ADHD Presentations & girl or boy ADHD? what does inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined presentation mean?

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RODE NT-USB & Susan's iphone (work) Camera:

After a famous podcast, I received a lot

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of messages saying I'm a guy, but I have

girl, ADHD, or I'm a parent of a girl

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with ADHD who appears to have boy ADHD.

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What's going on.

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This week in ADHD, powerful possibilities.

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We are going to look at.

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What is the fact and that

truths behind some of the claims

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in a recent famous podcast.

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But we're going to look at

the presentations of ADHD.

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Join me while we look at some of

the myths that have been shared

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in a very famous recent podcast.

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And no, you don't have

girl, ADHD or boy ADHD.

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What's up.

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My friend it's episode.

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12 of ADHD, powerful possibilities

ADHD coach Katherine.

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And this week we are looking at.

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What are the presentations of ADHD?

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What do they look like?

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And how do you know which

one is affecting you most?

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And how do you know where you

sit within those presentations?

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Thank you for the lovely

welcome back last week.

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I'm really delighted that you're

still enjoying the podcast.

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Thank you for the reviews.

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And please keep sending your questions.

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They do make a difference to

what I record and what I write

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this week, we're going to

look at ADHD presentations.

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In the olden days?

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Not that long ago, they were

called different types of ADHD.

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What we understand is that it's all

ADHD, but how it presents to the outside

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world and maybe how we experience it.

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Looks different.

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And so presentation is a more accurate

word for the different presentations

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of ADHD, but they're all ADHD.

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Think of ADHD as kind of a mosaic.

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And there are different parts that join up

to make a different presentations of ADHD.

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And the first one we're going to

look at is predominantly inattentive.

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Inattentive.

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It's something that I have

heard people call girl ADHD.

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It could not be more untrue.

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There are many men and boys with ADHD

who present in an inattentive fashion.

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And they might be the ones

who are a bit more dreamy.

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A bit more.

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Out of touch.

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Or who are just not out

there rampaging around.

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There are lots of girls who have

what some people call boy, ADHD.

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We'll come back to that though.

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Inattentive ADHD.

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It can feel like your mind

is a bit of a butterfly.

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And that was something that was

written about me in a school report.

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40 years ago.

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It's a fantastic mind.

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It can focus and land on something that

it can flutter it off really easily.

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But it's not just about

being easily distracted.

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We may find it inattentive presentation,

ADHD, people are more likely to lose

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their keys, to forget important dates

for me, it was forgetting something

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that someone had told me in the morning.

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And I failed to do in the afternoon.

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Because things happened in between.

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We might struggle to

focus on conversations.

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But it's not because we're not listening

is because our inner conversation is so

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powerful and engaging and not always in

the positive, really nice, airy fairy way.

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Because we have this rich inner life,

we can appear to be more creative,

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maybe because we're just more aware

of what's going on inside because

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we have these moments of connection.

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But the downside of an attentive ADHD

is that we can often ruminate and

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then we can begin to spiral down.

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And so if you're aware of that habit,

that tendency, that pattern, you can

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learn to control it and head the spiral

and the rumination off really quickly.

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The second presentation is

predominantly hyperactive and impulsive.

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This is the one that most

people think about with ADHD.

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And it generally is the part of the DSM,

which says you are driven like a motor.

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You're physically active.

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You can't sit still.

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You're fidgeting.

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You're tapping your feet.

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With adults, this can become an

internal thing or it can be diminished

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and controlled into things like

clicking your pen, twiddling your

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keys, fidgeting with your hair.

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Some of these are body focused, repetitive

behaviors, which is a method of self

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soothing, but that's something else.

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Think of Dr.

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Hollowell's description of ADHD

is having a racing car brain with

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bicycle brakes and that is classic

hyperactive, impulsive ADHD.

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We tend to blurt things out.

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We can be physically and mentally.

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Unable to stop and slow down.

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And that's really distressing because

we want to be able to slow down.

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We want to control.

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our attention and our thought process.

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It can lead to real social problems.

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If you are somebody who constantly

fidgets and blurts and interrupts.

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At the same time, it can give us

incredible energy and passion when

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it's harnessed in the right direction.

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And when we're given the support

and the love and the compassion.

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To lean into it.

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And then we have the combined

presentation, which is

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where many people fall.

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We have inattentive presentation traits,

but we also have the kind of racing car

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driving around the butterfly garden.

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We might find that we're

constantly shifting gears and

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know in a way that's useful.

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We might feel that we were more.

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Eh, hyperactive and

impulsive when we were young.

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And then we become more combined

or inattentive as we get older.

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But again, I think that's

because it all turns inward.

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Or we develop coping strategies

that allow us to compensate.

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What happens when these presentations

of ADHD meet everyday life?

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How are they going to show up for you?

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Was inattentive ADHD.

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We might find it harder

to make connections.

