MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel ADHD and: Overachieving
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Jun 17, 2025 Women with ADHD often turn to overachievement as a coping mechanism, attempting to mask challenges with focus and organization. Dr. Monica Johnson discusses how this drive for success can lead to stress and burnout over time. Listeners learn to recognize the signs of overachievement and the importance of granting themselves permission to slow down. Strategies are shared to promote self-care, such as scheduling rest and practicing self-compassion, fostering a healthier relationship with productivity.
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Overachieving as Survival Mechanism
- Overachieving in women with ADHD often stems from a coping mechanism rather than ambition.
- It arises from a need for validation and survival against perceived inadequacy and criticism.
ADHD Masking and Rejection Sensitivity
- Masked ADHD symptoms in women lead them to push harder to fit in and avoid rejection.
- Rejection sensitivity and internalized ableism intensify the drive to achieve perfectly to prove self-worth.
Socialization Clashes with ADHD Traits
- Societal expectations and socialization pressure women to appear organized and responsible, conflicting with ADHD traits.
- This mismatch increases internalization, anxiety, and perfectionism, fueling overachievement as compensation.