In the UK, NHS ADHD lists have soared to an estimated 700,000 people.
That includes more and more adults, though experts are pretty confident there is no so-called ADHD “overdiagnosis” problem in the UK. In fact, ADHD UK expects there are about two million undiagnosed cases in the UK.
Per experts from Berkeley Psychiatrists, that’s partly because signs of ADHD often go missed or misdiagnosed in adults, “especially women”.
They added, “In practice, many women are labelled as anxious, overwhelmed or disorganised, rather than their experiences being recognised as ADHD. There’s also pressure to appear organised and in control, so people develop ways of coping that can mask the condition”.
Whatever your gender, they shared some possible ADHD-related patterns that can go under the radar, “particularly when symptoms don’t match traditional expectations”:
1) Seeming to “cope well”, despite being burnt out
This can look like “high-achievers relying on rigid systems or overworking,” the experts said.
Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, consultant psychiatrist Dr Stefan Ivantu of the ADHD specialist said: “signs of ADHD are frequently misinterpreted as burnout in undiagnosed adults… The exhaustion often comes from the immense effort required to fit in and function in a neurotypical environment, [like] the average workplace.”
2) Less visible hyperactivity
Not all hyperactivity involves physical fidgeting, the experts said. It can include an “overactive mind rather than physical restlessness”.
Some forms of ADHD don’t have hyperactivity as a symptom at all.
3) Being misdiagnosed
ADHD can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions, like depression or anxiety.
“One of the main issues we see is over-reliance on symptom checklists,” the psychiatrists said. “ADHD can’t be diagnosed from a questionnaire alone; many traits overlap with anxiety, trauma or burnout.”
4) ADHD that’s been “masked” by other conditions
Meanwhile, sometimes ADHD really does occur alongside other conditions. For instance, autistic people are more likely than those without autism to have ADHD. When the two co-occur, it’s called AuDHD.
And, the psychiatrists told us, “Difficulties like inattention or restlessness can stem from anxiety, depression or environmental stress, not just ADHD.”
That might mean that an existing condition leads to ADHD going undiagnosed.
5) Only getting a diagnosis when at breaking point
We’ve written before about how menopausal women are increasingly being diagnosed with ADHD, in part because symptoms they’d been able to mask for years seem to come to the surface during the life stage.
“We often see ADHD become more noticeable during periods of hormonal change, when coping strategies are no longer as effective. For many women, this is when they seek support or receive a diagnosis for the first time,” the experts said.
What if I think I may have ADHD?
The psychiatrists said that you need to see an expert to get a diagnosis.
“There’s been a clear rise in awareness, which is positive,” the clinicians said. “But some online narratives oversimplify what a complex condition is.
“A thorough assessment looks at the full picture. That includes developmental history, current functioning, and whether there may be other factors contributing to those experiences. Without that level of depth, there’s a risk of both missing ADHD where it is present and identifying it where it isn’t.”
