ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitive to rejection. They may also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which could cause the symptoms to become worse.
Girls and women often hide their ADHD symptoms better than men, using strategies to manage their stress and meet the social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women with ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it hard to stay on task at school, in meetings at work, or when reading or listening to others ' conversations. It can be challenging to complete everyday tasks such as keeping track of appointments or taking medications.
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. According to CHADD the women who suffer from the inattentive type of the disorder might struggle with organizing their homes and their desks. They may be unable to prioritize their tasks. These problems could cause them to skip appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the correct time, or not follow through on their tasks. These problems can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their troubles.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they are often triggered by stress or other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Women and girls with inattentional ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of biases 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 exacerbated by hormonal changes. For example, they can be more apparent during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and irritation.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to improve their focus, but it will not cure the condition. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. You may find it difficult to remember important information, especially if they occur in a noisy area. You may also end up forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Inability to pay bills or reply to emails is common among women suffering from ADHD, which can create financial stress and make you feel stressed. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or noisy office. You may also zone out during conversations, causing the other person to feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a harder to manage their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They may also struggle with their self-esteem and may be more likely to interpret their problems as "personal flaws" instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Females and females with ADHD are also not diagnosed due to gender bias, since their symptoms are more evident than those of males and females. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which could cause a misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on fluctuations in hormones. This is particularly true during puberty, when estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can result in a wider variety of symptoms, making it harder to identify and treat ADHD.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants like sugar, caffeine and drinks with sugar which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. Talking with an expert in mental health can be beneficial, since they can talk about possible accommodations at work or school to help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience less attentive than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the volume of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
signs of add in adult women can be a challenge for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others aren't sustainable and can lead to other health problems. Some women, for example, turn to excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They might also develop depression or suffer from mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize that they are suffering from a disorder and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common symptom of adhd for women. It can affect their school or work performance, as well as their relationships. These include being incapable of staying focused on a particular task, ignoring important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the surroundings or their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seat. They may also shout or speak loudly and can interrupt.
Women who have the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty staying focused during lectures or conversations, keeping up with schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following instructions in the classroom or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It is often difficult for them to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items such as eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
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 cause feelings of restlessness, boredom and anger. They are not able to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or home. They often interrupt others. They are prone to act recklessly and are unable manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may find it harder to manage their symptoms. This is due to the expectations of society that require women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman suffering from ADHD struggles to keep up with her obligations, she may be afflicted with anxiety and stress that lead to low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
In addition, women with ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed as 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. They are also more likely to develop coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms. For example excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness can be mistaken as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD in women can differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. For instance, during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstruation or pregnancy, women may discover her ADHD symptoms to be exacerbated. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or dismissed as a woman who is overly emotional.
This article is based upon research into how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. 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 because it helps us to better comprehend the ways and reasons ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article we refer to men and people assigned 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 how numerous research studies employ this terminology. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide on gender and sex.