For many young people, the transition from childhood to adolescence is full of newness and major life changes. Whether physical, emotional, or even academic, youth are constantly faced with personality-defining situations as they grow up. This is especially true for young girls, who are thrust into social spaces while trying to discover themselves before womanhood.
While growing up can be a fun time of self-expression and trying new things, some girls become more confused about who they are as they move through life. This is because adolescence itself can reveal details of your persona that are challenging to understand, such as mental health concerns.
ADHD, also known as Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a cognitive condition which can affect focus, mental clarity, and productivity. ADHD can be observed through habits of hyperactivity, intense energy, and impulsivity. There are central differences between this condition’s effect on males and females, even though there is common ground between both. Due to this, it is typical for people to be unaware of the symptoms, especially in females.
Specialists maintain that young girls are severely underdiagnosed with ADHD, causing them to be diagnosed later in life, years after confusion and personal struggles arise. This sets off a harmful pattern of not only stigmatizing the condition but also creating a language of shame toward girls who live with it. Now more than ever, it has become important for us to help neurodiverse loved ones. When this happens, owning your ADHD becomes a reality.
Due to the gendered ideas that are attached to neurodiversity, young girls who are diagnosed with ADHD, ADD and autism find it difficult to express their needs openly. The culture surrounding ADHD is an ever-developing one, which can cause girls who experience the disorder to be socially isolated and unable to express what they feel.
Coupled with delayed diagnosis, girls are influenced to internalize their ADHD symptoms, further complicating the disorder’s language. Due to this unfortunate pattern, girls who wish to be diagnosed, or believe themselves to be neurodiverse can develop a negative self-esteem quickly. However, we should not allow for the shame and misunderstanding of ADHD to continue to harm female youth.
While the medical community and the way it treats females with ADHD cannot change overnight, the nature in which we approach the condition can be transformed. As a young girl living with ADHD, one of the most important things to remember is that ADHD does not own you. Instead, owning your ADHD is the key to a successful life.
As a girl, owning your ADHD is a concept of rebellion. It may look different depending on who you are, or how you go about it, as ADHD can affect everyone differently. Yet, the main goal is to be unashamed of your condition, and to instead lead a life of pride in spite of ADHD. Far too many young women believe that their dreams are nearly unachievable because of their experience with the disorder.
Owning your ADHD is the act of understanding your needs and expressing them without shame. Girl Pow-R’s self-love anthem “Galaxy” echoes these ideas, as believing in your personal capabilities is the first step to reaching them. Should you need extra time on a test, empathy from your loved ones, or anything else, it is important that you prioritize your comfort.
It may not be easy to complete everyday tasks with a disorder that affects your brain and its basic functions. Yet, being vocal about your experiences and struggles with others is a form of self-love, because it means you are being true to yourself. By doing this, you are on your way to becoming an expert of owning your ADHD.
The main message at hand for neurodiverse young girls and women is that being able to accept oneself, and your limitations, is the most powerful thing you can do. Owning your ADHD is less about working around this condition, and instead being proud of who you are and keeping in touch with your needs.
Owning your ADHD is a simple way to reclaim your life as a young girl, as it helps to stop the disorder from defining who you are. To learn more about ADHD in females, visit the original information on the Forbes Health website.
Overall, raising awareness for ADHD and those who live with it is not an individual effort. As a community, we must always be destigmatizing mental health conditions, which allows friends and family to live freely as they are. Encouraging young girls to believe in their abilities, despite ADHD or other disorders, is the takeaway.
If you are on a journey of owning your ADHD, the path begins now. In need of inspiration? Check out Girl Pow-R’s motivational hit “Galaxy,” available on streaming platforms and YouTube. Also be sure to check out Girl Pow-R’s website, or contact info(at)girlpow-r.com for more on how to be the best you.