ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can make symptoms worse.
Women and girls are often better at masking their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to meet societal expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for many women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school in meetings at work or while reading or listening to others talk. It can be difficult to accomplish daily tasks like remembering appointments or taking 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 who suffer from the inattentive version of the disorder might have trouble organizing their home or their work desk and have difficulty focusing on tasks according to CHADD. These problems can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location or not completing their work duties. These difficulties can make them feel bad about themselves, and they could blame themselves for their problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD can also lead to poor performance at school or at work, and debt accumulation. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Women and girls with inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of the biases teachers and parents may have toward boys and men. 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 with ADHD symptoms, they can be exacerbated due to hormonal changes. For instance, they could become more noticeable during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and anger.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to boost their concentration however, it cannot solve the problem. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist in focusing and organization. Some schools and workplaces have accommodations that can help with these issues, too.
2. Forgetting previous can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. It can be difficult to remember important details especially when they take place in a noisy setting. You may also find that you are often late for appointments or run late for school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails, which can cause financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a busy or loud office and often zone out during conversations, leaving the other person feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into unintentional sexual activity or being victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed due to the fact that they struggle to control their emotions. They could also be struggling with their self-esteem, and may view their problems as something that is a "personal fault" instead of recognizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which could result in a misdiagnosis or improper treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when estrogen drops and progesterone increases. This can cause a greater variety of symptoms, making it harder to identify and manage ADHD.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to get worse. You can also practice mindfulness and meditation techniques to relax your mind, reduce the impulsiveness and anxiety and improve your emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to help you by discussing possible accommodations that could aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at school or at work.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women with ADHD have more irritable symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. It could be because the brains of girls and women differ from those of men and boys, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is occurring in the regions of the brain that control impulsive and disruptive behavior.
As a result, it is often difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others aren't long-lasting and could lead to other health issues. For instance women may turn to excessive alcohol or drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or suffer from mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it difficult for people to notice that they are suffering from a condition and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom in women that can affect work or school performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, ignoring important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by other aspects of the environment or in their thoughts. They may fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seat. They may also talk loudly or yell, and they may be disruptive.
Women who have the most inattentional subtype of adhd can struggle with concentrating on their lectures or conversations; keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; adhering to instructions at work or in class; and juggling their daily chores. They are often disorganized and messy and have a difficult time follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more prone to misplacing or losing items like 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 adhd can cause issues at home, work, or school. It can also trigger feelings of boredom, restlessness, and frustration. They are unable to wait for their turn, whether at school, work, or home. They also interrupt others frequently. They are not able to control their behavior and tend to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD may have a harder time coping with their symptoms than males and females. This is due to societal expectations, which demand that mothers and women be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. When a woman with ADHD struggles to fulfill her responsibilities, she could be afflicted with anxiety and stress that lead to low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
Women with ADHD are typically not diagnosed as easily as boys or men because their symptoms do not seem to be as apparent. 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 that mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness could be interpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change over the course of the woman's life. Women may experience ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstruation and pregnancy. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or thought of as being overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial because it enables a better understanding of the ways and the ways in which ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article, we will refer to males as well as people who were assigned male at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned females at conception as females and girls. This terminology is used in a variety of research studies. For more information, read the guide to sex and gender by Verywell Health.