ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
weblink and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than men, using strategies to manage their stress and meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD concentration is the most challenging thing. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to remain focused at school, during meetings at work, or even when reading and listening to other people's conversations. It can also be difficult to get through daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or remembering to take your medication.
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 suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder might have trouble organizing their home or their desks and may struggle to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These difficulties can lead them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the right time or not follow through on their job responsibilities. They may cause them to feel embarrassed and blame themselves for their troubles, thinking they're lazy or forgetful.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to manage obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they are often triggered by stress or other mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Some girls and women with inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked due to the prejudices that teachers and parents 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. They can be more evident during menstruation or perimenopause, the run-up to a woman's menopause which is when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues like mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medication can increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD however it doesn't cure the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or manage responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important details about events or people particularly when they take place in a noisy or busy environment. You might also notice that you frequently forget appointments or are late for work and school. Forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails is common in women with ADHD, which can create financial stress and leave you feeling rushed. You might have trouble working in a noisy or crowded office, and you may be unable to concentrate during conversations. This can cause the other person to feel unimportant or confused.
Many women and girls who have ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to feel overwhelmed because they are unable to manage their emotions. They may also have issues with self-esteem and could be more likely to view their issues as "personal flaws" instead of acknowledging that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are also underdiagnosed due to gender bias, as their symptoms are less evident than those of boys and men. They may be more likely to conceal their symptoms as mood or anxiety issues which could lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when estrogen drops and progesterone increases. This can cause a greater variety of symptoms, making it harder to identify and treat ADHD.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like sugar, caffeine and drinks with sugar that could worsen symptoms. It is also possible to practice mindfulness and meditation techniques to calm your mind, reduce the impulsiveness and anxiety and improve your emotional regulation. A mental health professional might be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that may help you manage ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of men and boys, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is taking place in the areas of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
It can be difficult for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others are unsustainable and can cause other health problems. Some women, for example, turn to excessive alcohol and other drugs to deal with their problems. They may also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize mental health issues and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom that affects women and can affect school or work performance and relationships. They often include not staying focused on a task, forgetting important events or tasks, and becoming easily distracted by other aspects of the environment or in their thoughts. They may fidget, shake their feet or hands or shake their hands. They can also talk out loudly or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd might struggle to concentrate on lectures or conversations as well as keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at school or at work; and juggling their daily chores. They might be unorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be difficult for them to stick with commitments or tasks. 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 at school. It can also cause feelings of restlessness, boredom and anger. They can't wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are not able to manage their behavior and tend to be reckless.
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. If a woman with ADHD struggles to fulfill her responsibilities, she can feel anxious and stressed that can cause low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek help.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not diagnosed as easily as men or boys because their symptoms do not 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. In addition, they are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change over the course of the woman's life. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles or pregnancy, a woman may notice her ADHD symptoms to be exacerbated. This can result in being dismissed or misinterpreted as a terribly emotional woman, which adds to her sense of frustration.
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: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. While gender is a subjective sense of being a woman, man, or nonbinary person. This distinction is important because it allows us to better know how and 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 males. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as women and girls. This is consistent with how many research studies employ this term. For more details, refer to the guide on sex and gender by Verywell Health.