Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause various issues for women and girls. They may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with peer relationships and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They are also more adept at building coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms, which makes it harder for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects both men and boys at a higher rate than women and girls but the gap between genders narrows as people age. This is why it's vital that those suffering from ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or unloved when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women develop into adults, they typically still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing finances or keeping the house clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their self-esteem and mental health as they blame themselves for their problems.
adhd in adult women symptoms to other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Women and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope, but they often result in a negative effect. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual periods or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes may make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms usually include being impulsive or forgetful in the sense of losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during class or work and trouble with daily routines, such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the various ways women and girls present with ADHD and to think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their difficulties.
It is also essential that those with ADHD be assessed by a doctor or another qualified healthcare provider who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other medical conditions. Some people with ADHD have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and problems with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience physical health issues, such as tics or chronic stress.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they aren't taken seriously by family members, teachers or friends. They may not believe that their problems are a serious enough issue to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD or they do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and have major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood, and they 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 develop coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less noticed. This means that their problems with organisation, concentration and impulsivity could remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the signs. Moreover, they can have co-occurring conditions that impact their life management skills like anxiety and depression. They may be unable to control their emotions. This may be worsened by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
A lot of these issues could result in low self-esteem and relationships problems. It can be difficult for people with these conditions to talk about their problems and seek help. This can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and interacting with others. They might miss social engagements and fail to show on time for appointments, and fail to detect body language or read other people's nonverbal cues. They may even go off on tangents while talking, making it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as you can. It could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It will help them to understand their struggles and accept themselves better. It can also help women to recognize their strengths and to adopt steps to improve their life management skills. This could positively impact their work, family and personal lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the professional and personal lives of women and girls as they reach adulthood. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, resulting in anxiety and low self-esteem. They can make it difficult to manage adult demands, such as managing finances, keeping your home in order, or 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 lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which can result in women and girls avoiding or denying their own symptoms to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. The most popular choice is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants are also effective for some people. In addition, a combination of treatments might be recommended by your healthcare professional to address related conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Alongside medication lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other mood disorders that are common in people with ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an essential element of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients identify and change negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
We use the terms "girls", "women" and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to a person's gender identity. This is to provide clearer and more consistent terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for our readers. This article applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB), and to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD, are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have signs that aren't apparent to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization rather than the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who often come up with strategies to help them feel normal and meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms can include healthy things like setting phone reminders or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be harmful like binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. They may also have relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls with ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss, anxiety, depression or even somatic complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in being unable to attend school or work, as well as social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily chores. This could lead to an addiction and reliance that can be difficult to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent years. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or inability to utilize contraception. They are also more susceptible to being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and they are at higher risk for domestic violence and exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also get therapy either on their own or in a group. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. This will also help improve their relationships.
Support services could also include coaching for parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs, manage responsibilities at home and look after children.