ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity towards rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor sleep quality which can cause more symptoms.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms more effectively than men and employ strategies to cope with social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and delays in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to others talk. It can be challenging to complete everyday tasks such as 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. According to CHADD, women with the inattentive type of the condition can struggle to organize their home and their desks. They might be unable to prioritize tasks. adhd in young women can lead them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the correct time, or not follow through on their tasks. They can make them feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems believing they are lazy or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work and can lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
Teachers and parents may be biased towards boys and men, causing some women and girls 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.
Hormonal changes can also increase symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. They can be more noticeable during menstruation or perimenopause that is the time leading up to a woman's menopause as estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems like mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to improve their focus, but it will not solve the problem. Other strategies, including lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with focus and organization. Some workplaces and school have accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make managing your daily chores and responsibilities difficult. You may find it difficult to keep track of important details, especially if they occur in a noisy area. You might also find that you frequently forget appointments or get late for school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can result in financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or busy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This could make the other person feel unimportant or confused.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a harder managing their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They may also be struggling with their self-esteem and may view their problems as an "personal fault" instead of recognizing that their behavior is related 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 could disguise symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders, which could result in a misdiagnosis or improper treatment.
ADHD symptoms can be different based on the fluctuation in hormone levels. This is especially evident during puberty, as hormone levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, making it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to worsen. You can also try mindfulness techniques and meditation to relax your mind, reduce restlessness and impulsiveness and improve your emotional regulation. adhd women uk might be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that could assist you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD are more sluggish than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be because girls and women have different brains than males and females. It could also 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 recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and can lead to other health problems. For example some women resort to alcohol or other drugs to cope with their symptoms. They could also develop depression or other mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common symptom of adhd for women. It can impact their school or work performance, or even their relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks and becoming easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their hands or feet or squirm their seats. They can also yell or speak loudly, and can interrupt.
Women with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd might struggle with concentrating on their lectures or conversations; keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling their daily chores. They may be unorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things such as 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 trouble at home, at work and at schools, and can lead to feelings of agitation or boredom. They are unable to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or home. They often interrupt others. They aren't able to manage their behavior and tend to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder time to cope with their symptoms. This is due in part to the expectations of society that require women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to meet her responsibilities and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to be diagnosed since their symptoms are not as prominent as those of 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 also more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms. For example the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over a woman's lifetime. Women can experience ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstruation and pregnancy. This can lead her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or thought of as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. While gender is a subjective sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of how and why the ways that ADHD manifests can vary between genders. In this article, we will refer to males and 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 is in line with how many research studies use this term. For more information, check out the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.