ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor sleep quality which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are generally more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to conform to social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For many women with ADHD, focusing is the most difficult thing to do. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to remain focused at school, during work meetings, or even when reading and listening to others ' conversations. It can be difficult to complete daily tasks, such as remembering appointments or taking 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. According to CHADD women who suffer from the inattentive type of the disorder may struggle with organizing their homes and their desk. They may also find it hard to prioritize their tasks. These difficulties can lead to being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or at the wrong place or failing to finish their tasks. They may make them feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their troubles believing they are lazy or forgetful.
Inattentive ADHD can also lead to poor performance at school or at work and can lead to debt accumulation. According to CHADD, they are often triggered by stress or other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Some girls and women with inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked 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.
For women of adult age who suffer from ADHD, symptoms can also be exacerbated by hormonal changes. For instance, they could be more evident during menstrual cycles or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems which include mood swings as well as irritability.
The use of stimulants can help enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD however it doesn't treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with organization and focus. Some workplaces and school have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
The habit of forgetting can make managing your daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important details about events or people, especially when they happen in a noisy or busy environment. You may also end up having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to work or school. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women with ADHD, which can create financial stress and make you feel overwhelmed. You may experience difficulties working in a crowded or noisy workplace and frequently zone out during conversations, causing the other person to feel disregarded or untruthful.
Many girls and women who have ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They also run the risk of being pushed into inappropriate sexual behaviour or becoming intimate partner violence victims. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They may also have issues with self-esteem and could be more likely to interpret their issues as "personal flaws" instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They are more likely to camouflage their symptoms as mood disorders or anxiety and this can lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on hormone fluctuations. This is especially the case during puberty when estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can cause more frequent change in symptoms from day to day which makes it difficult to identify and manage ADHD properly.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. add in adult women can also practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to relax your mind, decrease restlessness and impulsiveness and improve your emotional regulation. A mental health professional could be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that could help you manage ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. It could be because the brains of girls and women differ from those of boys and men or it could be to do with the amount of activity is happening in the regions of the brain that control disruptive and impulsive behavior.
This means it can be harder for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others aren't sustainable and may cause other health problems. For instance, some women turn to drinking or using drugs to cope with their symptoms. They could also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can affect their work or school performance, or even their relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, forgetting important dates or events, and becoming easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their hands or feet or make a squirming sound. They may also speak out loud or yell, and they may be disruptive.
Women with the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions and juggling schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following directions in class or at work, and managing daily tasks. They may be unorganized, messy, and forgetful and have a difficult time follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to misplacing or losing things such as 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 subtype can cause problems at work, home or in school. It can also cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at home, school, or in the workplace and they frequently interrupt other people. They are unable to control their behavior and are likely to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls who have ADHD may find it harder to manage their symptoms. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to keep up with her responsibilities, she can be afflicted with anxiety and stress that can cause low self-esteem. This can make it harder to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed as their symptoms aren't as prominent 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 also more likely to develop coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms. For example the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change throughout a woman's lifetime. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, such as menstruation or pregnancy, women may discover her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This could cause her to be misunderstood, or thought of as a woman who is overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial as it allows for better understanding of the ways and the ways that ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article, we refer to males and those who were assigned male at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and those who were assigned female at conception as women and girls. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide to sex and gender.