Achi news desk-
Dr. Lisa Batten was 26 when she was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In her experience, it is a diagnosis that is often associated with children—especially boys—but she has found that it can affect people of all genders at different stages of life.
“It’s a neurobiological disorder, meaning it affects the structure of your brain and unfortunately that’s not something you grow out of,” Batten told CTV News Atlantic’s Maria Panopalis in an interview on Friday . “Some symptoms are reduced – hyperactivity, for example. As your frontal lobe continues to grow, you will find that some things are more manageable.
“For women, the fluctuations in things like hormones can actually make it worse,”
Batten, a clinical scientist, said a large portion of the body of ADHD criteria is based on research with young boys, which may contribute to some people’s perception of it. He said ADHD affects boys and girls equally, but it can manifest in different ways.
“Women tend to internalize their symptoms,” says Batten. “Many women will try to make amends. Self-esteem is affected because you don’t feel like you fit in anywhere. That internal shame has a negative effect.
“Women with ADHD are four times more likely to die by suicide.”
Batten said the public’s growing knowledge of mental health has improved her experience with ADHD over the years.
“I always felt like I had this silent battle,” he said. “I didn’t know many other women with ADHD, so my community was very small.
“It’s been amazing to experience more self-acceptance,”
