ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD often report symptoms of emotional volatility and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality of sleep, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Girls and women are typically better at concealing their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis as well as an inability to treat.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for many women with ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to others' conversations. It 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 house or desks and may struggle to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These problems can lead them to miss appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the right time, or fail to follow through on their work duties. These issues can cause them to feel bad about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their problems.
Inattentive ADHD can also lead to poor performance at school or at work and can also lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they can be triggered either by stress or other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents may be biased against boys and men, causing some women and girls to be underdiagnosed. 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 could be more apparent during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medication can enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD however it doesn't cure the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can aid in organizing and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can assist with these issues as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily chores and responsibilities difficult. You may struggle to remember important information about events or people particularly when they take place in a crowded or noisy environment. You may also find that you are often late for appointments or are late to work or school. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails, which can result in financial stress and an impression of urgency. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office. You may also get lost in conversations, causing the other person feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into unintentional sexual activity or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a more difficult to manage their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They might also have a problem with self-esteem, and may view their issues as a "personal flaw" rather than realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases, women and girls 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 can cause a misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
If you are diagnosed and treated, you can learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes, like eating a well-balanced diet and limiting caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to get worse. You can also try meditation and mindfulness techniques to help calm your mind, reduce restlessness and impulsiveness, and improve emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional could also be helpful, as they can talk about possible accommodations at school or at work that might assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of boys and men or it could have to do with the amount of activity is occurring in the areas of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
It can be difficult for doctors to identify ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are not sustainable and could cause other health problems. For instance, some women, turn to excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They might also develop depression or suffer from other mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it difficult for people to recognize they are suffering from a disorder and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can affect their work or school performance, or even their relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks and becoming easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their thoughts. They may fidget, shake their feet or hands, or make a squirming sound. They can also yell or speak loudly and may interrupt.
Women who are inattentive may have trouble in concentrating during lectures or discussions and juggling schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in classes or at work, and managing daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It can be difficult for them to follow through with commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to misplacing or losing 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 problems at home, work or at school. It can also cause feelings of irritability, boredom and anger. They have a hard waiting for their turn at school, at home or in the workplace and they frequently interrupt others. They tend to act recklessly and are not able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD may find it harder to manage their symptoms. This is due to social expectations that demand that mothers and wives be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. When adhd women uk with ADHD is unable to keep up with her responsibilities, she could feel anxious and stressed which can lead to low self-esteem. This, in turn, makes it more 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. Furthermore, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that mask their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the course of 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 thought of as being overly emotional.
This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. While gender refers to the internal feeling of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial because it allows for better understanding of how and the ways that ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we will refer to males as well as people who were assigned males at birth as males and boys. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned female at conception as girls and women. This terminology is used in a variety of research studies. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sexuality.