ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional volatility and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are generally better at masking their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to meet societal expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis as well as delays in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school, during meetings at work, or when reading and listening to others' conversations. It can also be difficult to get through everyday tasks, such as keeping track of appointments or remembering to take 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. Women who suffer from the inattentive version of the disorder may struggle to organize their home or their desk and find it difficult to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These problems can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or at the wrong place or failing to finish their tasks. These difficulties can make them feel embarrassed about themselves and they could blame themselves for their troubles.
Attention-deficit ADHD can also lead to poor performance at work or in school, and debt accumulation. According to CHADD the symptoms are often triggered by stress or other mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.
Teachers and parents may be biased towards males and girls, leading to women and girls to be overlooked. 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 cause symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods that is the time leading up to a woman's menopause as estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to boost their concentration however, it cannot solve the problem. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help in focusing and organization. Some workplaces and school have accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to keep track of daily tasks or to manage your the responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important details about events or people particularly when they occur in a crowded or noisy environment. You may also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is a common occurrence for women with ADHD and can cause financial stress and make you feel stressed. You may have difficulty working in a busy or loud office and often get lost in conversations, leaving the other person feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They also run the risk of being forced into inappropriate sexual behaviour or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is because they have a harder to manage their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They may also have issues with their self-esteem and may be more inclined to see their problems as "personal flaws" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which can cause a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
The symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when estrogen drops and progesterone increases. This can result in more frequent change in symptoms throughout the day, which can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD effectively.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you learn the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like sugar, caffeine, and sugary drinks that can worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce restlessness and impulsiveness. They also aid in improving emotional regulation. Talking to an expert in mental health can be beneficial, since they can talk about possible accommodations at school or at work that might help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. It could be because the brains of women and girls differ from those of boys and men or it could have to do with the amount of activity is taking place in the areas of the brain that manage disruptive and impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others are unsustainable and can cause health issues of other kinds. For example women may turn to alcohol or other drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize a mental health problem and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom for women that can affect school or work performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks, and becoming easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their minds. They might fidget, tap their hands or feet, or shake their hands. They may also yell or speak loudly and they may interrupt.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive subtype of adhd can struggle with concentrating on their lectures or conversations and juggling reading, writing, or schoolwork; following instructions at school or at work; and managing daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It is often difficult for them to follow through with commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace items like glasses, wallets, keys and even wallets.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of disorder can cause issues at home, at work, as well as at school, and can cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They are unable to wait for their turn in school, at work, or home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. adhd in older women to control their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD may have a harder to manage their symptoms than men and boys. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to fulfill her obligations, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment.
Women with ADHD are often not recognized as easily as men or boys because their symptoms do not appear as prominent. 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 which mask their ADHD symptoms. For example the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the woman's life. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles or pregnancy, a woman could notice her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This could cause her to be misunderstood or thought of as a woman who is excessively emotional.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to an internal sense of being a man, woman or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it enables a better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we are referring to males and those who were assigned males at birth as males and boys. We also refer to females and people who were assigned females at conception as girls and women. This is in line with the way numerous research studies employ this term. For more information, check out the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.