Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause many issues for women and girls. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty with relationships with peers and suffer from depression or anxiety.

They also do better at developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat them.

Symptoms

While research confirms ADHD affects both men and boys at a higher rate than girls and women however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people get older. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or forgotten.

As girls and women mature into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their self-esteem and mental health as they blame themselves for their problems.

ADHD is a chronic illness unlike other mental disorders. Girls and women tend to cover up their add symptoms in women using coping techniques, but they often fail to work. Additionally, hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it difficult to manage their adhd in adult women symptoms symptoms.

attention deficit disorder In adult women-deficit ADHD can manifest as inattention or forgetfulness and having difficulty paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulties with daily routines like meal planning, scheduling, or laundry. 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 that girls and women be diagnosed with ADHD and think about whether depression or anxiety is contributing to these difficulties.

It is essential that those suffering from ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other illnesses. Certain people with ADHD have mental health issues like anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. It is also common for people with ADHD to suffer from other health issues that are co-occurring such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.

Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. In some cases, girls and women 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 having significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.

Diagnosis

Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may be faced with challenges if recognized. 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 coping strategies that mask their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as often. This means that their problems with organisation, 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 the signs. They can also have co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. For example, they can struggle to manage their emotions, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopausal.

Many of these issues contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. As a result, it can be difficult to talk about their struggles and seek assistance. This could lead to delay in diagnosis and treatment.

It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with others. They might miss social gatherings, or not attend appointments, and have trouble reading body language. They may even be prone to going off on tangents while talking, making it difficult for others to keep up.

It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and act as swiftly as possible. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept their own uniqueness. It can also help add women to recognize their strengths and take steps to improve life management skills. This can have a positive effect on their professional, personal and family lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.

Treatment

As girls and women develop into adults untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their personal and professional lives. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They may also make it difficult to manage the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping a home clean and in good 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 about the disorder. Girls and women might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms in order to avoid being judged by the society.

There are, thankfully, effective treatment options for ADHD in women and girls. The medications control brain activity and manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. Stimulant medications are the first option, but non-stimulants could also be effective for certain people. In addition, a mix of treatments might be recommended by your doctor to treat related issues like depression or anxiety.

In addition to medications lifestyle changes can also aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus and reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.

Therapy is also an essential element of treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.

At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. To ensure that our content is consistent and clear and to avoid confusion among readers we use this term. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB), and to transgender people and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all our readers.

Support

Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. It's because girls and women tend to hide symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose. There are also signs that are not apparent to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.

This masking is important for women who typically develop strategies for coping to feel normal and meet social expectations. These strategies for coping may include healthy actions such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders for phone calls. However, they can also be unhealthy, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel anxious or depressed, and overwhelmed and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.

The challenges girls and women who suffer from adhd women assessment have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss, anxiety, depression, or somatic complaints like abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can lead to being unable to attend school, work, or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents for helping them with their daily chores. This can result in a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that's hard to break.

Girls and women with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual companions during the adolescent years. This could be due to insanity, poor organization, or the inability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into unwanted sexual activities, and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.

Women with ADHD who are adults can benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek therapy, either individually or with a partner. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It will also help them improve their relationships.

Support services may also include specialized programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs and household responsibilities and look after children.