ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD experience emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women are generally more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school or during work meetings or while reading or listening to others talk. It can also be challenging to complete daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or remembering to take medication.
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 suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder may be struggling to organize their home or their work desk and have difficulty focusing on tasks according to CHADD. These difficulties can lead to being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or place or failing to finish their tasks. They can also cause them to feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their problems believing they're lazy or forgetful.
Inattention ADHD symptoms can make it hard to stay on top of obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they can be triggered by stress or other mental conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentional ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked 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 increase symptoms in adult women with ADHD. For instance, they could be more evident during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and anger.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration however, it cannot cure the condition. Other strategies, including lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in focusing and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to keep track of daily activities or take care of obligations. It can be difficult to remember important details especially when they take place in a noisy setting. You may also end up having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to school or work. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women suffering from ADHD and can cause financial stress and leave you feeling rushed. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or busy office, and you may be unable to concentrate during conversations. This could make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of violence from intimate partners. They are more likely than others to be overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also struggle with self-esteem and could be more likely to view their issues as "personal imperfections" instead of recognizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Women and girls with ADHD are also underdiagnosed because of gender bias as their symptoms are less noticeable than the symptoms of men and boys. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which could lead to a misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen rises. This can cause a greater range of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and manage ADHD.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you gain the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. add women can also try lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that might cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They can also improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional could 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 the majority of cases, women with ADHD have more irritable symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. It could be because the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of men and boys or it could have to do with how much activity is happening in the areas of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
This means it is often difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and may result in other health issues. Women, for instance are prone to drinking excessively or drugs to manage. They could also develop depression or other mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it difficult for people to notice that they are suffering from a disorder and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom that affects women and can affect school or work performance and relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a task, forgetting important events or tasks, and becoming easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their thoughts. They may fidget, shake their hands or feet or shake their hands. They can also talk out loud or yell. they can be interruptive.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive type of adhd might struggle with concentrating on lectures or conversations; keeping up with writing, reading, or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling their daily chores. They are often disorganized, messy, and forgetful and have a difficult time keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace items such as eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
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 work, at home, or school. It can also lead to feelings of restlessness, boredom and anger. They are not able to wait for their turn, whether at school, work, or home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They aren't able to control their behavior and are likely to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD might find it difficult to cope with their symptoms. This is due in part to the social expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This, in turn, could make it difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to be diagnosed as their symptoms are not as evident as those of men and boys. 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 also more likely to develop coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For example excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness can be mistaken as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD in women can also vary at different times throughout the woman's life. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstruation and pregnancy. This could cause her to be misunderstood or considered an emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones, and anatomical structure. gender is a subjective sense of what you're like as a man, a woman, or if nonbinary, an individual. This distinction is important because it allows for better understanding of the ways and the ways that ADHD manifests can vary between genders. For this reason, throughout this article we refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men as well as women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This is consistent with how many research studies employ this terminology. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide to sex and gender.