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We might find that we lose out on

opportunities because we have drifted off.

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When somebody was talking about

something, they assume that we're

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not interested, that we don't care.

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And so disaster.

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Again, it's about.

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A) education of yourself

and the people around you.

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B) making strategies and structures

that allow your inattentiveness to

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not impact things like your work, your

home and especially relationships.

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And I want to include your relationship

with yourself in that one, because

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if you're inattentive and you are

more prone to rumination, it's

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really important that you understand

this is a brain-based difference,

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not a personal flaw or a weakness.

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Hyperactive and impulsive ADHD can

appear like a real strengths - think

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of somebody like Michael Phelps.

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Now he's one of the most

successful swimmers of all time.

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But his mother was told

that he would never come to

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anything because of his ADHD.

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Think about people like Dr.

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Hallowell, who I just mentioned

who cannot take medication.

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And yet he is one of the most successful

clinicians and writers about ADHD.

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The trick with impulsive and

hyperactive ADHD is to create

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your focus on something that is.

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Really engaging and interesting.

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And you're passionate about.

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And finding ways to express your vitality,

your energy without losing control.

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It might be that you need something

like a really dynamic type of yoga.

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To allow you to connect

your mind with your body.

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while at the , same time giving

your body that sense of rhythm and

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ease that you get from movement.

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For me, it was about dance because I could

combine my love of music with my physical

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energy and bring them both together.

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And I was really dedicated for many years.

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With combined presentation, it is complex.

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Again, we get to pick and mix.

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We use different strategies from

different areas in a way that makes

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sense for your brain and your life.

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We're not all one.

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We're not all the other.

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But it can still be

challenging and hold you back.

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If you're not aware.

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Of where it's showing up.

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but let's be really clear the

different presentations of ADHD.

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are a starting point.

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They're not the end and they're

not discrete categories.

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Which is one of the reasons why I

sometimes think about ADHD as a spectrum.

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It's especially true that your

presentation may fluctate if

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you have a menstrual cycle.

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If your hormones a little over the

place, if you're going through puberty.

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These things make a real difference.

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And you might find that

you have more energy.

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And your hyperactive presentation is

more obvious at one point in your cycle.

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And yet your inattentive ruminative.

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downbeat, presentation is more common.

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The week before your period.

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And when we're in,

peri-menopause all bets are off.

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Let's not reduce people to stereotypes.

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And although labels are really valuable

and I passionately believe that giving

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ourselves a label, isn't a limiting thing.

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I want to make sure that people

understand the diagnosis of ADHD and the

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presentations are not about stereotypes.

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We are full.

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Rounded wonderful complex human beings.

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We all have dreams.

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We all have our individual challenges.

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We all have a vision a passion somewhere.

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And no presentation of

ADHD, it should limit you.

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From pursuing that.

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I want to conclude with a

look at a very famous podcast.

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Which I see clips of all over

the internet that are some

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really huge clangers in there.

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I think it's a presentation or

miscommunication issue rather

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than a willful misrepresentation.

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But I want to explore it with you.

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I want to finish off by just

clearing up some of the things that

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I'm seeing, being repeated every

week and that are not helpful.

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The first is the idea that

there is girl ADHD and boy ADHD.

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There is no such thing.

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Some study suggests that

outward presentation of ADHD.

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I can be different.

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And girls because of our social

conditioning, the expectations,

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the idea boys will be boys.

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Girls will be girls, but there are many.

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Impulsive and hyperactive girls

and many inattentive boys.

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The boys are missed, right?

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Because they're not showing that typical

presentation that people are looking for.

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So I find this presentation.

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According to girl or boy really unhelpful.

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It's really not.

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Going to help people.

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But more importantly, the idea that

girls get worse and boys grow out.

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Of it.

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It's just not true.

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I want to make it clear that

the lost generation of ADHD

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isn't exclusive to women.

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Women over 50 are being called

the lost generation of ADHD.

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But I want to make it very clear that

there are many men who fall into that

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category of a lost generation as well.

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And there are lots of people

who are late diagnosed and who

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are unable to access, support.

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Because of the stigma.

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There are lots of reasons

they might not have had a

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diagnosis earlier in their life.

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The diagnostic criteria has changed.

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There's some shame around what

we thought was behavioral, but we

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know, knew it to be neurological

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there's a lack of awareness.

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And there's also the

availability of a diagnosis.

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Some of the language used in that podcast

around things like depression, anxiety.

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And self-harm.

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WaS alarming from an ethical

mental health point of view.

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now It is not untrue to say that

undiagnosed adult ADHD can lead to

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more significant risk of anxiety,

depression, self harm, and so on.

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But it's really important.

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We don't stigmatize or damage

people who are suffering with

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these very real conditions.

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More than they already are.

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And it's really important to

discuss that these are manageable

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with the right support.

