ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality sleep which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are typically more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school, during meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to other people talk. It can be challenging to complete daily tasks like keeping track of appointments or taking medications.
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. According to CHADD the women who suffer from the inattentive version of the condition can struggle with organizing their homes and desk. They might also find it hard to prioritize tasks. These problems could cause them to skip appointments, show up at the wrong place at the correct time or fail to keep up on their job responsibilities. They can also cause them to feel embarrassed and blame themselves for their troubles believing they are lazy or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work and can also lead to debt accumulation. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
Teachers and parents might be biased against males and girls, leading to some girls and women to be overlooked. 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 of adult age with ADHD symptoms, they can be exacerbated due to hormonal changes. For instance, they may be more evident during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause, which is the time before menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and anger.
Stimulant medication can improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help with organization and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important information, especially if they occur in a noisy area. You might also find that you frequently forget appointments or are late to work or school. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or responding to emails, which could lead to financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a busy or loud office and often lose focus during conversations, leaving the other person feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They might also be struggling with their self-esteem, and may see their issues as an "personal flaw" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias, women and girls with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They could disguise symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders, which can result in a misdiagnosis or improper treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty when progesterone drops and estrogen increases. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to worsen. You can also practice mindfulness and meditation techniques to calm your mind, decrease impulsiveness and restlessness and improve your emotional control. Talking to a mental health professional can also be helpful, as they can talk about possible accommodations at work or at school that might help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the amount of activity in the brain areas that control impulsive behavior.
As a result, it is often difficult for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and can lead to other health problems. Some women, for example, turn to excessive alcohol and drugs to cope. They may also become depressed or have other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it more difficult for someone to recognize they are suffering from a disorder and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. These include being unable to stay focused on a specific task, or forgetting important events or tasks and being easily distracted by the surroundings or their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their feet or hands or shake their hands. They can also talk out loud or yell. they could be disruptive.
Women who have the most inattentional type of adhd might struggle with concentrating on conversations or lectures as well as keeping up with writing, reading, or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and managing daily tasks. They may be unorganized and messy and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible 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 trouble at home, at work and in school, and it can lead to feelings of agitation or boredom. They have a difficult waiting to be called upon at home, school or at work and they frequently interrupt others. They tend to be reckless and are unable manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls who have ADHD may have a harder time to manage their symptoms. This is due to social expectations, which demand that mothers and wives be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. If Iam Psychiatry suffering from ADHD struggles to keep up with her obligations, she may be afflicted with anxiety and stress that lead to low self-esteem. This can make it harder to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not recognized as easily as boys or men because their symptoms don't 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 strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms. For example the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be mistaken as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change throughout the life of a woman. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstruation and pregnancy. This could result in her being misunderstood or dismissed as a terribly emotional woman, which adds to her feeling of anger.
This article is based upon research into how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to an internal sense of being a man, woman or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial as it allows for a better understanding of how and the ways that ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article we will refer to both men and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men and women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.