Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also do better at developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to recognize and treat them.
add and adhd in women and symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as we age. This is the reason it's crucial that people suffering from ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or unloved as they grow older.
As girls and women mature into adulthood They continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing their finances or keeping the house clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their troubles.
In contrast to other mental disorders, ADHD is a lifelong condition. Women and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope, but they often result in a negative effect. In addition, changes in hormones during menstrual cycles as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it difficult to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being impulsive or forgetful in the sense of losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention during classes or at work, and having trouble 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 for healthcare professionals to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to determine if anxiety or depression are contributing to their difficulties.
It's also critical that people who suffer from ADHD be assessed by a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other medical conditions. For instance, some individuals with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues, such as chronic stress or tics.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they're not considered serious by teachers, family or friends. They may not believe that their problems are a serious enough issue to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are diagnosed with ADHD or they are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s and have difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often 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 may develop coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms and make them less well-known. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity may remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. Moreover, they can have co-occurring conditions that impact their life management skills, such as anxiety and depression. For instance, they might struggle to manage their emotions, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these issues contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It is often difficult for people with these conditions to talk about their problems and ask for assistance. This can lead to delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and engaging with others. They may skip social gatherings, fail to attend appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They might even be prone to going off on tangents when they're talking, making it harder for others to keep up.
In these circumstances, it's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and take action immediately. For women, this can be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also aid women to focus on their strengths and make changes to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their work, family and personal lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the personal and professional lives of women and girls as they grow into adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, and result in anxiety and a lack of confidence. They can also make it harder to manage the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping the 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 stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Girls and women may then suppress or hide their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD for both genders. Medications control brain activity and manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional. Stimulant medications are the first option, but non-stimulants could also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor might recommend a combination treatment to address related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.
Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, and also reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also help improve communication and resolve conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) instead of a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to facilitate the use of a more consistent and clear terms across our content and to avoid confusion for readers. This article applies to all people who were assigned male at birth, which includes transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to recognize. They might also exhibit symptoms that aren't obvious to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who frequently develop coping mechanisms that allow them to feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities such as keeping daily schedules or setting phone reminders. But they can also be harmful, such as binge eating or a drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD may experience low self-esteem or other symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to help them with their daily tasks. That can create a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that's difficult to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with nonconsensual partners during adolescence. This could be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into unintentional sexual activity and they are more vulnerable to domestic violence and exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also seek therapy whether on their own or with a partner. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services can also include special programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to work and manage their home responsibilities and look after children.