ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity towards rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can cause more symptoms.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms more effectively than men, using strategies to cope with social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work or while reading or listening to other people talk. It can be difficult to accomplish everyday tasks such as keeping track of appointments or taking 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. Women with the inattentive form of the disorder may struggle to organize their house or desk and find it difficult to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These issues can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or place or failing to finish their work duties. These issues can cause them to feel embarrassed about themselves and they may blame themselves for their troubles.
Attention-deficit ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or in school and can also lead to the accumulation of debt. They are often triggered by stress or other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression that are often associated with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked 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.
For adult women who suffer from ADHD symptoms, they may be worsened due to hormonal changes. For example, they can become more noticeable during menstrual cycles or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medications can help enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help with organization and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. You may have difficulty remembering important details about people or events particularly when they take place in a noisy or busy environment. You may also end up forgetting appointments or running late to work or school. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or responding to emails, which can lead to financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a busy or noisy workplace and frequently get lost in conversations, leaving others feeling disregarded or untruthful.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also struggle with self-esteem, and may be more likely to interpret their difficulties as "personal flaws" instead of recognizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They may be more likely to conceal their symptoms with mood or anxiety issues which could lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when progesterone levels drop and estrogen increases. This can lead to a greater variance in symptoms from day to day, which can make it more difficult to identify and manage ADHD effectively.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you gain the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, for example, eating a well-balanced diet and limiting sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to get worse. It is also possible to practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to relax your mind, decrease restlessness and impulsiveness, and improve emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial, since they can talk about possible accommodations at work or at school to help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD are more sluggish than hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than boys and men. Or it could be due to the level of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
In the end, it is often difficult for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others are not long-lasting and could lead to other health issues. Some women, for example use excessive alcohol and other drugs to deal with their problems. They may also be depressed or have other mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have an issue with their mental health and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can impact their work or school performance, and even their relationships. They can be a problem when they are incapable of staying focused on a specific task, forgetting important tasks or events, and easily getting distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They may fidget, shake their hands or feet or squirm. They may also yell or speak loudly and may interrupt.
inattentive add in women with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd may have trouble concentrating on conversations or lectures; keeping up with writing, reading, or schoolwork; following instructions at the workplace or in class and juggling daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It is often difficult to keep up with tasks or commitments. They are more prone to misplacing or losing things such as 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 adhd can cause issues at work, home or in school. It can also trigger feelings of irritability, boredom, and frustration. They have a hard waiting for their turn at school, home or in the workplace and are often disruptive to other people. They are prone to act recklessly and are not able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD can have a harder time coping with their symptoms than men and boys. This is due in part to the expectations of society that require women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman with ADHD is unable to fulfill her obligations, she may experience heightened feelings of anxiety that lead to low self-esteem. This in turn can make it harder to seek treatment for her ADHD.
Women with ADHD are not often diagnosed as easily as males or females because their symptoms don't appear as obvious. 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 and forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change throughout a woman's lifetime. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstruation and pregnancy. This could cause her to be misunderstood or thought of as an emotionally overly sensitive.
This article is based upon research on how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. whereas gender refers to an internal sense of being a male, female or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it allows us to better understand the ways and reasons ADHD can manifest differently in women and men. In this article, we refer to males and those who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned female at conception as females and girls. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. For more information, read the guide to sex and gender by Verywell Health.