ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD frequently 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 often hide their ADHD symptoms more effectively than men, using coping strategies to meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis or delays in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for many women suffering from ADHD. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it hard to remain focused at school, at work meetings, or even when reading or listening to others talk. It can also be challenging to complete 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. According to CHADD, women with the inattentive type of the disorder may struggle to organize their home and their desk. They may be unable to prioritize their tasks. These issues can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or at the wrong place or not completing their work tasks. They can make them feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their shortcomings, thinking they are incompetent or forgetful.
Inattention ADHD symptoms can make it hard to keep track of responsibilities, leading to poor work or school performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents might be biased against males and females, which can cause some women and girls to be misdiagnosed. 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.
For women of adult age with ADHD symptoms, they may be worsened due to hormonal changes. They may be more apparent during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle, the run-up to the menopausal phase of a woman as estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems like mood swings and irritation.
The use of stimulants can help increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD However, it can't cure the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to stay on top of daily activities or take care of obligations. You may struggle to remember important information about people or events particularly when they take place in a crowded or noisy environment. You might also find that you often forget appointments or run late to work or school. Forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails is common in women with ADHD that can lead to financial stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office, and you might be unable to concentrate during conversations. This can cause the other person to feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. This is due to the fact that they have a difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They may also have issues with self-esteem and could be more likely to interpret their difficulties as "personal imperfections" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Women and girls with ADHD are also underdiagnosed due to gender bias, because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and females. They could disguise symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders, which could result in a misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.
The symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when progesterone drops and estrogen increases. inattentive add in women can cause a greater variety of symptoms, making 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, like eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to get worse. You can also practice meditation and mindfulness techniques to calm your mind, reduce impulsiveness and restlessness and improve your emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial, as they can suggest possible adjustments at school or at work that can help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women with ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that girls and women have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the volume of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
It can be challenging for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others aren't sustainable and may cause health issues of other kinds. For instance women may turn to alcohol or other drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it harder for someone to recognize they have a problem and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, ignoring important events or tasks and being easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their minds. They may fidget, shake their feet or hands, or make a squirming sound. They may also speak out loud or yell. they may be disruptive.
Women who have the most inattentional subtype of adhd can struggle with concentrating on lectures or conversations; keeping up with writing, reading or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling their daily chores. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It can be challenging for them to stick with commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like 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 work, at home, or school. It can also cause feelings of boredom, restlessness, and frustration. They have a hard waiting to be called upon at school, at home or in the workplace and are often disruptive to other people. They aren't able to manage their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. inattentive add in women and girls who have ADHD might find it difficult to manage their issues. This is due to societal expectations that insist that mothers and wives be the primary caregivers of their children and their household. When a woman struggles to manage her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment.
Women with ADHD are often not diagnosed as readily as males or females because their symptoms don't seem to be as apparent. 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 also more likely to develop coping mechanisms which mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can also differ at different times during the woman's life. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstruation or pregnancy, a woman may find her ADHD symptoms to become more intense. This can cause her to be misunderstood or thought of as being excessively emotional.
This article is based upon research into how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a male, female or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of how and why the ways ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we will refer to males and people who were assigned males at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females and those who were assigned female at conception as girls and women. This is in line with how many research studies use this term. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sex.