ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD experience emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor sleep quality which can cause more symptoms.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than males by employing coping strategies to meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD focus is the most difficult thing to do. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work, or when reading and listening to others talk. It can also be challenging to complete 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. Women with the inattentive form of the condition may struggle to organize their house or work desk and have difficulty focusing on tasks according to CHADD. These problems can result in being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or location or failing to finish their tasks. These problems can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work, and debt accumulation. They can be caused by stress or other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety that often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Women and girls with inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of biases that teachers and parents might 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 of adult age with ADHD, symptoms can also be exacerbated due to hormonal changes. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods that is the time leading up to the menopausal phase of a woman which is when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues like mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medications can help enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD However, it can't treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or to manage your obligations. You may find it difficult to remember important information, especially if they occur in a noisy area. You might also find that you are often late for appointments or are late for school or work. Not being able to pay your bills or reply to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD that can lead to financial stress and make you feel rushed. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or busy office, and you might get lost in conversations. This could cause the other person to feel unimportant or confused.
Many girls and women with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is due to the fact that they have a difficult to manage their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They may also be struggling with their self-esteem, and they might view their problems as an "personal flaw" instead of realizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Girl and women who suffer from ADHD are also not diagnosed because of gender bias because their symptoms are less evident than those of boys and men. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which can result in a misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.
ADHD symptoms can differ based on hormone fluctuations. This is especially true during puberty, when hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels rise. This can lead to a greater variance in symptoms throughout the day, which can make it more difficult to diagnose and manage ADHD effectively.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can calm your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial, since they can talk about possible accommodations at school or at work that can aid in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women who suffer from ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. This could be due to the fact that girls and women have different brains than males and females. It could also be due to the volume of brain activity areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others are not sustainable and could cause other health issues. Women, for instance use excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They may also be depressed or suffer from other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it harder for someone to notice that they are suffering from a condition and may delay a correct diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. These include being incapable of staying focused on a specific task, or forgetting important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seats. They may also speak out loud or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women with the inattentive subtype can have difficulty concentrating during lectures or conversations or completing schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following directions in the classroom or at work, and managing daily tasks. They may be disorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be difficult for them to stick with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like glasses, wallets, keys and even wallets.
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, home, or school. It can also lead to feelings of boredom, restlessness and anger. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at home, school, or in the workplace and they frequently interrupt other people. They tend to act recklessly and are not able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD may have a harder time to manage their symptoms. This is due to the expectations of society that require women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman with ADHD struggles to manage her responsibilities, she can feel anxious and stressed which can lead to low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
Women with ADHD are often not diagnosed as easily as males or females because their symptoms don't appear as prominent. 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 coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, that could be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can vary at different times throughout the woman's life. Women can experience ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstruation and pregnancy. This could cause her to be misunderstood, or dismissed as being excessively emotional.
This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to an internal sense of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it helps us comprehend how and why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article, we will refer to males and those who were assigned male at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females and those who were assigned female at conception as females and girls. This is in line with the way many research studies employ this terminology. For high functioning adhd in women , read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.