ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD frequently experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia or poor quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than males, using coping strategies to meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For many women with ADHD, focusing is the most challenging thing. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to remain focused at school, in meetings at work, or even when listening to others ' conversations. It can be difficult to complete daily tasks like 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 who suffer from the inattentive version of the condition may struggle to organize their house or work desk and find it difficult to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These problems can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or at the wrong place or failing to finish their work tasks. They can cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their shortcomings, thinking they are lazy or forgetful.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to keep track of the demands of life, resulting in poor work or school performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered either by stress or other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents may be biased towards males and girls, leading to some girls and women to be overlooked. 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 cause symptoms in adult women with ADHD. They may be more apparent during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle which is the period leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems like mood swings or irritation.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration but it won't cure the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have 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, especially if they occur in a noisy setting. You may also end up having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to work or school. Women with ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or responding to emails, which could lead to financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or crowded office, and you may zone out during conversations. This can make the other person feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of intimate partner violence. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They may also struggle with self-esteem and could be more inclined to see their problems as "personal imperfections" instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Females and females with ADHD are also often overlooked because of gender bias since their symptoms are more obvious than those of males and females. They are more likely to camouflage their symptoms by claiming mood or anxiety issues and this can lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when progesterone drops and estrogen rises. This can lead to a greater variation in symptoms throughout the day, which makes it difficult to identify and manage ADHD correctly.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you gain how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to get worse. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional may be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that could aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the volume of brain activity areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others are not sustainable and could cause other health issues. For instance, some women, turn to excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They might also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. adhd in women treatment coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom that affects women and can impact school or work performance and relationships. This includes being unable to stay focused on a particular task, ignoring important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They may fidget, tap their hands or feet or make a squirming sound. They may also yell or speak loudly and can interrupt.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive type of adhd may struggle to concentrate on their lectures or conversations as well as keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at school or at work; and managing daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It is often difficult for them to follow through with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or lose items 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 home, at work as well as at school, and can cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They have a tough waiting to be called upon at school, at home or at work and they frequently interrupt others. They are not able to manage their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD can have a harder to manage their symptoms than boys and men. This is due to societal expectations that insist that women and mothers are the primary caregivers for their children and their household. When a woman with ADHD is unable to fulfill her responsibilities, she can be afflicted with anxiety and stress that can cause low self-esteem. This in turn could make it difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not diagnosed as readily 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. Additionally they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that cover up their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADHD in women can differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, like menstruation or pregnancy, a woman could discover her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This can lead her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or thought of as being overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research into how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. While gender refers to an internal sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial because it allows for a better understanding of how and the ways ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article, we are referring to males and people who were assigned male at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned females at conception as women and girls. This is in line with how numerous research studies employ this term. For more information, read the guide on sex and gender by Verywell Health.