ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. add in adult women can also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are generally better at concealing their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis as well as an inability to treat.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for many women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school, during meetings at work or while reading or listening to others' conversations. It can also be difficult to get through everyday tasks like 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 who suffer from the inattentive type of the condition can have difficulty organizing their home and their desk. They may also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These problems can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location, or failing to complete their work tasks. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they could 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. They are often caused by stress or other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Women and girls with inattentional ADHD are not diagnosed or recognized because of the biases 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.
Hormonal changes can also exacerbate symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. For example, they can become more noticeable during menstrual cycles or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and irritability.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medications to boost their concentration, but it will not treat the condition. Other strategies, such as lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with focus and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily chores and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important details about people or events particularly when they occur in a crowded or noisy environment. You might also notice that you are often late for appointments or run late for school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can lead to financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or noisy office. You may also get lost in conversations, leaving the other person feeling disregarded or untruthful.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into unwanted sexual behavior or becoming intimate partner violence victims. This is because they have a difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also struggle with their self-esteem and may be more inclined to see their problems as "personal flaws" instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Girl and women who suffer from ADHD are also not diagnosed due to gender bias because their symptoms are less noticeable than the symptoms of men and boys. They may be more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming mood disorders or anxiety and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you gain the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that might cause symptoms to get worse. You can also try mindfulness and meditation techniques to calm your mind, reduce the impulsiveness and anxiety and improve your emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that may help you manage ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be due to the fact that the female and female brains differ from those of men and boys or it could be to do with how much activity is occurring in the areas of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to identify ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are unsustainable and can result in other health issues. Some women, for example, turn to excessive alcohol and drugs to cope. They may also be depressed or suffer from mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for someone to recognize an issue with their mental health and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom for women that can affect school or work performance and relationships. This includes being in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a particular task, ignoring important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the surroundings or their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their feet or hands or squirm their seats. They can also yell or talk loudly, and can interrupt.
Women who have the most inattentional subtype of adhd can struggle with concentrating on lectures or conversations; keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling daily tasks. They can be disorganized, messy, and forgetful and have a difficult time keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose 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 disorder can cause problems at work, at home, and in schools, and can cause feelings of restlessness or boredom. They can't wait for their turn, whether at school, at work, or at home. They also interrupt others frequently. They aren't able to manage their behavior and tend to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD might find it difficult to cope with their symptoms. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman suffering from ADHD is unable to keep up with her obligations, she may feel anxious and stressed which can lead to low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek help.
In addition, women with 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. In addition, they are more likely to develop coping strategies to disguise 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 can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This could cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or considered being emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. whereas gender refers to the internal feeling of being a male, female or a nonbinary. This distinction is important as it helps us comprehend the reasons behind why ADHD manifests differently in women and men. In this article, we will refer to males and people who were assigned male 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 the way many research studies use this terminology. For more information, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sexuality.