I come from a generation that assumed women could not have ADHD, and I felt so misunderstood. Society taught us that girls were caregivers, nurturers, nice, quiet, and pretty.
I didn’t meet those expectations. Like other girls with ADHD, I mistook my difficulties for character flaws. This set the stage for depression, anxiety, and devastating blows to my self-esteem.When I became a mom, I realized that people with ADHD do not tolerate lack of sleep and changes in routine.
My impaired executive functioning — poor time management, procrastination, emotional dysregulation — made motherhood acutely difficult.
Societal expectations (i.e., women should have the perfect house and perfect kids and bake endless cookies) sparked feelings of isolation.Here are some approaches I’ve learned over the years that can help mothers with ADHD today.[Get This Free Guide: ADHD Diagnosis for Women]Terry Matlen, LMSW, ACSW, is a psychotherapist, consultant, and author.