ADHD in Girls with Pippa Simou

ADHD in girls - how differently does it present? In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Pippa Simou, expert guest psychologist and specialist ADHD coach. Pippa and Claire explore the surprising gender disparities in ADHD, and how much more challenging it can be to diagnose girls to ensure they access the support they need. Pippa also busts some myths around how ADHD is perceived vs what is going on in a child’s brain, with boys tending to externalise symptoms whilst girls tend to internalise them.

Pippa goes on to share some important insights on the unique challenges faced by teenage girls with ADHD, including the complex interplay between perfectionism, rejection, and exhaustion, stressing the importance of early intervention and tailoring strategies to each girl's needs and circumstances. Claire and Pippa also discuss the risks to teenage girls in particular and the importance of understanding ADHD differences, to avoid heightened anxiety and self-criticism but also more serious issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.

Recognizing and addressing these issues early on can help protect our teenage girls whilst supporting their mental health and well-being, so Pippa also shares some key strategies for parents to support themselves and support their children, for example, favouring positive reinforcement and rewards rather than punishments. She shares some examples of the impact of her work, such as working with a typically high-achieving girl who felt pressure to excel but was eventually able to learn to accept "good enough" and prioritise self-care. 

This is a must-listen for parents of ADHD girls, particularly if they have been diagnosed with ADHD themselves.

To find out more about Pippa and her work, head here.