Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD suffer from low self-esteem. They struggle to meet societal expectations, and often internalize their discontent.
They also may suffer from emotional distress including sensitivity to rejection. They are more likely to engage dangerous behaviors.
ADHD symptoms can also vary during hormonal changes such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. This makes them more difficult to diagnose.
Signs and symptoms
Women may be unable to recognize their ADHD symptoms as they tend to conceal them. This could lead to an incorrect diagnosis, and the wrong treatment may cause more problems than they resolve. Women often report difficulties getting diagnosed particularly when they are adults. This could be due to the fact that diagnostic criteria are based on research conducted by males. Some experts are working on improving the criteria.
Signs of undiagnosed ADHD in women can be very similar to those in men. Many people with ADHD have difficulty concentrating and listening. They might forget important information or misplace things. They could spend long hours organizing their office or home space, but they are unable to keep track of it. They often get distracted easily by the noise or activities in the vicinity. People suffering from ADHD might have trouble relaxing and are often anxious about their own or others.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect women and girls in all aspects of their lives. They may be struggling at school or at work, and also have difficulties with their relationships with friends and romantic relationships. They can have low self-esteem and anxiety, and they might turn to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD can cause confusion and frustration in relationships between family members, friends and coworkers. Teachers and coaches might criticize them or feel unfairly treated at work. ADHD can cause problems in focusing and complete tasks on time.
Many people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD develop coping strategies over the years. They might work until the early morning hours to complete their workload or conceal from their loved ones their struggles. When they realize that their problems are a result of ADHD it's like a lightbulb moment. They can then understand how to overcome their challenges and leverage their strengths (like creativity and high levels of energy) to their advantage.
Having undiagnosed ADHD can have a long-term impact on the person's career, life, and relationships. It can lead to financial instability, social isolation, and even depression. People who are not diagnosed with ADHD develop an addiction to stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine. This can cause serious health issues, including stroke and heart disease.
Diagnosis
Women with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed than males because the symptoms are more difficult to detect. This may be due to the fact that women have a harder time talking to health professionals about their struggles and are more likely to resort to strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies could include changing behavior for example, like working more hours at work or at school to make up for their lack of focus, or using productivity tools to help them stay in control and on the right track with their projects. These coping methods might work in the short-term, but are often exhausting and not sustainable.
Many people are unaware that women they know might have ADHD due to gender stereotypes. Some symptoms may be more severe due to hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstruation or during pregnancy. This can result in women being viewed as being moody and emotional. This can further increase the angst of these women.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women include forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and an impulsive nature. They also tend to jump from one thing to another and have trouble maintaining relationships. Undiagnosed ADHD is more common among women. They are also more likely than other people to have coexisting conditions like depression or anxiety. These conditions may manifest symptoms that are similar to ADHD and could cause an incorrect diagnosis and treatment.
The overlapping symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to determine the condition. The symptoms of anxiety are feeling of anxiety, irritability, trouble concentrating and a constant feeling that something is not right. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD are not present in anxiety disorders.
A diagnosis by a doctor of undiagnosed ADHD could be life-changing for women. In a number of studies, women reported that their symptoms reduced after receiving a professional diagnosis. They stopped blaming their own struggles and began to see their challenges as something that they could manage.
It can take time to diagnose ADHD, but it is worth the waiting. Treatment of ADHD with medication and therapy can improve relationships, prepare women for success at work and school and help them gain greater insight into themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls often have different symptoms of ADHD than men, which can make it more difficult to receive an assessment and treatment. They may also be better in hiding their symptoms, which makes it harder to seek help or assistance. It can be difficult to remember appointments and complete assignments at work or school and also have issues in relationships. They may be more likely to be pushed into unintentional sexual behavior or become victims of intimate partner abuse because they aren't able to recognize and respond to their own feelings.
Early diagnosis and effective treatment can make a huge difference for these women. A study from 2020 showed that a missed diagnosis or a late diagnosis can have lasting negative impact on the emotional and social health of a woman and her ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. It can also affect her confidence in her life and self-esteem. Many of the women in these studies reported feeling a sense relief and a sense of self-confidence that increased after receiving a diagnosis and treatment for their ADHD.
This is particularly important, because research shows that women who are not diagnosed with ADHD have lower self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment than male peers. They are also more likely to blame their problems with attention, impulsivity and organization on societal or personal factors rather than on their ADHD.
There are a myriad of treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD in addition to medication. The most popular are cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical therapy. CBT helps identify and change negative thoughts, while DBT helps to teach mindfulness and self acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which blends aspects of these therapies with instruction in strategies to improve concentration and focus is a second alternative. This treatment is offered in individual or group sessions and is designed for adults with ADHD. *Note: In this article, the term "women", is used to refer to those who were assigned female at birth regardless of their gender identity. It also refers to people born male as "men" to be inclusive of all gender identities.
Support
Many people suffering from ADHD are in a state of confusion or fearful of their symptoms. Women are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed as a result of the ways ADHD manifests in women. This is due to societal pressures, hormonal changes, and other factors. This can result in inappropriate or ineffective treatment, and the increased likelihood of developing mood-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Contrary to men, who can suffer from impulsive and hyperactive symptoms more frequently, women tend to be better at hiding their symptoms at work or at school. They are able to get used to working late into the night, and rely on productivity apps to mask their inattention. These coping mechanisms can have a negative effect on self-esteem, and ultimately the quality of your life.
The process of diagnosing women with ADHD can be difficult and confusing. The standard ADHD criteria were created for men and may not accurately reflect all the symptoms that women suffer from. In the end, many women with undiagnosed ADHD are misdiagnosed with other illnesses, such as anxiety and depression.
Clara was no different. She was a smart, hardworking, and dedicated to her profession. She was unable to meet her deadlines and felt overwhelmed by the demands of her work. She viewed her failures as her own fault and felt like she wasn't adequate enough. Her confidence shattered was a result of undetected ADHD.
It was a moment of revelation when she was diagnosed as having adult ADHD. adhd symptoms in adult women realized that her issues weren't her own personal failings. She was able to stop viewing them as a sign of laziness and start to see her ADHD thread as a thread that can be tied into an authentic professional and personal life.
As women's ADHD becomes more widely known and recognized, it will become more important to include them in research and treatment initiatives. This is especially true in the areas of sex-specific treatments, as new research is focused on understanding how gender influences the disorder and developing medications that are suitable for women. Hopefully, this will lead to better diagnosis and treatment for women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD.