ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are generally better at masking their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for many women with ADHD. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to stay on task at school, during work meetings, or even when listening to others ' conversations. It can also be challenging to complete everyday 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. According to CHADD women who suffer from the inattentive version of the disorder might have difficulty organizing their home and desk. They may be unable to prioritize tasks. These problems can cause them to miss appointments, show up in the wrong place at the right time or fail to keep up on their work duties. These issues can cause them to feel embarrassed about themselves and they could blame themselves for their troubles.
Inattentive ADHD can also lead to poor performance at work or in school and can lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
women and adhd and girls with inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of biases that parents and teachers 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.
For women who are adults with ADHD symptoms, they can be caused by hormonal changes. They may be more apparent during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods which is the period leading up to a woman's menopause which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems like mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to boost their concentration however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with focus and organization. Some workplaces and schools offer accommodations to help with these issues, too.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to stay on top of daily activities or take care of responsibilities. It may be difficult to remember important details especially when they take place in a noisy area. You might also find yourself not remembering appointments or being late to school or work. Inability to pay bills or reply to emails is common among women with ADHD and can cause financial stress and make you feel stressed. You might have trouble working in a noisy or loud office and often zone out during conversations, causing the other person to feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to feel overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also have a problem with their self-esteem, and may view their problems as an "personal fault" 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 progesterone drops and estrogen increases. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to identify and treat ADHD.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like caffeine, sugar and drinks with sugar that could worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce restlessness and impulsiveness. They also aid in improving the regulation of emotions. Talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial, since they can talk about possible accommodations at work or at school that can aid in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to experience more inattentive than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the volume of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others are not long-lasting and could lead to other health issues. For example some women resort to excessive alcohol or drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or suffer from other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize they are suffering from a condition and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom for women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their minds. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm their seats. They may also speak out loud or yell, and they may be disruptive.
Women who have the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty staying focused during lectures or conversations and juggling schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following directions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It can be difficult for them to follow through with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like 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 home, work, or school. It can also cause feelings of irritability, boredom and frustration. They are not able to wait for their turn in school, work, or home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They tend to be reckless and are not able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD may have a harder time coping with their symptoms than boys and men. This is due in part to societal expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman struggles to fulfill her obligations and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This in turn could make it difficult to seek treatment for her ADHD.
Women with ADHD are not often recognized as easily as boys or men 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. In addition, they are more likely to develop coping strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which can be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can also differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. Women can experience ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This could cause her to be misunderstood or dismissed as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive.
This article is based upon research on how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structures, whereas gender is a subjective sense of who you are as a man, woman, or if nonbinary, an individual. This distinction is important as it helps us comprehend the ways and reasons ADHD can manifest differently in women and men. In this article, we refer to males as well as people who were assigned male at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. For more details, refer to the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.