Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often experience low self-esteem. They struggle to live up to the expectations of society and repress their anger.
They may also experience emotional stress, which can include the sensitivity to rejection. This can cause them to be more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
ADHD symptoms can also change during hormonal changes such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal changes. This makes it harder to determine.
Signs and symptoms
Women may have difficulty identifying their ADHD symptoms, since they are often masked. This can lead to an inaccurate diagnosis, and a misguided treatment could cause more issues than it solves. Women also have trouble being diagnosed, particularly when they reach adulthood. This can be because the diagnostic criteria are based on studies conducted on males. Certain experts are trying to improve these criteria.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women are typically similar to the symptoms of men. Many people with ADHD struggle with concentration and listening. They might forget important tasks or get lost items. They may spend hours organizing their work or home space, but not keep up. They often get distracted easily by noise or activities that are happening around them. People suffering from ADHD may have difficulty relaxing and worry excessively about their own or others.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect girls and women in all aspects of their lives. They may be struggling at work or school as well as having issues with their relationships with friends and romantic relationships. They may have low self-esteem or anxiety and turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD may result in frustration and miscommunications in relationships between family members, friends and coworkers. They could be judged by coaches and teachers, or feel they are being treated unfairly at work. Having ADHD can make it more difficult to concentrate on tasks and meet deadlines.
Many people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD develop strategies to cope with their problems over the years. They might work late into the night to get ahead of their work or hide their struggles from loved ones. When they discover that their challenges are because of ADHD, it is like a lightbulb moment. They can then leverage their strengths to overcome challenges (such as creativity and high levels of energy).
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a lasting impact on a person's life, career and relationships. It can lead to financial instability, social isolation, and even depression. Some people with ADHD who aren't diagnosed, develop an addiction to stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine. This can lead to serious health problems, including stroke and heart disease.
Diagnosis
Women with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed than men, as the symptoms are harder to detect. This could be because women are less likely to disclose to health professionals what they're going through and more likely to use methods of coping to mask their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could require changing behaviors and habits, for example, putting in additional hours at work or school to compensate for their inability on the subject or using productivity tools to keep them organized and on track with projects. These coping mechanisms may work in short periods of duration, but they are exhausting and do not last long.
Many people are unaware of the fact that a woman they know could be suffering from ADHD because of gender stereotypes. add in adult women can be worsened by hormonal changes such as those that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause. This could result in women being dismissed or viewed as moody and emotionally tense. This adds to the anger of these women.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women include forgetfulness, difficulties in concentrating and impulsivity. They also tend to jump from one thing to the next and have difficulties maintaining relationships. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD are also more likely to experience co-existing conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Symptoms of these conditions could be confused with symptoms of ADHD and may result in an incorrect diagnosis and treatment.
The overlapping symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to diagnose the condition. The symptoms of anxiety include feeling of anxiety, irritability, trouble concentration and a constant feeling that something is wrong. Anxiety disorders don't have the impulsivity or inattention that are characteristic of ADHD.
A diagnosis by a doctor of undiagnosed ADHD could be life-changing for women. In a number of studies, women reported that their symptoms decreased after receiving an expert diagnosis. The fact that they had an external explanation for their struggles helped them stop blaming themselves and start viewing their own challenges as something they can control.
Finding a diagnosis of ADHD takes time but the rewards are amazing. Treatment of ADHD through psychotherapy and medication can improve relationships, help women achieve at school and work and help them gain a better understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls typically suffer from different symptoms of ADHD than men, which can make it harder to obtain diagnosis and treatment. They are also more adept in masked symptoms, which makes it harder to find help or support. It can be difficult to remember appointments, complete tasks at school or work and may have issues with relationships. They may also be more at risk of being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or being the victim of violence from their intimate partners because they have trouble recognizing and resolving to their own emotions.
Early diagnosis and a successful treatment can make a significant difference for these women. A 2020 study found that a late or missed diagnosis can have long-lasting negative effects on a woman's emotional well-being as well as her ability to build and maintain relationships. It can also impact her sense of control over her life and self-worth. Many women who participated in these studies reported feeling a sense of relief and self-confidence boosting after receiving a diagnosis and treatment for their ADHD.
It is important to know that research has shown that women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD are less confident and less likely to seek help than their male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their problems with attention, impulsivity and organization on societal or personal factors instead of on their ADHD.
Aside from medications, there is many treatment options available for adults with ADHD. The most common are cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. CBT helps people recognize and alter negative behavior and thoughts, whereas DBT provides skills to improve mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive Psychotherapy, which blends elements of these therapies as well as training in strategies to improve focus and concentration is another option. This treatment is available in group or individual sessions and is designed for adults suffering from ADHD. Note: This article employs the term "women" to refer to females who were assigned at birth, regardless of their affirmed gender identity. Also, it refers to people born male as "men" to be inclusive of all gender identities.
Support
Many people suffering from ADHD are afflicted with a sense of guilt or confusion over their symptoms. Because societal pressures and hormonal changes significantly influence the way ADHD presents in women, it's not uncommon for women to be overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed. This can lead both to inadequate or ineffective treatment, as well as an increased likelihood of mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
Women are better at hiding their symptoms than men, who tend to be more impulsive or hyperactive. They can be taught to work late into the night and utilize productivity apps to mask their inattention. The problem is, these coping mechanisms take their toll on self-esteem and ultimately affect the quality of life.
Even when women suffering from ADHD seek help, the diagnostic process can be a bit confusing and difficult. Traditional ADHD criteria were developed for males, and therefore they do not accurately reflect the full range of symptoms that women suffer from. Many women who suffer from undiagnosed ADHD have been misdiagnosed as having other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Clara was not an exception. Clara was smart, hardworking and committed to her work. However she was unable to meet deadlines and felt overwhelmed by the demands of her job. She believed that her failings were her fault and that she wasn't good enough. Her shattered confidence was a direct result of undiagnosed ADHD.
When she was diagnosed with adult ADHD, it was a shock. Clara realized that her issues were not the result of her own faults. She could stop looking at them as a sign of laziness and start to consider her ADHD thread as a thread that could be woven in to an effective professional and personal life.
As awareness of the differences in the ways ADHD manifests in women increases, the need to promote inclusion within research and treatment programs will become more important. This is especially relevant in the field of sex-specific treatment, as new research focuses on understanding how gender influences the disorder and identifying a medication that works well for women. We hope that this leads to a better treatment and diagnosis for women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD.