ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which can cause the symptoms to become worse.
Girls and women are typically more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis as well as delays in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For many women with ADHD, focusing is the biggest challenge. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to other people talk. It can be difficult to complete daily tasks, such as remembering appointments or taking medication.
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 women who suffer from the inattentive form of the condition can have difficulty organizing their home and their desk. They may also find it hard to prioritize their tasks. These difficulties can lead to them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or at the wrong place, or failing to complete their work duties. They may cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems believing they're lazy or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of responsibilities, leading to poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. They are often caused by stress or other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Teachers and parents may be biased towards males and girls, leading to some girls and women to be overlooked. 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.
Hormonal changes can also increase symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. They can be more evident during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle that is the time leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems like mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration but it won't treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. It may be difficult to remember important information, especially if they occur in a noisy setting. You may also end up not remembering appointments or being late to school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which could cause financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You might have trouble working in a crowded or noisy workplace and frequently get lost in conversations, causing the other person to feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many girls and women who have ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They are also at risk of being forced into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is due to the fact that they have a difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also have issues with self-esteem, and may be more likely to view their difficulties as "personal imperfections" rather than recognizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They may be more likely to conceal their symptoms as anxiety or mood problems and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
ADHD symptoms can be different based on fluctuations in hormones. This is especially evident during puberty, as hormone levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can lead to a greater variance in symptoms throughout the day, which can make it harder to diagnose and manage ADHD correctly.
If you are diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like caffeine, sugar and sugary drinks that could worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help calm your mind and reduce restlessness and impulsiveness. They also aid in improving the regulation of emotions. Talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial, since they can discuss possible accommodations at work or school that can help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females with ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be because girls and women have different brains than boys and men. It could also be due to the volume of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
This means it is often difficult for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and could cause other health problems. For instance some women resort to alcohol or other drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or other mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping mechanisms can make it more difficult for someone to recognize that they are suffering from a disorder and may delay a correct diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is among the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can impact their work or school performance, or even their relationships. They often include not staying focused on a task, ignoring important dates or events, and becoming easily distracted by other things in their surroundings or in their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their feet or hands or squirm their seats. They may also shout or speak loudly and they may interrupt.
Women who have the most inattentional type of adhd might struggle to concentrate on conversations or lectures; keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at school or at work; and managing daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It can be difficult for them to stick on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like keys, wallets and eyeglasses.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can lead to trouble at work, at home, as well as at school, and it can cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They have a hard waiting for their turn at school, home, or in the workplace and they frequently interrupt other people. adhd in women adult to control their behavior and are likely to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD may find it harder to manage their issues. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman struggles to meet her responsibilities this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it harder for her to seek treatment.
Women with ADHD are often not recognized as easily as men or boys because their symptoms do not seem to be as apparent. 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 strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For example excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADHD for women can vary at different times throughout the woman's lifetime. Women can suffer ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can result in being dismissed or misinterpreted as an overly emotional woman which can increase her feelings of frustration.
This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. While gender refers to an internal sense of being a woman, man, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial because it allows for better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests may differ between genders. This is why throughout this article we will refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys and women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This is in line with how many research studies use this terminology. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sexuality.