Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle with peer relationships, and suffer from depression or anxiety.
adhd in women treatment are also more adept in developing coping mechanisms to cover their ADHD symptoms, which makes it more difficult to be diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects men and boys more often than girls and women but the gap between genders narrows as people get older. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD issues don't feel neglected or ignored.
As women and girls develop into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances, keeping the house clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their self-esteem and mental health as they blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic illness and is not like other mental disorders. Girls and women tend to mask their symptoms with strategies for coping, but these often backfire. 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 usually are characterized by being forgetful or numb and losing track of time, difficulty paying attention in classes or at work, and having 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 crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the various ways women and girls can suffer from ADHD and think about whether depression or anxiety is contributing to these difficulties.
It's also critical that people with ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or another qualified healthcare professional who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other medical conditions. Certain people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression or low self-esteem, as well as problems in social interactions and relationships. It is also common for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
adhd in women treatment and women with ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they're not taken seriously by teachers, family or friends. They may not believe that their issues are serious enough to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD, or they are not diagnosed until they're in their 40s or 50s and are having major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and may be faced with challenges when it does happen. 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. It is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration, and impulsivity could go unnoticed over a period of time.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. There are also co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. They may find it difficult to manage their emotions. This can be exacerbated due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
A variety of these issues can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It is often difficult for people with these conditions to discuss their problems and ask for assistance. This can result in delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and interacting with others. They may miss social events or fail to show up for appointments and can't detect body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal cues. They might even be prone to going off on tangents while talking, making it harder for others to keep up.
In these circumstances, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and get it immediately. For women, this can be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation of their problems and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also help them to focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This can have a positive effect on their professional, personal and family lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the personal and professional life of girls and women as they reach adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. They can make it difficult to manage adult demands, like managing finances and maintaining a clean home or 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 lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This could lead to women and girls avoiding or denying their own symptoms to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD for both genders. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The most popular choice is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants are also effective for some people. Additionally, a combination of treatments may be recommended by your healthcare professional to address related conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Alongside medication, lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus and reduce stress and anxiety. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an essential element of 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 helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific 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 those who were assigned males at birth, including transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD, are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. It's because women and girls tend to hide symptoms, making it harder for doctors to determine. They might also exhibit symptoms that aren't obvious to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who typically develop coping strategies that help them feel normal and conform to social norms. These coping mechanisms may include healthy actions like making phone reminders or keeping a daily schedule. But they can also be unhealthy, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women who are not treated for ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and may be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls who suffer from ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can lead to avoiding school and work, or social activities. They may also become dependent on their parents for helping them with their daily tasks. This can result in an environment of dependency and reliance on others that's difficult to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with non-consensual companions during adolescence. This could be due an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or a lack of ability to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activities, and can be at greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
As adults, women suffering from ADHD can often benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also seek therapy in a couple or on their own with partners. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services can also include specialized programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD maintain their jobs, take care of their responsibilities at home and look after their children.