ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia or poor quality sleep, which could cause symptoms to get worse.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than men and employ strategies to manage their stress and meet social expectations and norms. click here for more can lead both to a misdiagnosis as well as delays in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women with ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work, or when reading and listening to others' conversations. It can be challenging to complete daily tasks like 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. Women who suffer from the inattentive version of the disorder might struggle to organize their home or their desk and have difficulty focusing on tasks, according to CHADD. These problems can result in being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or at the wrong place or failing to finish their work tasks. These difficulties can make them feel bad about themselves, and they could blame themselves for their problems.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to poor performance at work or in school, and the accumulation of debt. They can be triggered by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Some girls and women with inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated due to the prejudices that 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, they can be worsened due to hormonal changes. For example, they can be more evident during the menstrual cycle or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and can cause emotional issues which include mood swings as well as irritation.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medications to boost their concentration, but it will not treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues too.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to keep track of daily activities or take care of obligations. It may be difficult to keep track of important details, especially if they occur in a noisy environment. You may also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to work or school. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or responding to emails, which could lead to financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or crowded office, and may get lost in conversations. This can make someone else feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into unwanted sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also be struggling with self-esteem, and may view their problems as something that is a "personal fault" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which can lead to a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on hormone fluctuations. This is particularly the case during puberty when hormone levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can lead to a greater variation in symptoms throughout the day, which makes it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD correctly.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also improve the regulation of emotions. Talking with a mental health professional can be beneficial, since they can suggest possible adjustments at work or at school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. 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 brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be harder for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are unsustainable and can result in other health issues. For instance women may turn to alcohol or other drugs to manage their symptoms. They may also become depressed or suffer from other mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have an issue with their mental health and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can impact their work or school performance, and 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 the surroundings or in their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm their seats. They can also talk out loudly or yell, and they could be disruptive.
Women who have the inattentive subtype may have trouble in concentrating during lectures or discussions, keeping up with schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and managing daily tasks. They are often disorganized and messy and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to misplacing or losing items 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 type of disorder can cause problems at work, at home, as well as at school, and can trigger feelings of anxiety or boredom. They can't wait for their turn in school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are unable to control their behavior and tend to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder dealing with their issues than males and females. This is partly due to social expectations that insist that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and their household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to manage her responsibilities, she can feel anxious and stressed that can cause low self-esteem. This, in turn, could make it difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to be diagnosed since their symptoms are not as pronounced as the 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. Additionally they are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms, such as frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness that could be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the life of a woman. Women can experience ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can lead her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or considered a woman who is overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a woman, man, or nonbinary person. This distinction is important as it helps us to better comprehend the reasons behind why ADHD can manifest differently in women and men. In this article, we refer to males as well as people who were assigned males at birth as males and boys. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned females at conception as females and girls. This terminology is used in many research studies. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sex.