Suspected ADHD in Adults
For adults wondering whether ADHD may explain long-standing overwhelm, procrastination, restlessness or shame.
Online CBT for ADHD
ADHD in Women
Specialist online CBT for women who recognise chronic overwhelm, masking, perfectionism, emotional dysregulation, burnout, self-criticism or suspected ADHD patterns.
Adult ADHD in women
ADHD is often missed in women and girls, especially when symptoms are internalised or masked.
Many women reach adulthood after years of being described as anxious, sensitive, disorganised, underachieving, perfectionistic or overwhelmed. Some have been misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression or low self-esteem, while the underlying ADHD pattern has remained unrecognised.
ADHD in women can involve masking, people-pleasing, perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, rejection sensitivity, procrastination, chronic self-criticism, disorganisation and burnout. These patterns can be exhausting, even when life looks organised from the outside.
Undiagnosed ADHD in women
When ADHD is missed, shame can build around patterns that were never properly understood.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may work extremely hard to compensate, then feel confused or ashamed when routines collapse, deadlines slip, emotions feel intense or rest becomes impossible. If this feels familiar, the page on suspected ADHD in adults may also be relevant.
Chronic overwhelm and mental load
Disorganisation, procrastination and task paralysis
Emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity
Perfectionism, people-pleasing and masking
Self-criticism, burnout and shame spirals
ADHD therapy for women
CBT can help make sense of the pattern and build strategies that fit real life.
CBT can help you recognise the links between thoughts, emotions, executive functioning, routines, relationships, self-criticism and coping behaviours. Therapy may focus on reducing shame, improving emotional regulation, planning realistically, managing overwhelm and building steadier routines without relying on constant pressure.
For some women, undiagnosed ADHD can also contribute to addictive or compulsive behaviours such as alcohol use, cannabis use, gambling, compulsive spending, binge eating, avoidance or dopamine-seeking patterns. Understanding the function of these behaviours makes change more compassionate and practical. You may also find the page on ADHD emotional dysregulation helpful.
Specialist online CBT
Support with Cally Farrer, BABCP-accredited CBT therapist.
Cally Farrer is a BABCP-accredited CBT therapist with 15 years experience in various clinical roles, including mental health and substance misuse services. Online therapy is available across the UK for women looking for compassionate, specialist support with ADHD in women, adult ADHD in women, undiagnosed ADHD in women, ADHD emotional dysregulation, ADHD therapy for women and online CBT for ADHD.
- ADHD in women
- adult ADHD in women
- undiagnosed ADHD in women
- ADHD emotional dysregulation
- ADHD therapy for women
- online CBT for ADHD
Related topics
Related ADHD and Addiction Topics
Explore connected pages if ADHD overlaps with emotional overwhelm, burnout, addictive patterns or suspected ADHD.
ADHD and Emotional Dysregulation
Understand intense emotions, rejection sensitivity, shame spirals and difficulty calming down.
ADHD Burnout
Support for exhaustion, masking, over-functioning, shutdown and chronic overwhelm.
The Link Between ADHD and Addiction
A longer guide to ADHD, impulsivity, reward-seeking, shame and addictive coping cycles.
Free 15-minute consultation
A first conversation can help you decide what support might fit.
You are welcome to get in touch without pressure, judgement or needing to have everything worked out first.