Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause a variety of problems for women and girls. They may feel incompetent at work, have difficulty with peer relationships or experience anxiety and depression.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects men and boys more often than women and girls but the gap between genders narrows as people age. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD issues don't feel neglected or ignored.
As girls and women develop into adults, they often still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health because they blame themselves for their issues.
ADHD is a chronic disorder unlike other mental disorders. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using methods of coping, but these often result in a negative effect. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can manifest as the inability to remember things or being oblivious or having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulty with daily routines like meal planning, scheduling or doing laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the various ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to think about whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their difficulties.
It is crucial that those with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. They can look at their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other illnesses. For example, some individuals with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem and difficulty with social interactions and relationships. It's also normal for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't treat them as seriously. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. Certain women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s, and are having difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and may 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 develop coping strategies that disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less visible. This means that their issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity could remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify their symptoms. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring illnesses that affect their life management skills like anxiety and depression. They may have difficulty to control their emotions. This may be worsened because of hormonal changes during the menstrual period as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A variety of these issues can result in low self-esteem and relationship issues. This means it is often difficult to talk about their issues and seek assistance. This could delay diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and engaging with others. They may miss social events, not attend appointments, and have trouble reading body language. They may even wander off on tangents during conversations, making it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It's essential to obtain a correct diagnosis and act immediately. This could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It will help them to understand their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It can also aid women to recognize their strengths and to make changes to improve their life management abilities. This can be beneficial to their family, work and personal lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the personal and professional life of girls and women as they grow into adulthood. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can also make it difficult for people to deal with adult demands, like managing finances and maintaining a clean home, or 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 can result in gender stereotypes regarding the disorder. Girls and women might then conceal or minimize their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional is able to 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. adhd women test may also suggest a combination treatment to treat related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.
In addition to medications lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus and reduce stress and anxiety. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Therapy is also an essential element of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender assigned at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. This is to ensure clearer and more consistent language across our content, and to make it easier for readers. However, this article also applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sex 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 men to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. This is because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making it harder for doctors to diagnose. They might also exhibit symptoms that are less apparent to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization, instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is essential for women who often develop coping strategies to feel normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions such as making daily schedules or setting reminders for phone calls. They can also be harmful 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.
Women and girls with ADHD can experience low self-esteem or other symptoms such as depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoidance of school, work or social activities. They may also become dependent on their parents for helping them with daily tasks. That can create a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's difficult to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with non-consensual partners in the adolescent period. This could be due the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or a failure to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexually inappropriate activities and are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults can benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also receive therapy on their own or in a partnership. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It can aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services can include coaching to teach parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs can help women with ADHD maintain their jobs, handle their responsibilities at home and look after their children.