ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity towards rejection. They might also experience insomnia or poor quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
Girls and women often hide their ADHD symptoms better than men by employing coping strategies to meet the social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis as well as delays in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for women suffering from ADHD. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it hard to stay on task at school, at work meetings, or even when reading and listening to other people's conversations. It can also be difficult to complete daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or making sure to take 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. Women with the inattentive form of the condition may be struggling to organize their homes or at their work desk and find it difficult to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These issues can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or at the wrong place or not completing their tasks. These problems can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their own problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can also make it difficult to keep track of obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance and the accumulation of debt. They are often caused by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of biases that teachers and parents may be prone to towards males and females. 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 exacerbate symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. They may be more apparent during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle, the run-up to menopausal symptoms as estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to improve their focus but it won't solve the problem. Other strategies, like lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It may be difficult to remember important information especially when they take place in a noisy area. You may also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Not being able to pay your bills or reply to emails is a common occurrence for women with ADHD, which can create financial stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed. You may experience difficulties working in a crowded or noisy office. You may also get lost in conversations, leaving the other person to feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. This is due to the fact that they have a harder to manage their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also struggle with their self-esteem and may be more likely to interpret their difficulties as "personal flaws" instead of recognizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias, women and girls with ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They could disguise symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders, which could lead to a misdiagnosis and improper treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty when progesterone drops and estrogen rises. This can result in more frequent change in symptoms from day to day which can make it more difficult to recognize and manage ADHD effectively.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to get worse. You can also try meditation and mindfulness techniques to relax your mind, reduce impulsiveness and restlessness, and improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to assist by discussing possible accommodations that can aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women who suffer from ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. That may be because the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of men and boys or it could have to do with the amount of activity is happening in the parts of the brain responsible for managing impulsive and disruptive behavior.
As a result, it can be difficult for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others aren't sustainable and may result in other health issues. For instance, some women are prone to drinking excessively and other drugs to deal with their problems. adhd in women signs might also develop depression or suffer from mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can impact their school or work performance, and even their relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important dates or events, and becoming easily distracted by other aspects of the surroundings or in their thoughts. They may fidget or tap their feet or hands or squirm their seats. They may also talk loudly or yell, and they could be disruptive.
Women who are inattentive are prone to having difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions and juggling schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in the classroom or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It is often difficult for them to stick with tasks or commitments. They are more vulnerable to misplacing or losing things, 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 subtype can cause problems at home, work or in school. It can also trigger feelings of boredom, restlessness and frustration. They have a difficult waiting to be called upon at home, school or at work and are often disruptive to other people. They are not able to control their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult dealing with their issues than boys and men. This is largely due to the expectations of society, which demand that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and household. When a woman struggles to manage her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it harder for her to seek treatment.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed since their symptoms are not as pronounced as those of boys and men. 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. In addition, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD for women can change at different times in the woman's life. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can lead to being viewed as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive which can increase her feeling of anger.
This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. whereas gender is a subjective sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is important because it allows for better understanding of how and the ways that ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article, we refer to males and those who were assigned males at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females and those who were assigned female at conception as women and girls. This terminology is used in many research studies. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.