ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitive to rejection. They can also experience insomnia or poor quality sleep, which may make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are typically better at masking their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis as well as a delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For many women with ADHD concentration is the biggest challenge. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it difficult to stay on task at school, in meetings at work, or when listening to others ' conversations. It can be difficult to complete 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 be struggling to organize their homes or at their desk and struggle to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These issues can cause them to miss appointments, show up in the wrong place at the correct time, or not follow through on their tasks. They can cause them to feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their shortcomings, thinking they're lazy or forgetful.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also make it difficult to stay on top of the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance and an accumulation of debt. They can be caused by stress or other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety that are often associated with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Teachers and parents could be biased towards males and girls, leading to some girls and women to be underdiagnosed. 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 adult women who suffer from ADHD, symptoms can also be worsened due to hormonal changes. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods which is the period leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems like mood swings or irritation.
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 with focus and organization. inattentive add in women and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues too.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily chores and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important details, especially if they occur in a noisy environment. You might also notice that you often forget appointments or are late for school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails, which could result in financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or crowded office, and you may zone out during conversations. This can make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also have a problem with self-esteem, and may see their difficulties as an "personal fault" rather than realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They might be more likely to disguise their symptoms with mood or anxiety issues which could lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when progesterone drops and estrogen rises. This can result in greater variance in symptoms from day to day, which can make it harder to identify and treat ADHD effectively.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you learn the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to become worse. You can also practice mindfulness and meditation techniques to calm your mind, decrease restlessness and impulsiveness and improve your emotional regulation. Talking with a mental health professional could be beneficial, as they can discuss possible accommodations at work or at school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to be less attentive than those with hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be harder for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others aren't sustainable and may cause health issues of other kinds. For instance, some women are prone to drinking excessively and other drugs to deal with their problems. They may also develop depression or other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for someone to recognize a mental health problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a task, ignoring important dates or events, and becoming easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their minds. They might fumble or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seats. They may also shout or talk loudly, and can interrupt.
Women with the inattentive subtype may have trouble in concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be unorganized and messy and have a difficult time adhere to commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace items like eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can lead to trouble at home, at work and in school, and it can cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They have a tough waiting for their turn at home, school or at work and often interrupt other people. They aren't able to control their behavior and are likely to behave in a reckless manner.
4. adhd symptoms in women test and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have a difficult dealing with their issues than men and boys. This is largely due to the expectations of society that demand that women and mothers are the primary caregivers for their children and their household. If a woman is struggling to meet her responsibilities and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed because their symptoms aren't as evident as the 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. Additionally they are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms, such as frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness that could be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change throughout the life of a woman. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This can cause her to be misunderstood, or dismissed as being emotionally overly sensitive.
This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. While gender refers to an internal sense of being a woman, man, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial because it allows for a better understanding of the ways and the ways in which ADHD manifests may differ between genders. For this reason, throughout this article we refer to males and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men as well as women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sex.