Quiz: How Much Do You Know About ADHD In Women?

Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause many issues for women and girls. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.

They are also more adept in developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms, making it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms

The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people age. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or forgotten.

As girls and women grow into adults, they frequently still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing finances or keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their troubles.

Unlike some other mental disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using coping techniques, but they often fail to work. In addition, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.

Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing track of time, difficulties paying attention in classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines like food preparation, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the different ways women and girls present with ADHD and to think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is the cause of their struggles.

It is also essential that those with ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or another qualified healthcare provider who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out other issues. For instance, some individuals with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues like depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem and trouble with social relationships and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health issues like tics or chronic stress.

Many girls and women with ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they're not considered serious by teachers, family or friends. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to need help. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or a lack of self-esteem. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children are treated for ADHD. Some aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or their 50s, and are experiencing problems with daily life.

Diagnosis

Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood, and they can 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 also have strategies to cope with their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as frequently. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity could go unnoticed over a period of years.

Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the signs. There are also co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, including depression and anxiety. For instance, they might have trouble controlling their moods, which can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.

Many of these issues contribute to a lack of self-esteem and problems with relationships. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to talk about their problems and ask for help. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.

It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with others. They might miss social events, not attend appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They might even wander off on tangents while talking which makes it difficult for others to follow their lead.

For these reasons, it's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and act as soon as possible. For women, this can be an "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also assist them to focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This can be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.

Treatment

As girls and women develop into adults untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their personal and professional lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. They can also make it more difficult to cope with the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping a home clean and in good 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 could result in gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can result in women and girls avoiding or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid getting stigmatized by society.

There are effective treatment options for ADHD in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The first option is a stimulant, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for some people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination treatment to treat related conditions like depression or anxiety disorders.

Alongside medication, lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and stress.  adhd in adult women test , such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.

Therapy is also an essential component of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists people recognize and alter negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.

At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender assigned at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. To make our content more uniform and clear and to avoid confusion among our readers, we use this terminology. However, this article also applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all our readers.

Support

Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to spot. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.

This is particularly crucial for women, who typically create coping mechanisms to help them feel normal and meet societal expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions, such as making daily schedules or setting reminders for phone calls. They could also be harmful, like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.

Girls and women with ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem, or other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They could also become more reliant on their parents to help with daily tasks. This could lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that is difficult to break.

As they grow older, girls and women with ADHD may be at greater risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This is due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or a failure to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into unwanted sexual activity, and they can be more vulnerable to domestic violence and the exploitation of.

As adults, women who suffer from ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. They can also seek therapy whether on their own or with a partner. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It can help them improve their relationships.

Support services can include programs specifically designed for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to keep their jobs and manage their home responsibilities and take care of children.