ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional volatility and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor sleep quality which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women are generally better at masking their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD focus is the most challenging thing. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to stay on task at school, during work meetings, or even when reading or listening to other people's conversations. It can be difficult to complete daily tasks, such as remembering appointments or taking 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 with the inattentive form of the disorder might struggle to organize their home or their desks and may have difficulty focusing on tasks, according to CHADD. undiagnosed adhd in women can cause them to miss appointments, show up in the wrong place at the correct time, or fail to keep up on their work duties. They may make them feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems, thinking they are lazy or forgetful.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work, and debt accumulation. They can be triggered by stress or other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression that often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of the biases 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.
For women who are adults with ADHD symptoms, they may be caused by hormonal changes. They can be more noticeable 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 cause emotional problems like mood swings or irritation.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from stimulant medications to improve their concentration, but it will not treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help with organization and focus. Some schools and workplaces have facilities that can assist with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to keep track of your daily activities or take care of the responsibilities. It can be difficult to keep track of 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. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women suffering from ADHD and can cause financial stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or noisy workplace and frequently get lost in conversations, causing others feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming 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 be struggling with self-esteem, and they might view their difficulties as something that is a "personal flaw" instead of realizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which can cause a misdiagnosis and improper treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones, especially during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen rises. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like sugar, caffeine and drinks with sugar which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. Talking with a mental health professional can be beneficial, as they can suggest possible adjustments at work or school to help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. This could be due to the fact that the brains of girls and women differ from the brains of men and boys or it could have to do with how much activity is taking place in the parts of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
It can be challenging for doctors to identify ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others are not sustainable and could result in other health issues. For example some women resort to excessive alcohol or drugs to cope with their symptoms. They may also be depressed or have other mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize they are suffering from a disorder and may delay a correct diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common symptom of adhd in women. It can impact their academic or work performance, or even their relationships. These include being incapable of staying focused on a specific task, ignoring important tasks or events, and easily getting distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They may fidget, shake their feet or hands or shake their hands. They may also talk loud or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women with the inattentive subtype can have difficulty staying focused during lectures or conversations or completing schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They are often disorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to misplacing or losing 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 subtype can lead to problems at home, at work, and in school, and it can lead to feelings of agitation or boredom. They are not able to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or home. They also interrupt others frequently. They tend to act recklessly and aren't able to manage their behavior.
4. women and adhd and girls who have ADHD may have a harder time to cope with their symptoms. This is partly due to social expectations that insist that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and their household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are not often diagnosed as readily as boys or men because their symptoms don't seem to be as apparent. 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 coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the course of the life of a woman. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstruation and pregnancy. This can lead to being dismissed or misinterpreted as a terribly emotional woman and can cause a sense of frustration.
This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to the internal feeling of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is important as it allows us to better comprehend how and why ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. In this article we will refer to both men and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as men and boys as well as women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This terminology is used in many research studies. For more information, check out the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.