Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to various issues for girls and women. They may feel unprepared at work, experience difficulties in social relationships or experience depression and anxiety.
They are also more adept in developing coping mechanisms to conceal their ADHD symptoms, making it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects men and boys more often than girls and women, the gender gap narrows as people age. It's crucial that those who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As women and girls grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they might blame themselves for their troubles.
ADHD is a chronic condition unlike other mental disorders. Girls and women are more likely to mask symptoms with coping techniques, but they often fail to work. In addition, changes in hormones during menstrual cycles, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded and losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention in classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the various ways girls and women suffer from ADHD and also consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression can be a contributing factor to these issues.
It's important that people with ADHD are assessed by a qualified 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 issues like anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and difficulty with relationships and social interactions. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health issues, such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD aren't diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't consider them serious. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are experiencing significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women often do not get 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 also have strategies to cope with their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as frequently. This means that their problems with concentration, organisation and impulsivity may remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify the signs. They can also have co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, including anxiety and depression. For instance, they may find it hard to control their emotions, which can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopausal.
Many of these conditions can result in a low self-esteem and problems with relationships. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to discuss their problems and seek help. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or interact with other people. They might miss social events, not attend appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They might even go off on tangents when talking and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as you can. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also assist women to focus on their strength and make changes to improve their life management skills. This can be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal life of girls and women as they grow into adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance. They can result in frustration and low confidence. They may also make it harder to manage the demands of adult life including managing finances, keeping a 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 create gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which could lead to girls and women suppressing or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD for both genders. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The most effective medications are stimulants. option, but non-stimulants could also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor might suggest a combination treatment to treat related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
adhd in women checklist includes therapy. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be helpful in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender assigned at birth (AFAB) instead of an individual's affirmation of gender identity. To make our content more uniform and clear, and to avoid confusion among readers we employ this term. This article is applicable to all those who were assigned males at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed. It's because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization instead of hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who typically create coping mechanisms to help them feel normal and conform to social norms. These coping mechanisms may include healthy things like making phone reminders or keeping a daily schedule. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges women and girls who suffer from ADHD face can contribute to feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school or work activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily chores. This can create a cycle of dependence and reliance that can be difficult to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD might be at a greater risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This can be caused by the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or the inability to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at higher risk for domestic violence and sexual exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also get therapy on their own or in a partnership. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. It will also help them improve their relationships.
Support services may also include special programs for mothers who are pregnant or with ADHD as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD maintain their jobs, manage their home responsibilities and care for their children.