The good news is Inattentive ADD in women is usually very responsive to the right treatment. With an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment program, you can change your brain, stop feeling bad about yourself, and start living the life you want.
ADD/ADHD—as well as anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions—can’t wait.
At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
