Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their daily lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with peer relationships, and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also have a better chance of developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects both men and boys more frequently than girls and women but the gap between genders narrows as people age. It's crucial that those who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As girls and women mature into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their issues.
ADHD is a chronic condition unlike other mental disorders. Girls and women are more likely to mask symptoms with strategies to cope, but they often result in a negative effect. In addition, hormonal changes during menstrual periods or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded and losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines such as 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 is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the different ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to determine if comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their problems.
It is essential that those suffering from ADHD are examined by a certified healthcare provider. They can assess their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other illnesses. For instance, some people with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. It's also normal for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they're not considered serious by teachers, family or friends. They may not believe that their issues are serious enough issue to seek help or they might believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, among other external factors. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are treated for ADHD or they are not diagnosed until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until later in life, 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 can develop coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms and make them less noticed. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity could go unnoticed over a period of time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the symptoms. Furthermore, they could suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their life management skills like depression and anxiety. They may have difficulty to control their emotions. This is often by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these issues contribute to a lack of self-esteem and issues with relationships. It can be difficult for these people to discuss their problems and ask for help. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or communicate with others. They might not attend social events and fail to show up for appointments and can't read body language or recognize other people's nonverbal signals. They may even go off on tangents when talking which makes it difficult for others to follow their lead.
In these circumstances, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as possible. For women, this can be a "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation for their struggles and allow them to accept themselves more fully. It can also help them focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management abilities. This could have a positive effect on their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their personal and professional lives. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can also make it more difficult to handle the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping your home tidy and maintaining healthy 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 about the disorder, which could lead to women and girls avoiding or denying their own symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by society.
Fortunately, there are effective treatment options available for ADHD both in girls and women. Medications regulate brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The first option is stimulant medication, but non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. In addition, a combination of treatments might be recommended by your physician to address related conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Alongside medication lifestyle changes can also aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as team sports or group fitness classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy is also a crucial component of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people identify and change negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) instead of a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to provide more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to make it easier for our readers. This article applies to all individuals who were assigned male at birth, including transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD, are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed. It's because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to determine. They may also have symptoms that aren't apparent to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who frequently develop strategies for coping to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy things like setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily calendar. They could also be harmful, like binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and they could be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that girls and women with ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance on others that's hard to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent period. This is due to impulsivity, poor organization, or a failure to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activities, and may be at a higher risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
As adults, women who suffer from ADHD can often benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. They can also get therapy on their own or in a group. This can help them learn to identify their struggles and build more positive internal dialogs. It can aid them in improving their relationships.
adhd traits in women can also include special programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to work and household responsibilities and take care of children.