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RTLB Realities Show Notes
Episode 12 

ADHD in Girls
A discussion with Hannah Deverey

He oranga ngākau

He hikinga wairua

 

When it touches your heart, it lifts your spirit

 

The whakatauki for this episode speaks about the particular things that really matter to us. The things that we are passionate about. Often, these are the things that lift us up and help us to keep going.

 

Key points

  • For many years, ADHD was thought to mostly affect boys

  • Until the 90’s girls were not diagnosed with ADHD

  • As our understanding of ADHD has grown, we know that it can impact girls in different ways

  • More girls are being diagnosed

  • Some teachers still struggle to see the different presentation

  • Hyperactivity can be internal in girls

  • Girls can often have great coping strategies when they are in the classroom

  • Estrogen can have an impact on ADHD symptoms

  • Although ADHD is not a mental health condition, evidence suggests that you might be more likely to develop a mental health condition if you have ADHD.

  • Rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is when you experience severe emotional pain because of a failure or feeling rejected. This condition is linked to ADHD. 

  • The teachers who support the students best are the ones for whom relationships are at the center of everything

  • As our understanding grows, attitudes towards ADHD in women are slowly changing. 

  • 5 tips for living with ADHD:

  1. Acceptance

  2. Finding your passion

  3. Finding the right support

  4. Write things down and take the time to process things

  5. Allow yourself to make accommodations

 

Post Kōrero

  • One of the things that Hannah spoke about was how ADHD can impact self-esteem. In the book Scattered Minds, Gabor Maté (2019) writes a few things that relate to this. 

  • “ Many children with ADD are subjected to overt disapproval and public shaming in the classroom for behaviors they do not consciously choose.” (p. 15)

  • “Their self-esteem is lost in some deep well.” (p. 9)

  • A 40 year old woman Maté was speaking to said “It’s as if I am from Mars and everyone else was from Earth.” Or as another woman

  •  put it, “everyone else seems to belong to some nice persons’ club, and I am excluded. “ (p.19). Maté concludes “This sense of being always on the outside looking in, of somehow missing the point, is pervasive. “ (p.19). 

 

When we take a moment to reflect and imagine the experience from that person's perspective, our empathy and understanding will greatly contribute to building and sustaining the relationship necessary to support them.

 

Finally, let us take a moment to reflect on this episode’s whakatauki: He oranga Ngākau, He Hikinga wairua. When it touches your heart, it lifts your spirit. As RTLB, may we be profoundly moved and inspired by the challenges and struggles some of our students face. Let this awareness fuel our dedication and commitment to providing the unwavering support they need. In return, may our spirits be uplifted and strengthened by the meaningful connections and positive impact we create in their lives.

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Links to dig deeper

 

Acknowledgments

Hannah Deverey- Interviewee

Corrinne Devitt- Scripting, Host, Recording, and summary notes

Ve Grant-Lawlor - Music, Production, Editing and Publishing.

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