ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD often report symptoms of emotional volatility and an sensitivity to rejection. They can also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
Girls and women are typically more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis and delays in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for many women suffering from ADHD. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to remain focused at school, at meetings at work, or even when reading or listening to others talk. It can be difficult to accomplish daily 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 CHADD the women who suffer from the inattentive type of the condition can struggle with organizing their homes and their desks. They may also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These issues can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location or not completing their work duties. They can also cause them to feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their problems, thinking they are incompetent or forgetful.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work and can also lead to debt accumulation. They can be caused by stress or other mental health issues like anxiety and depression that often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Teachers and parents might be biased against males and females, which can cause women and girls to be underdiagnosed. 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 adult women with ADHD, symptoms can also be caused due to hormonal changes. They may be more apparent during menstruation or perimenopause that is the time leading up to a woman's menopause which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and irritation.
The use of stimulants can help enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't solve the problem. Other strategies, such as lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or to manage your responsibilities. It can be difficult to remember important information about events or people particularly when they take place in a noisy or crowded environment. You might also find that you frequently forget appointments or get late for school or work. Forgetting to pay adhd in adult women test or reply to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD and can cause financial stress and make you feel stressed. You may have difficulty working in a crowded or noisy workplace and frequently lose focus during conversations, leaving the other person to feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is because they have a more difficult to manage their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They may also be struggling with their self-esteem and they might view their issues as a "personal fault" rather than realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias, women and girls with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They might be more likely to conceal their symptoms as mood disorders or anxiety, which can result in being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations and, particularly during puberty when progesterone drops and estrogen increases. This can result in more frequent change in symptoms from day to day which can make it more difficult to recognize and treat ADHD effectively.
Diagnosed and treated, you can learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants like sugar, caffeine, and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. It is also possible to practice meditation and mindfulness techniques to calm your mind, reduce restlessness and impulsiveness and improve your emotional control. Talking to a mental health professional could also be helpful, as they can suggest possible adjustments at work or school that can assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. This could be due to the fact that the female and female brains differ from the brains of men and boys, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is taking place in the parts of the brain responsible for managing impulsive and disruptive behavior.
In the end, it is often difficult for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others aren't sustainable and can lead to other health problems. For instance, some women turn to alcohol or other drugs to manage their symptoms. They might also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping mechanisms can make it difficult for people to recognize they have a problem and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom that affects women and can affect work or school performance and relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks and becoming easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their feet or hands or make a squirming sound. They may also speak out loudly or yell, and they may be disruptive.
Women who are inattentive can have difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions and juggling schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following directions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be difficult for them to stick with commitments or tasks. They are more prone to losing or misplacing 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 at schools, and can cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They have a tough waiting to be called upon at home, school or in the workplace and often interrupt others. They are unable to control their behavior and tend to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder dealing with their issues than males and females. This is largely due to societal expectations that insist that mothers and women be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. When a woman with ADHD struggles to fulfill her obligations, she may be afflicted with anxiety and stress that can cause low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek help.
Women with ADHD are often not recognized as easily as boys or men because their symptoms do not appear as obvious. 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 mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD in women can also vary at different times throughout the woman's lifetime. For instance, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual or pregnancy, a woman may find her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This can lead her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or dismissed as an overly emotional.
This article is based upon research into how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. While gender refers to an internal sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial because it enables a better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we refer to males and those who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and those who were assigned female at conception as females and girls. This is in line with how many research studies employ this terminology. For more information, read the guide on sex and gender by Verywell Health.
