Experiences of shame among women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood
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Authors
Nowlan, Megan
Issue Date
2025-11-15
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
ADHD , shame , self-esteem , women , shame therapy , mental health , development
Alternative Title
Abstract
This counselling psychology research project examines the main question: How and in what ways do feelings and experiences of shame show up for women prior to being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, and how have chronic feelings of shame shaped their view of self and impacted their well-being throughout their development? To answer this question, a synthesis of the current and relevant research is conducted within this study as well as a presentation of the clinical recommendations needed to support this population therapeutically and within future research. Themes are created through a deductive thematic analysis of the literature, and a critique of the studies' methods and ethical approaches is conducted. Themes are found and highlighted such as the prevalence of shame experiences for women with latediagnosed ADHD throughout their development, the isolation and distress of chronic shame, and the infiltration of shame within multiple aspects of the women's lives were found. Additionally, shame seems to be the internalization of years of external judgment, character blaming, and ostracization for behaving outside of the gender and neurotypical norm. Mental health clinicians and researchers are recommended to be aware of and reflective upon this silent but common phenomenon within their work. It is advised that energy and effort it directed towards addressing the of experience of chronic shame in women with ADHD through researching and utilizing empirically supported treatment and diagnosis to curb the negative impacts shame can have on female-identifying individuals.
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess