✓ Difficulty sustaining attention, especially in low‑stimulation tasks - Women with ADHD often struggle with focus in meetings, reading, admin, or repetitive tasks, even when they’re trying hard.

✓ High levels of internalised hyperactivity - Instead of obvious physical restlessness, many women experience racing thoughts, mental pressure, or a constant sense of being “on alert”.

✓ Emotional sensitivity and overwhelm - Strong emotional reactions, feeling easily hurt, difficulty recovering from criticism, and rapid shifts in mood are frequently reported.

✓ Chronic people‑pleasing and masking - Many women learn to hide their struggles by overcompensating — being overly organised, agreeable, or perfectionistic to avoid judgement.

✓ Executive function difficulties - Challenges with planning, prioritising, organising, time management, and follow‑through — often leading to feeling “behind” despite working hard.

✓ Persistent fatigue and burnout - The effort required to keep up with daily responsibilities, masking, and emotional labour can lead to exhaustion, overwhelm, or shutdown.

✓ Forgetfulness and working memory problems - Misplacing items, forgetting appointments, losing track of conversations, or needing repeated reminders.

✓ Sensory sensitivity and overstimulation - Noise, clutter, touch, or competing demands can quickly become overwhelming, leading to irritability or withdrawal.

✓ Hyperfocus on responsibilities or relationships - Periods of intense focus on work, caregiving, or emotional labour — often at the expense of personal needs or rest.

✓ Inconsistent performance - Capable, intelligent, and motivated — but with fluctuating productivity, energy, and focus that can feel unpredictable or misunderstood.