ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD often report symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are generally better at masking their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis and delays in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For many women suffering from ADHD focus is the biggest challenge. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to concentrate at school, at work meetings, or even when reading and listening to other people's conversations. It can also be difficult to manage everyday tasks like keeping track of appointments or remembering to take medication.
Difficulty focusing is one of the most common adhd symptoms for girls and women, regardless of their gender identity or whether they have hyperactive/impulsive or inattentive ADHD. Women with the inattentive form of the condition may have trouble organizing their house or work desk and struggle to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These difficulties can cause them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the correct time or fail to keep up on their tasks. They can make them feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their problems, thinking they are lazy or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or in school and can lead to debt accumulation. They can be triggered by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are not diagnosed or recognized due to the prejudices that parents and teachers may have towards men and boys. They may not be able to express their ADHD symptoms as well, especially the hyperactive/impulsive ones, and may have difficulty finding treatment that works for them.
For women who are adults who suffer from ADHD, symptoms can also be caused by hormonal changes. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods, the run-up to menopausal symptoms as estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to boost their concentration however, it cannot cure the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make managing daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. You may find it difficult to remember important details, especially if they occur in a noisy environment. adhd in women treatment might also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to work or school. Forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails is a common occurrence for women with ADHD, which can create financial stress and make you feel rushed. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This can make the other person feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to be overwhelmed because they are unable to manage their emotions. They may also be struggling with their self-esteem, and may see their problems as an "personal fault" rather than realizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They are more likely to camouflage their symptoms as mood disorders or anxiety which could lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen rises. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to worsen. It is also possible to practice mindfulness and meditation techniques to relax your mind, reduce impulsiveness and restlessness, and improve emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional could also be helpful, as they can discuss possible accommodations at school or at work that might assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD are more sluggish than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. That may be because the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of boys and men or it could be to do with the amount of activity is happening in the areas of the brain that control disruptive and impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are not sustainable and could result in other health issues. Women, for instance use excessive alcohol and drugs to cope. They might also develop depression or suffer from other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom for women that can affect work or school performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a specific task, ignoring important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They may fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seats. They can also talk out loudly or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women with the inattentive subtype may have trouble in concentrating during lectures or discussions, keeping up with schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in the classroom or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They can be disorganized and messy and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to losing or misplacing items, including keys, wallets, and eyeglasses.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of disorder can cause issues at work, at home, and at school, and can cause feelings of restlessness and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They are not able to wait for their turn, whether at school, at work, or home. They often interrupt others. They have a tendency to act recklessly and aren't able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD may have a harder dealing with their issues than boys and men. This is due in part to societal expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman struggles to manage her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed because their symptoms aren't as pronounced as the men and boys. They may present with primarily inattentive symptoms, which do not have the same outward appearance as hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms, making them less likely to receive a referral for treatment from teachers and parents. They are more likely to develop coping mechanisms which mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the course of the life of a woman. Women can suffer ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This could result in her being misunderstood or dismissed as an overly emotional woman, which adds to her sense of frustration.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology: chromosomal make-up, hormones, and anatomical structure. gender is a subjective sense of what you're like as a man, a woman, or if you're non-binary, or a person. This distinction is crucial because it allows us to better understand how and why ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. In this article, we will refer to males as well as people who were assigned males at birth as males and boys. We also refer to females and people who were assigned females at conception as women and girls. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. For more information, read the Verywell Health guide to sex and gender.