The case in summary: Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen received an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, which changed her life. From 2020 to 2022, there was a doubling in ADHD diagnoses among girls aged 16 to 24, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Lindebæk-Nielsen describes the investigation process as difficult, but worth it. She felt looked after and has since found good strategies for dealing with everyday life. Secretary General of ADHD Norway, Gry Lunde, believes that the increase may be due to the fact that women have been overlooked for many years, and that there is now more knowledge and understanding about ADHD in women. Lindebæk-Nielsen has found good solutions to deal with her ADHD, including by taking mental breaks and by communicating clearly with family and friends when she needs time for herself. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – The first time I met the wall we had two small children. I went to bed, and got up again a month later. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen stands in her kitchen in Kristiansand. She bakes rolls. It’s one of several things she comes up with. She needs mental breaks from everyday life. After she received the ADHD diagnosis, her life changed. – I never paid attention to myself. I drove until the battery was dead. Then it took a long time to charge. Today, she knows what she is struggling with, and has found some good strategies. – There are still a number of challenges in everyday life, she says. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen talks to her daughter. Two of her three daughters have been diagnosed with ADHD. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Demanding process From 2020 to 2022, there was a doubling of ADHD diagnoses among girls aged 16 to 24. This is shown by figures from FHI’s public health report from 2023. Agnetha’s daughter, Marie, was assessed for ADHD when she was eight years old. After a few meetings with the child and youth psychiatric outpatient clinic, Agnetha also received a recommendation for investigation. She was not surprised by this message. – We are quite similar. My parents told me it’s like watching me grow up again, she says. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen says that she and her daughter are very similar. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Marie Lindebæk-Nielsen thinks it is good that she is not the only one with ADHD in the family. – I gain more understanding. Since my mother also has it, she understands my ADHD in a different way. Mamma Agnetha agrees: – It’s both exciting and good. At the same time, it is challenging. We can trigger each other’s ADHD, so we work on that a lot. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen was diagnosed with ADHD in the same year as her daughter. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Challenging process Agnetha describes the investigation process as difficult. It included many forms, a statement from the parents, and a demanding piece of concentration. After being referred by the GP to the District Psychiatric Center (DPS), she was rejected. Posters are hung up in the kitchen, which are intended to inspire and showcase everyday life with ADHD. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Agnetha did not give up, and filed a complaint. One year later, she received the diagnosis. – I still think it was a good process and I felt looked after, she says. Have to turn down many Kjersti Waal is a psychologist specialist in special health services. She is one of those who will decide whether someone should be referred for investigation. She says that they have to reject a number of applications. – We will look for serious symptoms and significant functional problems, which will show up in several areas of life. In many of the applications, many symptoms are described, but little of this, she says. Waal believes that many people can recognize the symptoms. – Especially if they read through a checklist. It is nevertheless important to emphasize that there must also be significant functional problems in everyday life in order to be entitled to an examination in the specialist health service. On the coffee pot, Agnetha has attached a sticker that gives a small insight into everyday life with ADHD. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Dare to be yourself There is no doubt in Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen’s voice when she says that the investigation process was worth it. In the past, she has always come home tired after social settings and analyzed all the situations. She uses less energy on that now. – I am working on becoming happy in the aspects I used to be ashamed of, and dare to be myself. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen has had many challenges over the years. With the help and support of her family, she has found good strategies. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Husband Brian Lindebæk-Nielsen has also noticed changes. – It may seem that the diagnosis has given her an explanation for areas she finds challenging. Experiencing that others with ADHD have similar challenges seems to have given Agnetha peace of mind, he says. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen not only has a good family. Matheo is there to help on the heavier days. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Increased knowledge General Secretary of ADHD Norway, Gry Lunde, believes that one reason for the increase in diagnoses may be that women have been overlooked for many years. – A lot is linked to the fact that there is more knowledge and understanding about ADHD among women today. We notice that the more knowledge we can offer, the more people are investigated, she says. Lunde says that women’s symptoms manifest themselves differently from men’s. – Many of the ladies have physical and psychological problems such as anxiety, depression and fatigue. It is important that women and women’s symptoms are taken seriously. Good strategies After Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen received the diagnosis, the treatment process began. Trials of medicine were part of this. When she has to explain the effect of the medicine, she imagines the large old-fashioned chests of drawers in the pharmacy with small drawers. She says that with medicines, everything is sorted and the labels are in bold, so the contents are clearly visible. Everything goes much faster and easier. Agnetha Lindebæk-Nielsen is in the kitchen baking rolls. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Five years after Agnetha was diagnosed, she has found several good solutions in everyday life. It is easier to say when she is tired so that she can have time to recover. And if she needs to cancel plans, she will. – Every day is a job, and it fluctuates a lot, but I have found good strategies, she says.
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