ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity towards rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality sleep which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women are typically more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis as well as a delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD concentration is the most difficult thing to do. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school or during work meetings or while reading or listening to others talk. It can be challenging to complete 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. According to More hints , women with the inattentive type of the condition can struggle to organize their home and their desk. They may also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These problems can result in being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or location or not completing their tasks. They can cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems, thinking they are incompetent or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can also make it difficult to keep track of obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms are often triggered by stress or other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Some girls and women with inattentive ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of biases that parents and teachers 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.
Hormonal changes can also exacerbate symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. They can be more evident during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle that is the time leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems like mood swings or irritation.
Stimulant medications can help increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD however it doesn't treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help in focusing and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues as well.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or to manage your the responsibilities. It may be difficult to remember important details particularly when they happen in a noisy area. You may also find yourself not remembering appointments or being late to work or school. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails, which could result in financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or busy office, and may get lost in conversations. This can make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to feel overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also struggle with their self-esteem and may be more likely to interpret their difficulties as "personal flaws" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases 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 camouflage their symptoms as mood or anxiety issues which could lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations and, particularly during puberty when progesterone drops and estrogen rises. This can cause greater variation in symptoms from day to day which makes it difficult to identify and treat ADHD correctly.
When diagnosed and treated, you can learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can calm your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They can also improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional could be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that could aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience less attentive than those with hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be because girls and women have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that control impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be difficult for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others are not sustainable and could cause other health problems. For instance, some women are prone to drinking excessively or drugs to manage. They may also develop depression or other mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize they have an issue with their mental health and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can affect their school or work performance, and even their relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, ignoring important dates or events, and becoming easily distracted by other aspects of the surroundings or in their thoughts. They may fidget, shake their feet or hands, or shake their hands. They can also talk out loud or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive subtype of adhd can struggle to concentrate on their lectures or conversations and juggling reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and managing daily tasks. They can be disorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items such as 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 subtype can lead to trouble at home, at work as well as at school, and can lead to feelings of agitation or boredom. They have a difficult time waiting for their turn at home, school or at work and they frequently interrupt others. They have a tendency to act recklessly and are unable control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD may find it harder to cope with their symptoms. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek help.
Women who suffer from ADHD are not often recognized as easily as men or boys 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. They are more likely to develop coping mechanisms that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For instance, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change over the course of a woman's lifetime. Women can suffer ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or considered being overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones, and anatomical structures, whereas gender is a subjective sense of what you're like as a male, a woman, or if non-binary, or a person. This distinction is crucial because it allows for a better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we refer to males and people who were assigned male at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females and those who were assigned females at conception as women and girls. This is in line with the way many research studies employ this term. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sex.