ADHD Magazine (Digital Version)

ADHD will always be challenging, but on the other hand, it is the best time ever for those with the diagnosis to build dynamic, happy lives because the science and psychology have evolved dramatically in recent years. The evidence base for treatment is stronger, the psychotherapies are more nuanced, and the stigma has diminished with a cultural embrace of neurodiversity and wider understanding, overall. Today, we see ADHD diagnosed widely not just in children and teens, but also in adults—even senior citizens. Especially notable is the tsunami of ADHD women finally getting the help they need. While only a quarter of children diagnosed with ADHD are girls, by adulthood females comprise 50% of the ADHD population. The reason for this lag is that girls present not just more quietly than boys but also differently; it is a new day for girls and women, and the female presentation of ADHD is something we cover here. Based on interviews with renowned researchers and thought leaders, we also cover the the large population of newly-diagnosed adult males, the many subthreshold individuals who flicker in and out of symptomatology, and how to tap a host of lifestyle and coaching strategies that went unrecognized in the past. As a bonus, we devote a full quarter of the issue to the newly-embraced ADHD “superpowers”: Hyperfocus, creativity, imagination, divergent thinking and energy, profiling those who have managed to harness these talents to build wonderful, fulfilling lives based on their neurodivergent gifts.