ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional volatility and an sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality sleep, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Girls and women often hide their ADHD symptoms better than men, using strategies to cope with social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For many women with ADHD concentration is the most difficult thing to do. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to remain focused at school, during work meetings, or even when reading and listening to others talk. It can be challenging to complete daily tasks like 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. According to CHADD women who suffer from the inattentive type of the disorder may struggle to organize their home and their desk. They might also find it hard to prioritize their tasks. These problems can result in being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or location or failing to finish their tasks. These problems can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their problems.
Inattentive ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or in school and can also lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms are often triggered by stress or other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents could be biased towards boys and men, causing 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.
Hormonal changes can also increase symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. For instance, they could become more noticeable during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and anger.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to improve their focus, but it will not solve the problem. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help in focusing and organization. Some workplaces and schools have facilities that can assist with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to stay on top of daily activities or take care of obligations. It can be difficult to keep track of important details, especially if they occur in a noisy setting. You may also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to work or school. Inability to pay bills or reply to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD that can lead to financial stress and leave you feeling rushed. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or crowded office, and you may zone out during conversations. This can make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They are also at risk of being forced into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is because they have a difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They may also have a problem with their self-esteem and they might view their difficulties as something that is a "personal fault" instead of recognizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Females and females who suffer from ADHD are also underdiagnosed due to gender bias, as their symptoms are less obvious than the symptoms of men and boys. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which can lead to a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
ADHD symptoms can be different based on hormone fluctuations. This is especially evident during puberty, as estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can cause a greater range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, like eating a well-balanced diet and limiting sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to worsen. undiagnosed adhd in women is also possible to practice meditation and mindfulness techniques to help calm your mind, reduce impulsiveness and restlessness and improve your emotional control. A mental health professional could be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that may assist you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females who suffer from ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that the female and female brains differ from the brains of males and females or it could have to do with how much activity is happening in the regions of the brain responsible for managing impulsive and disruptive behavior.
In the end, it can be harder for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are unsustainable and can cause other health problems. For instance, some women turn to drinking or using drugs to manage their symptoms. They may also be depressed or have other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for people to recognize they have mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a specific task, ignoring important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seat. They can also yell or speak loudly, and they may interrupt.
Women who have the inattentive subtype may have trouble staying focused during lectures or conversations and juggling schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in class or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They can be disorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable 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 type of adhd can cause issues at home, at work, and in school, and can cause feelings of restlessness or boredom. They can't wait for their turn in school, at work, or at home. They often interrupt others. They aren't able to control their behavior and are likely to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult to manage their symptoms than boys and men. This is due to the expectations of society that require women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This, in turn, makes it more difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD are not often diagnosed as easily as men or boys 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. Additionally they are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms, including frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change throughout the life of a woman. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstruation or pregnancy, a woman could find her ADHD symptoms to be exacerbated. This could cause her to be misunderstood, or dismissed as being excessively emotional.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. 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 male, female or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it enables a better understanding of how and the ways in which ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article, we will refer to males as well as people who were assigned male at birth as males and boys. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned females at conception as females and girls. This is in line with the way many research studies employ this terminology. For more information, check out the guide to sex and gender by Verywell Health.