ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitive to rejection. They can also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which can cause the symptoms to become worse.
Girls and women are generally better at concealing their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to meet societal expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women with ADHD focus is the biggest challenge. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school, during meetings at work, or when reading and listening to others' conversations. It can also be challenging to get through everyday tasks like keeping track of appointments or making sure to take medications.
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 suffering from the inattentive type of the condition may have trouble organizing their home or their desk and struggle to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These problems can lead them to miss appointments, show up at the wrong place at the right time, or not follow through on their work duties. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their own problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can also make it difficult to manage responsibilities, leading to poor school or work performance and an accumulation of debt. They are often caused by stress or other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety that are often associated with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Women and girls with inattentional ADHD are not diagnosed or recognized because of the biases teachers and parents may have toward boys and men. 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. For example, they can become more noticeable during menstrual cycles or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medications can help increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't cure the condition. Other strategies, such as lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with focus and organization. Some workplaces and school have accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or to manage your responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important details about events or people particularly when they occur in a noisy or crowded environment. You might also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails, which could cause financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a busy or noisy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This could cause the other person to feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a more difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They might also be struggling with self-esteem, and they might view their issues as an "personal flaw" instead of realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
adhd traits in women and girls who suffer from ADHD are also not diagnosed because of gender bias as their symptoms are less evident than those of males and females. They are more likely to camouflage their symptoms by claiming anxiety or mood problems and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones particularly during puberty, when estrogen drops and progesterone increases. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to identify and treat ADHD.
If you are diagnosed and treated, you will learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional may be able to help you by discussing possible accommodations that can aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to be less attentive than those with hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than boys and men. Or it could be due to the amount of activity in the brain areas that control impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others aren't sustainable and may result in other health issues. Women, for instance use excessive alcohol and other drugs to deal with their problems. They may also be depressed or have other mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can affect their academic or work performance, or even their relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a task, forgetting important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their thoughts. They may fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seats. They may also shout or speak loudly, and can interrupt.
Women who have the inattentive subtype may have trouble concentrating during lectures or conversations or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and managing daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It is often difficult for them to stick with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or misplace items such as eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can cause problems at work, home or in school. It can also lead to feelings of boredom, restlessness, and frustration. add in women test are not able to wait for their turn, whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are not able to control their behavior and are likely to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may find it harder to cope with their symptoms. This is partly due to the expectations of society, which demand that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and household. When a woman with ADHD is unable to manage her obligations, she may experience heightened feelings of anxiety that can cause low self-esteem. This makes it harder for her to seek help.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed as their symptoms are not as pronounced as those of men and boys. 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 excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can also vary at different times throughout the woman's life. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This can lead to being viewed as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive and can cause a feeling of anger.
The information in this article is based on research into 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 crucial because it helps us comprehend how and why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. This is why throughout this article we refer to both men and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men and women and those assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This is consistent with how many research studies use this term. To find out more, check out the Verywell Health guide to gender and sex.