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 may cause the symptoms to become worse.
Women and girls are often more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women suffering from ADHD focus is the biggest challenge. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work, or when reading and listening to others talk. 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 with the inattentive form of the disorder may struggle with organizing their homes and desk. They may be unable to prioritize tasks. These difficulties can lead them to miss appointments, show up at the wrong place at the correct time or fail to follow through on their work duties. These issues can cause them to feel bad about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance and the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated due to the prejudices that teachers and parents may have toward boys and men. 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 for women who suffer from ADHD. For instance, they may be more apparent during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and cause emotional problems, including mood swings and irritation.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to improve their focus however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help in focusing and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It may be difficult to remember important information particularly when they happen in a noisy environment. You may also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Not being able to pay your bills or reply to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD that can lead to financial stress and make you feel overwhelmed. You may have difficulty working in a busy or noisy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This can make the other person feel unimportant or confused.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They also run the risk of being forced into inappropriate sexual behaviour or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also have issues with their self-esteem and may be more likely to view their difficulties as "personal imperfections" instead of recognizing the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Females and females with ADHD are also often overlooked due to gender bias, because their symptoms are less evident than those of males and females. They are more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming mood disorders or anxiety which could lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations and, particularly during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen increases. This can result in a wider variety of symptoms, making it more difficult to diagnose and manage ADHD.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you gain how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and drinks with sugar which can aggravate symptoms. You can also practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to relax your mind, decrease the impulsiveness and anxiety and improve your emotional control. Talking to a mental health professional could be beneficial, as they can discuss possible accommodations at work or at school to help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. That may be because the female and female brains differ from those of men and boys or it could be to do with how much activity is taking place in the regions of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
It can be challenging for doctors to identify ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not long-lasting and could lead to other health problems. For instance women may turn to drinking or using drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or suffer from other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping mechanisms can make it more difficult for someone to recognize that they are suffering from a condition and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom that affects women and can affect work or school performance and relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their minds. They may fidget, tap their feet or hands or shake their hands. They may also shout or speak loudly, and may interrupt.
Women with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd might have trouble concentrating on their lectures or conversations as well as keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; adhering to instructions at school or at work; and managing daily tasks. They may be unorganized and messy and find it difficult to keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things such as glasses, wallets, keys and even wallets.
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, work or in school. It can also lead to feelings of irritability, boredom, and frustration. add adult women are not able to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or home. They also interrupt others frequently. They tend to be reckless and aren't able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD may have a harder to manage their symptoms than boys and men. This is due to the social expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman struggles to fulfill her obligations this can cause 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 often have difficulty getting diagnosed because their symptoms aren't as evident as those of boys and men. 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 example, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD for women can differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This could cause her to be misunderstood, or thought of as being overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a man, woman or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it helps us comprehend how and why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article, we will refer to males and those who were assigned males at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned females at conception as girls and women. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. For more information, read Verywell Health's guide on sex and gender.