ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional volatility and an sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which could cause symptoms to get worse.
Girls and women often hide their ADHD symptoms better than men and employ strategies to manage their stress and meet the social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis as well as an inability to treat.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women with ADHD concentration is the most difficult thing to do. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to remain focused at school, in meetings at work, or even when listening to other people's conversations. adhd in adult women treatment can be difficult to accomplish daily tasks, such as remembering appointments or taking 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 might have trouble organizing their home or their desk and struggle to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These difficulties can lead them to miss appointments, show up at the wrong place at the correct time or not follow through on their tasks. These difficulties can make them feel embarrassed about themselves and they could blame themselves for their troubles.
Inattentional ADHD can also lead to poor performance at work or in school and can lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD, they can be triggered either by stress or other mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Some girls and women with inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of the biases teachers and parents may have towards men and boys. 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.
For adult women who suffer from ADHD symptoms, they may be worsened by hormonal changes. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods, the run-up to a woman's menopause, when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from stimulant medications to boost their concentration, but it will not solve the problem. Other strategies, including lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can aid in organizing and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations that can help with these issues as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or to manage your obligations. You may struggle to remember important information about people or events particularly when they occur in a crowded or noisy environment. You may also find that you often forget appointments or get late to work or school. Women with ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or responding to emails, which could lead to financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or busy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This can make someone else feel unimportant or confused.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They are also at risk of being forced into unwanted sexual behavior or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is due to the fact that they have a difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They could also have a problem with their self-esteem, and may view their problems as something that is a "personal flaw" 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 often overlooked because their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They could disguise symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders, which could lead to a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
ADHD symptoms can differ based on fluctuations in hormones. This is particularly the case during puberty when estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can result in more frequent change in symptoms throughout the day, which can make it harder to diagnose and manage ADHD properly.
Diagnosed and treated, you can learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that might cause symptoms to get worse. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional may be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that could aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at school or at work.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females with ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. That may be because the brains of girls and women differ from the brains of men and boys, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is happening in the regions 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 disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others are unsustainable and can result in other health issues. Women, for instance are prone to drinking excessively and other drugs to deal with their problems. They might also develop depression or suffer from other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can impact their academic or work performance, and even their relationships. This includes being in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a particular task, or forgetting important tasks or events, and easily getting distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They may fidget, tap their hands or feet, or shake their hands. They may also yell or talk loudly, and may interrupt.
Women with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd may struggle to concentrate on their lectures or conversations; keeping up with reading, writing, or schoolwork; following instructions at the workplace or in class and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It can be challenging for them to stick with tasks or commitments. They are more prone to losing or misplacing items like 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 adhd can cause issues at home, at work, and in schools, and can cause feelings of restlessness and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at school, home or at work and often interrupt other people. They tend to act recklessly and are not able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult to manage their symptoms than boys and men. This is partly due to societal expectations that insist that mothers and women be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. If a woman with ADHD is unable to fulfill her responsibilities, she can be afflicted with anxiety and stress that lead to low self-esteem. This, in turn, can make it harder to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed since their symptoms are not as prominent 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 mechanisms which mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change over the course of the life of a woman. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstruation or pregnancy, a woman may find her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This can result in being dismissed or misinterpreted as an overly emotional woman which can increase her feeling of anger.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to an internal sense of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial because it helps us to better comprehend the reasons behind why ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. In this article, we will refer to males as well as people who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned female at conception as women and girls. This is in line with how numerous research studies employ this terminology. For more information, check out the guide to sex and gender by Verywell Health.