Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their daily lives. They may feel incompetent at work, have difficulty in relationships with peers or experience depression and anxiety.
They also do better at developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
Although research has proven that
adhd in adults women affects both men and boys more often than girls and women however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people get older. It's important that adults with ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or forgotten.
As girls and women grow into adulthood They continue to struggle with
adhd test for women symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their self-esteem and mental health, as they blame themselves for their issues.
ADHD is a chronic illness, unlike some other psychiatric disorders. Women and girls tend to mask their symptoms with strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as the inability to remember things or being oblivious, having trouble paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulty with daily routines like meal planning, scheduling, or laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's crucial that healthcare providers are aware of the many ways women and girls can be diagnosed with ADHD and also consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression can be a contributing factor to these issues.
It's important that people with ADHD are examined by a certified healthcare provider. They can evaluate their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other illnesses. Certain people with ADHD also have mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression or low self-esteem, as well as difficulties in social interactions and relationships. It's also normal for adults with ADHD to have other health issues that are co-occurring such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They might not think their problems are serious enough problem to seek assistance or they might believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, among other external factors. Some girls and women are diagnosed with
adhd diagnosis in adult women only when their children are treated for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or their 50s and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They may also face challenges if it is discovered. 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 may develop coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms and make them less well-known. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity may remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the signs. Moreover, they can have co-occurring illnesses that affect their ability to manage their life like anxiety and depression. They may find it difficult to control their emotions. This can be exacerbated because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A variety of these issues can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. This means it isn't easy for them to speak up about their challenges and seek help. This can lead to delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and engaging with others. They may miss social events and fail to show up for appointments and can't detect body language or read other people's nonverbal signals. They could even wander off on tangents when talking, making it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It's important that you get a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as you can. It could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It also allows to identify their strengths and make steps to improve their life management skills. This can have a positive effect on their personal, professional and family lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their professional and personal lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. They can also make it difficult for people to manage adult demands like managing finances and keeping your home in order 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 can result in stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Women and girls might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by the society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatments available for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed health professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The most popular choice is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants may also be effective for certain individuals. Your doctor might suggest a combination therapy to treat related conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus and reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) rather than an individual's affirmation of gender identity. This is to provide the use of a more consistent and clear terms across our content and to make it easier for our readers. This article applies to all people who were assigned male at birth, which includes transgender and nonbinary people. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to identify. There are also signs that aren't evident to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is particularly important for women, who frequently create coping mechanisms to make them feel comfortable and meet societal expectations. These coping strategies could include healthy actions like making phone reminders or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be unhealthy like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls who suffer from ADHD face can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in avoiding school, work or social activities. They may also be more reliant on their parents to help with everyday tasks. This can create an addiction and reliance that is hard to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from
Adhd and depression In women are at a higher risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or a failure to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and they can be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also get therapy, individually or in a group. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services could also include specialized programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD, as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD to keep their jobs, manage their responsibilities at home and take care of their children.