Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel unable at work, struggle with peer relationships, and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also have a better chance of creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to identify and treat them.
Symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects men and boys at a higher rate than girls and women but the gap between genders narrows as people age. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD issues don't feel neglected or forgotten.
As girls and women mature into adulthood They continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their troubles.
Unlike some other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies for coping, but these often backfire. In addition, changes in hormones during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can include the inability to remember things or being oblivious and having difficulty paying attention at work or in classes, and having trouble with daily routines like food planning, scheduling or doing laundry. 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 women and girls can suffer from ADHD, and consider whether depression or anxiety is contributing to these difficulties.
It is crucial that those with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other illnesses. For instance, some people with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and trouble with social interactions and relationships. It is also common for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women with ADHD aren't diagnosed because they're not taken seriously by teachers, family or friends. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD, or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and have major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood and can face challenges when it does occur. 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 strategies to manage their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as often. It is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration and impulsivity may be overlooked over a number of years.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to recognize the signs. Additionally, they may have co-occurring illnesses that affect their ability to manage their lives like anxiety and depression. For instance, they might find it hard to control their moods, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Many of these issues contribute to a lack of self-esteem and issues with relationships. It is often difficult for these people to discuss their problems and ask for help. This can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to form friendships or interact with others. adult adhd symptoms women might miss social gatherings, fail to attend appointments, and may have difficulty reading body language. They could even go off on tangents while talking and make it difficult for others to follow them.
It's important that you get an accurate diagnosis and act as fast as possible. For women, this may be an "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their struggles and allow them to accept themselves more fully. It also allows them to focus on their strengths and make steps to improve their life management skills. This could have a positive effect on their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults, untreated ADHD can take a toll on their personal and professional lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to frustration and low self-esteem. They can also make it difficult to manage the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping your home tidy and 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, in turn, can create gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can lead to women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. The first option is stimulant medications, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor may recommend a combination treatment to address related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that increase concentration and focus, as well as reduce stress, anxiety and other mood disorders that are that are common among people with ADHD. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
We use the terms "girls", "women" and "womens" to refer to the gender that was established at birth, rather than to a person's gender identity. This is to provide clearer and more consistent terms across our content and to reduce confusion for our readers. However, this article also applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. It's because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, making it harder for doctors to diagnose. They may also have signs that seem less obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who frequently create coping mechanisms to make them feel comfortable and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping mechanisms can include healthy things like setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be harmful like binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.
adult adhd symptoms women that women and girls with ADHD face can contribute to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoidance of school, work or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to help with daily tasks. This could lead to an addiction and reliance that is hard to break.
In adolescence, girls as well as women with ADHD might be at a greater risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This could be due the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or a lack of ability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into sexually inappropriate activities and are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek out therapy, either individually or with an individual or with a partner. This can help them learn to identify their struggles and create more positive internal dialogues. It will help them improve their relationships.
Support services could also include coaching to teach parenting skills and programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or parenting. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to keep their jobs and manage their home responsibilities and take care of children.