Why so many people with ADHD are free from gender norms Their neurodiversity has helped them understand their gender identity. Here’s the science behind it: (Denny Agassi/Getty Images)
When Krista Ray struggles to fit into society’s gender framework, they find an unexpected ally in her neurodivergent brain.
The 32-year-old Brooklyn-based writer grew up in Hawaii, the youngest child of Filipino immigrants. At age 17, just before their senior year of high school, they were diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a developmental disorder that can cause inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. A decade passed before they understood their gender identity, but after years of living with ADHD, they say understanding has given them the tools to explore life outside the gender binary. .
“The breadth of human experience is so vast that it cannot be summarized in small words,” Ray said, reflecting on their journey. “Life is so beautiful and vast that it’s hard to imagine yourself in a small box.”
Although researchers haven’t found a direct causal relationship between ADHD and gender diversity, a 2022 article in Psych Central found that people living with ADHD are more likely to identify with their gender than those without. The analysis suggests that there is a possibility that these people often have doubts or experience a sense of discomfort. In a 2014 study on gender differences in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD, participants with ADHD were nearly seven times more likely to express gender differences.
Recent studies have also revealed higher rates of ADHD in LGBTQ+ people compared to the general population.
John F. Strang, a neuropsychologist and director of the Gender and Autism Program at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., explained the link in a press release.
“In ADHD, difficulties with impulse control are central to the disorder, which can make it difficult to keep gender impulses ‘unconcealed’ despite internal and external pressures for cross-gender expression.” ” he said.
Strang noted that neurodiverse children and adolescents may be less aware of societal restrictions on expressing gender differences, and therefore less likely to avoid expressing these tendencies. “Also, overly rigid or ‘black and white’ thinking may result in such children rigidly interpreting mild or moderate gender nonconformity tendencies as more intense or absolute. “It could be theorized that there is a sexual relationship,” he added.
Given the nature of Ray’s ADHD and his need to rely on creative ways to find a personal structure that works for him, they find the intersection of these two identities not only a curiosity but also a humorous one. I’m thinking.
“If you have ADHD, your mind is already messed up.” [inherently] “That’s strange,” they said.
Increased dissemination of research on gender nonconformity and ADHD
Teddy G. Goetz, a non-binary psychiatry resident at the University of Pennsylvania and affiliated with the Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative in Philadelphia, published the results of a study earlier this year in collaboration with neurodivergence and gender variance scholar Noah Adams. Announced.
Their study, “The Association between Transgender and Gender Diversity and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review,” questioned the deficit framework that often occurs in discussions of gender diversity and neurodiversity. . Since 2014, researchers have published 17 papers on the relationship between transgender, non-binary people and ADHD, but the main problem they found is that there is still a lack of authors from this intersectional community. That’s true.
Emotional regulation is also a big piece of the puzzle, says Kate Osburn, an author, speaker, educator, and content creator who specializes in the intersection of neurodivergence, sex, intimacy, and communication. On TikTok, Osburn, who uses both “she” and “they” pronouns, has amassed more than 1.6 million followers and more than 50 million likes.
Osburn told Reccon that ADHD can lead to emotional intensification, making it more difficult to manage emotions. When combined with stress and anxiety due to societal pressures regarding gender norms, feeling like an outsider can be overwhelming and can take a toll on self-esteem and confidence.
“If you suffer from forgetfulness and impulsivity due to ADHD, and you also face prejudice for expressing your true gender identity, you may be particularly affected by general concerns associated with ADHD, such as sensitivity to rejection and human nature. When combined with other issues, it can exacerbate feelings of self-doubt and helplessness: pleasure, perfectionism, guilt and shame,” said Osburn, who identifies outside the gender binary.
How a gendered approach to ADHD diagnosis overlooks non-binary people
Even gender-affirming means of expression, such as shackling or pinching, can be difficult for people with ADHD, Osburn said. This can conflict with common ways of expressing gender, as sensitivity to texture, temperature, tight clothing, etc. can overwhelm the senses. This makes finding what feels “right” even more difficult for gender nonconforming neurodiverse people.
Medical means of diagnosing ADHD are deeply rooted in gender binaries.
A 2020 report, Gender Differences in Adult ADHD, found that men score higher on measures of childhood symptoms. Children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (CHADD) have found that the gender gap leaves women undiagnosed when it comes to timely diagnosis. They argue that women (presumably cisgender) have ADHD that lasts longer if untreated, while men (presumably cisgender) are more likely to have it diagnosed and treated earlier.
Osburn’s ADHD diagnosis stemmed from a gender-specific medical problem. It suddenly became clear that ADHD medical professionals had been missing out on Osburn’s entire life, as the torsion and removal of his ovaries caused a sudden change in Osburn’s hormones. Healthcare providers are often not trained to navigate conversations with non-binary patients, but Osburn recognizes the importance of nuance.
Osburn argues that those assigned female at birth (AFAB) experience hyperactivity and impulsivity internally, while those assigned male at birth (AMAB) experience hyperactivity and impulsivity internally, especially during childhood. They noted that they experience hyperactivity and impulsivity as behavioral difficulties.
“If a transmasculine student is struggling in school, his ADHD may not resemble that of his AMAB classmates, but that does not make his experience any less valid or important,” Osburn said. he said. People with ADHD who still have periods are much more likely to experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), depression, anxiety, chronic pain, eating disorders, self-harm, and difficulty orgasming, says Osburn. he explained.
“The hormonal cycles of people who menstruate greatly and dramatically influence not only the severity of ADHD symptoms, but also the effectiveness of medications. People with ADHD who have penises are more likely to experience emotional dysregulation, substance use disorders. , are more likely to experience erection problems and even car accidents.”
A sharper recognition than being recognized.
Jireh Deng takes “a really, really long time” to prepare before leaving home. Deng, a nonbinary journalist and staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, told Reckon that it takes a lot of effort to think through how you express your gender in a corporate environment. Ta. That gender is difficult to code-switch as a diagnosed person. ADHD during a pandemic.
“I don’t like being caught off guard when I’m outside and being noticed by men.” [while] When I wear more femme-like clothes, I feel like my insides are being ripped out,” Deng said, adding that gender mistreatment from men is more painful than from women. “I think part of it is the implications of the place I occupy within a heteropatriarchy. Men have a much more right to touch and grab me in public than women. I think my strong aversion to and anxiety about being recognized is related to my ADHD.
As the child of immigrants from Taiwan and Hong Kong, Deng feels added pressure. It’s a unique expectation that he must fulfill the role of a man and woman as a good student, even though his older brother had similar struggles and received support to obtain medicine. For Deng, gender and sexuality added to the expectations.
“My parents historically didn’t bring up my ADHD, my queerness, my gender presentation because I did well in school. For a long time, I felt like the queer part of me had faded away. I think they ultimately wanted to go back to factory settings.”
Embracing Den’s nonbinary and ADHD identity felt like a journey of self-acceptance, finding ways to ground herself. These days, when I feel overwhelmed and overstimulated, I give myself permission to take a step back by getting away from my phone and electronic devices and going surfing on the weekends.
“It’s really important to honor your emotions and be as authentic as possible,” Deng says. Since Deng stopped hiding, she says she has gained confidence, self-acceptance and is happier. “I truly believe that accommodation is not just an option, but a necessity.”
Ray believes that being non-binary and having ADHD has helped her stay emotionally open. Despite the lack of research and answers at this intersection of experiences, it is essential to embrace the unknown and remain curious.
“People are so stubborn. Stay curious, because only you know what works for you.”
