Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls are often faced with a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their lives. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty in relationships with peers or experience anxiety and depression.
They are also more adept at building coping mechanisms that conceal their ADHD symptoms, making it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is narrowing as people age. It's crucial that those with ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As add symptoms in women and women mature into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they may blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic illness, unlike some other psychiatric disorders. Girls and women tend to mask their symptoms with strategies to cope that can backfire, but they often do. Additionally, hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it difficult to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can manifest as forgetfulness or being absentminded, having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulty with daily routines, such as meal planning, scheduling, or laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to consider whether the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their difficulties.
It's also crucial that people who suffer from ADHD be evaluated by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out other conditions. For instance, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem and difficulty with relationships and social interactions. It is also common for adults with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD do not receive a diagnosis because they're not considered serious by their teachers, families or friends. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to need help. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In adhd in women and girls with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD, or they are not diagnosed until they're in their 40s or 50s and have major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood, and they can face challenges when it does occur. For one thing, girls may not have the same hyperactive/impulsive symptoms as boys -- and this can make them less likely to be recognised by teachers and parents, who are more accustomed to seeing those signs in male children. add in adult women may develop coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms and make them less visible. It is possible that girls' problems with concentration, organization and impulsivity might be overlooked over a number of time.
Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms harder to detect. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, including anxiety and depression. They may be unable to manage their emotions. This is often by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
A lot of these issues could lead to low self-esteem or relationships problems. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to talk about their problems and ask for help. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with others. They might miss social gatherings, fail to show up for appointments, and have trouble understanding body language. They could even go off on tangents during conversations, making it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and act as swiftly as possible. For women, this may be an "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also assist women focus on their strength and make changes to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
As women and girls develop into adults untreated ADHD can take a toll on their personal and professional lives. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in anxiety and low self-esteem. They may also make it difficult to handle the demands of adulthood including managing finances, keeping a home tidy and maintaining healthy relationships.
Women and girls are less likely to receive a diagnosis of ADHD than boys and men, partly because hyperactive/impulsive symptoms tend to be more commonly associated with males. This can result in gender stereotypes about the disorder. Women and girls might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms to avoid being judged by the society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatment options for ADHD for girls and women. A licensed health professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The first option is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants are also effective for certain people. Additionally, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your physician to address related conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help control ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, like group fitness classes or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and change negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) rather than a person's affirmed gender identity. To ensure that our content is more consistent and clear and to avoid confusion among readers we employ this term. This article is applicable to all individuals who were male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to spot. They may also have symptoms that are not apparent to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization, instead of hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This is particularly important for women, who frequently create coping mechanisms to make them feel comfortable and meet societal expectations. These strategies for coping may include healthy activities such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders on phones. They can also be unhealthy like binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem and other symptoms such as anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can cause the avoidance of school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents for helping them with daily tasks. This could lead to an addiction and reliance that is difficult to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent years. This could be due an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into unwanted sexual activity, and are more vulnerable to domestic violence and the exploitation of.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also seek therapy on their own or in partnership. This will help them to recognize their issues and develop more positive internal conversations. This will also help improve their relationships.
Support services can include programs specifically designed for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD, as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to work and manage their home responsibilities, and care for children.
