ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor sleep quality which can cause more symptoms.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms more effectively than men and employ strategies to manage their stress and meet the social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. women and adhd focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD focus is the most difficult thing to do. adhd in women treatment of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it difficult to concentrate at school, at meetings at work, or even when listening to other people's conversations. It can also be difficult to complete everyday tasks, such as 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. According to CHADD women who suffer from the inattentive type of the disorder might have difficulty organizing their home and desk. They may also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize their tasks. These difficulties could cause them to skip appointments, show up at the wrong place at the right time or fail to follow through on their work duties. They can also cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their troubles believing they are incompetent or forgetful.
Inattentional ADHD can also lead to poor performance at work or in school, and the accumulation of debt. They can be caused by stress or other mental health issues like anxiety and depression that are often associated with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Some girls and women with inattentional ADHD are not diagnosed or recognized due to the prejudices that teachers and parents might 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. For example, they can be more evident during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause, which is the time before menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems which include mood swings as well as irritability.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to improve their focus but it won't treat the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also help with focus and organization. Some workplaces and school have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or manage obligations. You may find it difficult to keep track of important details particularly when they happen in a noisy area. You may also find that you are often late for appointments or are late for work and school. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can lead to financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or busy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This could make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a more difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They could also be struggling with their self-esteem, and may view their difficulties as an "personal fault" instead of realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and boys. They might be more likely to camouflage their symptoms by claiming mood or anxiety issues and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
ADHD symptoms can be different based on hormone fluctuations. This is especially true during puberty, when hormone levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can lead to a wider variety of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks that could worsen symptoms. You can also practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to help calm your mind, decrease restlessness and impulsiveness, and improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to help you by discussing possible accommodations that could assist you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. That may be because the female and female brains differ from the brains of boys and men, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is taking place in the areas of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
In the end, it is often difficult for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. undiagnosed adhd in women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could cause other health problems. Some women, for example, turn to excessive alcohol and drugs to cope. They may also become depressed or suffer from mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have mental health issues and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom that affects women and can affect work or school performance and relationships. They often include not staying focused on a task, ignoring important events or tasks and being easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their minds. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet 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 staying focused during lectures or conversations, keeping up with schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and managing daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It can be challenging to keep up with tasks or commitments. They are more vulnerable to losing or misplacing items, 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 type of disorder can cause trouble at work, at home, as well as at school, and can cause feelings of restlessness and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They can't wait for their turn, whether at school, work, or home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are unable to control their behavior and tend to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls who have ADHD may have a harder time to cope with their symptoms. This is partly due to societal expectations that insist that mothers and women be the primary caregivers of their children and their household. If a woman with ADHD is unable to keep up with her responsibilities, she can be afflicted with anxiety and stress that can cause low self-esteem. This, in turn, could make it difficult to seek treatment for her ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often not diagnosed as easily as men or boys because their symptoms don't seem to be as apparent. 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. They are more likely to develop coping mechanisms that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For instance, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change over the woman's life. For instance, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, a woman may find her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This could result in being dismissed or misinterpreted as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive, which adds to her feeling of anger.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. whereas gender refers to an internal sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial because it enables a better understanding of how and the ways that ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we will refer to males and people who were assigned male at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as women and girls. This is in line with how numerous research studies employ this terminology. To find out more, check out the Verywell Health guide to sex and gender.