ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
Women and girls are often better at masking their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women with ADHD focus is the biggest challenge. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work, or when reading and listening to other people talk. It can be difficult to accomplish 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. Women suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder might have trouble organizing their home or their desk and have difficulty focusing on tasks, according to CHADD. These difficulties can lead to them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or place or not completing their tasks. They may cause them to feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their troubles believing they are lazy or forgetful.
Inattentive ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or in school and can lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they can be triggered either by stress or other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents might be biased towards boys and men, causing women and girls to be overlooked. 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 can also be caused due to hormonal changes. For instance, they may be more evident during menstrual cycles or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems, including mood swings and anger.
Stimulant medications can help enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD However, it can't solve the problem. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help with organization and focus. Some schools and workplaces have accommodations that can help with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or manage obligations. adhd in older women can be difficult to keep track of important details especially when they take place in a noisy setting. You might also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to school or work. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails, which can cause financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or busy office, and may be unable to concentrate during conversations. This could make the other person feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They might also have a problem with their self-esteem, and they might view their problems as something that is a "personal fault" instead of realizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They may be more likely to disguise their symptoms with mood disorders or anxiety and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones particularly during puberty, when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to diagnose and manage ADHD.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you gain the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and limiting caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to get worse. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help calm your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They also aid in improving the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional could be able to help you by discussing possible accommodations that may help you manage ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females with ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. It could be because the brains of women and girls differ from those of males and females, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is taking place in the parts of the brain responsible for managing disruptive and impulsive behavior.
In the end, it is often difficult for a doctor to identify 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. Women, for instance, turn to excessive alcohol and drugs to cope. They may also be depressed or have other mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize an issue with their mental health and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common symptom of adhd 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 events or tasks, and being easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their minds. They may fidget, tap their hands or feet or shake their hands. They may also talk loud or yell. they may be disruptive.
Women with the predominantly inattentive subtype of adhd can have trouble concentrating on lectures or conversations as well as keeping up with writing, reading or schoolwork; adhering to instructions at work or in class; and juggling daily tasks. They may be unorganized and messy and have a difficult time follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to losing or misplacing 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 adhd can cause issues at home, work or in school. It can also lead to feelings of restlessness, boredom and anger. They are not able to wait for their turn, whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They tend to act recklessly and aren't able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult dealing with their issues than boys and men. This is partly due to societal expectations, which demand that mothers and wives be the primary caregivers of their children and household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to fulfill her responsibilities, she could feel anxious and stressed which can lead to low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek help.
In addition, women with ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed because their symptoms are not as pronounced 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. Additionally, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that cover up their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness which can be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change over the course of the woman's life. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can cause her to be misunderstood or thought of as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. 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 allows for a better understanding of how and the ways in which ADHD manifests can vary between genders. For this reason, throughout this article we will refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as men and boys, and to women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This is in line with the way many research studies employ this term. For more information, check out the guide on sex and gender by Verywell Health.