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And although self-diagnosis,

which was really supported

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in that podcast is important.

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Given how difficult it is.

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Impossible for many of

us To access a diagnosis.

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I think it's a bit irresponsible to

focus so much on a very detailed,

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personal account and focus on that.

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And although we may identify

with many of the symptoms or

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traits that person experienced.

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As I explained in the last podcast,

there are many things that look

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like ADHD, but which are not.

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Which is why we need an accurate diagnosis

and treatment plan to support us.

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And diagnosing yourself, maybe the

only option you have right now.

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But please always keep in mind

that you need to have other things

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excluded so that you can really get

the help, but it is right for you.

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And finally would that

podcast, please go and find.

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Reliable authorities on ADHD.

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Yes.

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There are a lot of people who complain

about credentialism and I always tell

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people I'm a certified ADHD coach.

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But that's because there are lots

of people who spread information

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that I would never share.

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And that's why having a credential.

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Is about giving other people some

trustworthy, reliable advice.

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Let's finish off with looking at

what you can do depending on what

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presentation of ADHD you may experience.

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For inattentive ADHD, we're looking

at making our inner world external and

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visual and attractive so that we can

capture eye on something when we've.

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When we've drifted off for a second.

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Personally, I rely heavily on my

whiteboard on my external planner.

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I use a notion planner.

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I use a paper planner.

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I also have a calendar on the wall.

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I have reminders set on my

phone because I know that my

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inattentive traits within ADHD.

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We'll get in the way of

me fulfilling my job.

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And although it might sound

counterintuitive actually

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using mindfulness can help you

to stay engaged and focused

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because you're giving your mind.

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That space that is looking for.

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with hyperactive and impulsive

presentation of ADHD.

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You're looking for some way to

channel that energy and focus.

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We want to look for positive outlets.

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Now, this is going to be really personal,

depending upon what you're interested in.

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What's available to you, what your

financial and physical capabilities are.

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But things like regular exercise can

actually decrease the impulsivity.

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And they can improve

your focus and attention.

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I think hobbies, like really detailed

things like knitting, crochet and drawing.

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Really help when my brain is

whizzing and it's really hyperactive.

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And they have the bonus side effect

of A) producing really cute things.

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And B.

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they are a fidget that

is socially acceptable.

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And again, making sure that

you've got time in your day

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for a bit of deep breathing.

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Maybe a bit of mindfulness can really

help to center your focus and mindfulness

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when it's adapted for ADHD is one of the

most powerful tools that you can get.

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For the combined presentation of

ADHD, you get to pick whatever

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works for you from the last two.

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I use all of the strategies because I

am mostly a combined presentation ADHD.

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Now I'm older.

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So I have both mindfulness practices.

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I have all the external reminders.

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And I also use a lot of regular movement.

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When I go for a daily walk every day,

my brain is a much happier organ.

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And it works much better.

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And don't forget, I have got a

wonderful quiz that you can download,

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which will help you to determine which

presentation of ADHD is most likely

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the one that you are living with.

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When you download it from the link below.

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You will also be able to access a voucher

for a discount on the ebook coming at

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the end of the month and the webinar

that goes with it, where we're going to

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discuss ADHD presentations and get some

practical strategies in place for you.

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I would love to know what you

know about your presentation.

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What's worked for you.

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What hasn't, if you've got a

really fantastic strategy that you

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would love to share, let me know.

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And let's really support each other.

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As we go forward with our ADHD brains.

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Next week.

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I want to share some of your stories.

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If you want to tell me about your

experience of a presentation of ADHD.

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ADHD was like for you.

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And how you're living with it now.

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Please get in touch with me.

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You can message me or email me, and I

would love to include either a clip from

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you or I can read out your own message.

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So let me know.

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Next week.

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We're going to look at your

experience of living with ADHD.

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And after you've shared your

story, I'm going to offer some.

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Some insight from my experience of

working with people with ADHD, so that

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you can learn from each other and also

hear what's going to be useful for you.

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Next week, I want to share your stories.

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You can leave me a voice note.

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You can send me an email.

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. But whatever we do, I want to make sure

that your experience of the different

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presentations of ADHD is heard.

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And then I'm going to offer some

insight and some, maybe some

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strategies or ideas, some things

that you might want to play with.

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For your own ADHD.

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And don't forget to take

the quiz and get in touch.

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If you're interested in the webinar

about ADHD and it's presentations.

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Thank you for joining us today if you

found value in this episode, please

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subscribe and share it with someone

else you know who might benefit or

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who you want to understand you better.

333

: 00:16:42

Remember, your journey with ADHD

is an ongoing journey of growth.

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: 00:16:47

But you're not alone anymore.

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: 00:16:51

Until next time, this is Catherine,

reminding you that with the

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: 00:16:54

right guidance, the possibilities

really are powerful and endless.

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: 00:17:01

Take care.