‘ <i>I felt like a broken person</i> ’: the experiences of women navigating a late ADHD diagnosis in the UK

Aim To explore the experiences of women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, in the UK. Methods Eight women, aged between 28 and 53, were interviewed about their experiences of having an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the resulting data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were developed around women’s experiences. Findings ‘A childhood of undiagnosed ADHD’ revealed that participants experienced distress from a young age and reported low self-esteem. The shared narrative of being misunderstood and dismissed by professionals from a young age, with some reporting that the ADHD diagnosis was overshadowed by another diagnosis. ‘ADHD as a possibility and seeking out a diagnosis’ captured the series of events that led to participants seeking out a diagnosis, with a running theme of self-advocacy being present. ‘Receiving an ADHD diagnosis’ highlights the mixed emotions following diagnosis, the process of re-framing past experiences through the lens of ADHD, and the support offered post-diagnosis. ‘Life with an ADHD diagnosis’ highlights the impact that the diagnosis had on participants’ sense of self and identity and the interplay between the diagnosis and other identities. Participants’ accounts also revealed the impact that stigma had on their experience of ADHD. Conclusions The findings illuminated the experience of participants navigating mental health, identity and multiple systemic barriers in the context of ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.