Background:

ADHD is a modern diagnosis and was first used in the 1980's. At first, ADHD was associated with active boys and the belief that as adults they should grew out of it. Today we know otherwise. People will not grow out of ADHD and girls can get the diagnoses as well. However, the existing diagnostic tools are adapted for boys. This makes the diagnosis of girls difficult to do because girls ADHD symptoms differ from the symptom of boys with ADHD. Due to this, wrong diagnosis of girls with ADHD is often done and as a result, Girls are not feeling well. It can even be so that they don't get a diagnosis at all.

Aim:

The purpose of the study is to highlight girls' and women's experiences of living with ADHD. Method: A literature review based on eight articles was performed. Both qualitative and quantitative articles have been analyzed. Five themes were selected and presented in the results. Results: The importance of getting a diagnosis was significant to better handle problems that may occur in life. An ADHD diagnosis affected there self-image in a negative way. How other people approach and respond to an ADHD girl was crucial for how they saw themselves. ADHD led to a feeling of exclusion and also contributed to problems with relationships and difficulties to function in school and at work. Conclusion: Knowledge and information about the diagnosis was essential for how people with ADHD manage to cope with their life situation. Resources are a shortage in society today and there is a need to educate people in several areas. This is needed to create an understanding for the individuals and by doing so, decrease the risk of stigma. The understanding and knowledge will also create better conditions for girls and women with ADHD and contributes to their ability to better handle their problems as well as the feeling of having a good life.