Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to many issues for girls and women. They may feel incompetent at work, experience difficulties in social relationships or suffer from anxiety and depression.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to recognize and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people get older. This is the reason it's crucial that those suffering from ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or abandoned when they reach adulthood.
As adult adhd symptoms women and women grow into adults, they frequently continue to have trouble with their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances, keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their troubles.
ADHD is a chronic disorder unlike other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to mask their symptoms with strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually are characterized by being forgetful or numb in the sense of losing track of time, difficulty paying attention in classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the various ways that girls and women suffer from ADHD and also consider whether depression or anxiety contributes to the difficulties.
adult adhd symptoms women 's also crucial that people with ADHD be assessed by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional who can assess their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other issues. Certain people with ADHD also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety or low self-esteem, as well as difficulties with relationships and social interaction. It's also normal for adults with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues, such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD do not receive a diagnosis because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or a lack of self-esteem. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children are treated for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they are in their 40s or 50s, and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They also may have issues if recognized. For one thing, girls may not have the same hyperactive/impulsive symptoms as boys -- and this can make them less likely to be recognised by teachers and parents, who are more accustomed to seeing those signs in male children. Girls can also develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as much. This means that their issues with organisation, concentration and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.
Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms harder to detect. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. They may be unable to control their emotions. This can be exacerbated by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A lot of these issues could lead to low self-esteem or relationships problems. It can be difficult for these people to talk about their problems and seek assistance. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and communicating with others. They might miss social engagements and fail to show up for appointments and can't read body language or recognize the non-verbal signals of others. They may even wander off on tangents while talking which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and act as fast as you can. This could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It will help them to understand their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It can also aid women to focus on their strengths and make changes to improve their life management skills. This could positively impact their work, family and personal lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As girls and women develop into adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their personal and professional lives. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance. They can lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. They can also make it difficult to cope with adult demands, like managing finances, keeping a home in order or maintaining healthy relationships.
Women and girls are less likely to receive a diagnosis of ADHD than boys and men, partly because hyperactive/impulsive symptoms tend to be more commonly associated with males. This can lead to gender stereotypes about the disorder. Girls and women might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms to avoid being judged by society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed health professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The first choice is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants may also be effective for certain people. In addition, a combination of treatments may be recommended by your doctor to treat related disorders like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, and also reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify negative thought patterns that contribute ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also be beneficial in improving communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. This is to facilitate clearer and more consistent terms across our content and to avoid confusion for our readers. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB), and to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. It's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to diagnose. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is essential for women who often come up with strategies to help them be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities like making daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. They could also be harmful, such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and may have relationship issues and chronic stress.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD can experience low self-esteem and other symptoms like depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These feelings can lead to being unable to attend school or work, as well as social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily tasks. This could lead to a cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent period. This can be caused by insanity, poor organization, or the inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into sexually inappropriate activities and can be at greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women with ADHD who are adults can benefit from medication to manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also get therapy, individually or in a partnership. This can help them learn to understand their challenges and create more positive internal dialogs. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services could also include special programs for mothers who are pregnant or with ADHD and coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD maintain their jobs, handle their household responsibilities, and care for their children.