9% of the population will be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD during their lifetime. More than 3% of those are women, but experts say many women go undiagnosed. Why is that? And how does ADHD affect women differently than men? 13 on your sides. Keely Lovern takes an in depth look at this disorder in women and introduces us to an expert from West Michigan who now helps others cope across the world. It is an actual diagnosis. There's no shame in having it. Attention, deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. It's one of the most common mental health disorders in today's world, although usually diagnosed in childhood. Many adults live with it, too, like 22 year old Isabel Flazer and it paralyzed me, Isabelle says. She always felt like she was different, but after two decades in the dark last year, she was officially. Diagnosed and now feels liberated in understanding herself. Not only did I feel seen, I just didn't feel alone. A lot of feelings of inadequacy came from not. Understanding that I had this disorder, Isabel grew up in Lowell and is now in college at Central Michigan University. Her diagnosis drew her to study psychology. She wants to help others realize that they're not alone. It's kind of a feeling of being trapped sometimes of not knowing. What's wrong with yourself? But also feeling like you should have the power to do it, but you're not heard of Isabel's journey was at the ADHD center of West Michigan, a place founded by Timara Rosier, a woman who lives with the disorder herself in those of us with ADHD just gets so frustrated of not doing things well. They're perpetually behind. There's more to do than can ever be done. And they're just exhausted. And then they turn that into feeling like a perpetual loser. So what is ADHD? Well, symptoms can look anything like the inability to stay focused, hyperactivity even impulsivity. Dr. Rosier says there are three main types. When you have ADHD, we don't have reliable access to this part of our brain. It's called the prefrontal cortex. Dr Rosier says that part of the brain is what controls planning, emotional regulation and motivation. And with ADHD it's harder to access those core feelings. Women especially have difficult times with this because they'll turn to shame and self loathing very quickly. Rosier says that women with ADHD are more prone to eating disorders, obesity, low self esteem, depression and anxiety. They have relationship issues. Uhm, they tend to be emotionally a little bit more volatile. Tord themselves, and so they grow up. Feeling not as good as or. Uhm? Not as accomplished as their peers. ADHD is hereditary, so it's extremely common to see it manifest within families. Yet Dr. Rosiere says women don't always want to admit they have it, or they think they just have anxiety. The problem is your anxiety was there because of the ADHD doctor. Rozier says women with ADHD are often coined, chatty, Cathy's, or two talkative, but there can also be the shy, smart, disorganized person you know, too. Hey, it's easy to find the hyperactive ones. It's the quiet, inattentive ones who are just taking all those emotions and just shoving them down. Also, for women Doctor Rozier says she sees too often that they are afraid to ask for treatment for fear of looking like a drug seeker. So women looking, looking guilty about asking for medication is a deep concern, which makes diagnosis very tough. And This is why women go under represented. Uhm? In their in their assessment and treatment and for Isabel Flazer, she tells me she feels she's now able to answer those intrusive questions just by knowing her diagnosis. 'cause at the end of the day. You have to be able to separate yourself. Let's be able to recognize. OK, that's my disorder. That's not who I am. I like the real me knows that I'm trying to work with this and even though it gets hard sometimes, it's always better to try than not Dr. Rosier says she knows those feelings of isolation all too well, which is why she spent her entire career helping men and women cope with ADHD and in just the last year she published her first book that's already making international headlines. It's called your brains not broken. You can learn more about Doctor Rosier's new book or about ADHD. At 13 on your side.com I'm Kelly Lovern for 13 on your side.
