ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD frequently experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitive to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Girls and women are typically better at masking their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work or while reading or listening to others talk. It can be challenging 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 the women who suffer from the inattentive type of the disorder might have difficulty organizing their home and their desk. They may also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These difficulties can lead them to miss appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the right time or fail to follow through on their tasks. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they could blame themselves for their own problems.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also make it hard to keep track of obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance and the accumulation of debt. They are often caused by stress or other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Teachers and parents could be biased against males and girls, leading to some women and girls 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.
For women of adult age who suffer from ADHD, symptoms can also be worsened by hormonal changes. They may be more apparent during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods which is the period leading up to the menopausal phase of a woman as estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to boost their concentration however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies, including lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can aid in focusing and organization. Some workplaces and school have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to stay on top of daily activities or take care of obligations. You may struggle to remember important information about people or events particularly when they occur in a noisy or crowded environment. You might also notice that you often forget appointments or run late to work or school. Women with ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can result in financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This can make someone else feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to be overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also struggle with self-esteem, and may be more likely to interpret their issues as "personal imperfections" instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
More hints to gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They might be more likely to camouflage their symptoms as mood or anxiety issues, which can result in being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
ADHD symptoms can be different based on the fluctuation in hormone levels. This is especially true during puberty, when hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels increase. This can lead to a more frequent change in symptoms throughout the day, which can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD correctly.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like sugar, caffeine and drinks with sugar that can worsen symptoms. You can also try mindfulness and meditation techniques to calm your mind, reduce impulsiveness and restlessness and improve your emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial, as they can discuss possible accommodations at school or at work that might aid in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women with ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. This could be because women and girls have different brains than boys and men. Or it could be due to the volume of activity in the brain areas that control impulsive behavior.
It can be difficult for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop strategies for coping to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could cause other health issues. Some women, for example use excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They may also become depressed or suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom that affects women and can affect school or work performance and relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other aspects of the surroundings or in their thoughts. They may fidget, tap their hands or feet, or make a squirming sound. They may also speak out loudly or yell, and they may be disruptive.
Women who are inattentive can have difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in the classroom or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized, forgetful, and messy. It is often difficult to keep up with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or lose items such as 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 type of adhd can cause issues at work, at home or at school. It can also cause feelings of restlessness, boredom and anger. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at school, at home or at work and are often disruptive to other people. They are prone to act recklessly and aren't able to manage their behavior.
4. adhd in adult women symptoms and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have a difficult time coping with their symptoms than boys and men. This is due in part to societal expectations that demand women and mothers 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 can make it more difficult to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often not recognized as easily as males or females because their symptoms don't 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. Additionally, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which can be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can change at different times in the woman's life. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstruation or pregnancy, a woman may notice her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This can cause her to be misunderstood or considered an overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structure, while gender is a subjective sense of who you are as a man, woman, or, if non-binary, a person. This distinction is crucial because it allows for a better understanding of how and why the ways in which ADHD manifests can vary between genders. In this article, we are referring to males and people who were assigned male at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned females at conception as females and girls. This is consistent with how numerous research studies employ this terminology. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide to sex and gender.