Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their lives. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle in social relationships or suffer from anxiety and depression.
They also tend to be better at building coping mechanisms that cover their ADHD symptoms, making it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects men and boys more often than women and girls but the gap between genders narrows as people get older. It's important that adults with ADHD issues don't feel neglected or forgotten.
As girls and women grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health, since they blame themselves for their troubles.
ADHD is a chronic condition and is not like other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to mask their symptoms with strategies to cope that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, changes in hormones throughout the menstrual cycle as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention in class or work and trouble with daily routines, such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. 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 women and girls present with ADHD and to consider whether anxiety or depression are contributing to their problems.
It is also essential that those who suffer from ADHD be assessed by a doctor or another qualified healthcare professional who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other issues. Some people with ADHD have mental health issues like anxiety or depression or low self-esteem, as well as problems in social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health issues like tics or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't treat them as seriously. They may not believe that their problems are a serious enough to seek help or they might believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting, low self-esteem or other external factors. In some cases, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are experiencing major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They also may have issues if discovered. 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. Girls develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less well-known. This means that their issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect their symptoms. Moreover, they can have co-occurring illnesses that affect their life management skills including anxiety and depression. They may be unable to manage their emotions. This can be exacerbated by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
A variety of these issues can result in low self-esteem and relationship problems. This means it isn't easy for them to open up about their challenges and seek assistance. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or communicate with others. They may skip social events, not show up for appointments, and have trouble understanding body language. They might even wander off on tangents when talking which makes it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It's important that you get an accurate diagnosis and act as fast as possible. This can be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them understand their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also assist women to recognize their strengths and to adopt steps to improve their life management skills. This could have a positive effect on their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the personal and professional lives of girls and women as they reach adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, resulting in frustration and low self-esteem. They can make it difficult to manage adult demands, like managing finances and keeping a home in order 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, in turn, can result in gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which could lead to women and girls suppressing or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed health professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The first choice is stimulant medications, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. Your doctor may suggest a combination therapy to treat related conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Alongside medication, lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce stress, anxiety and other mood issues which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also be beneficial in improving communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. This is to provide more consistent and clear terms across our content and to make it easier for readers. This article applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB), and to transgender and nonbinary people. We recognize that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. adhd in women test is because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, making it harder for doctors to diagnose. They may also have signs that aren't apparent to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who frequently develop coping mechanisms that help them feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping strategies could include healthy activities such as setting phone reminders or keeping a daily schedule. They can also be harmful such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may experience anxiety over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women who suffer from ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in avoiding school and work, or social activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents for help with everyday tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that's difficult to break.
As they grow older, girls and women with ADHD are at a higher chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This could be due to insanity, poor organization, or inability to make use of contraception. They are also more susceptible to being pushed into unintentional sexual activity and are at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
As adults, women with ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. They can also get therapy, individually or in a partnership. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. It can aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services may also include special programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD and coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to keep their jobs and household responsibilities, and care for children.