ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor sleep quality, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms more effectively than men by employing strategies to manage their stress and meet the social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women with ADHD concentration is the most challenging thing. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it difficult to stay on task at school, in work meetings, or even when reading and listening to others ' conversations. It can be difficult to accomplish 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 version of the disorder might struggle with organizing their homes and their desk. They might also find it hard to prioritize tasks. These problems can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or at the wrong place, or failing to complete their tasks. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their own problems.
Inattention ADHD symptoms can make it hard to keep track of responsibilities, leading to poor school or work performance and the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered either by stress or other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Women and girls with inattentional ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of the biases parents and teachers may have towards men and boys. 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 cause symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. For instance, they may become more noticeable during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and irritability.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to improve their focus, but it will not cure the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help with focus and organization. Some workplaces and schools have accommodations that can help with these issues, too.
2. Forgetting Things
The habit of forgetting can make managing your daily chores and responsibilities difficult. You may find it difficult to remember important details, especially if they occur in a noisy environment. You might also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Women with ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can result in financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or crowded office, and may get lost in conversations. This can cause the other person to feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls who have ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into inappropriate sexual behaviour or becoming intimate partner violence victims. They are more likely than other people to be overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also be struggling with their self-esteem and they might view their issues as something that is a "personal fault" rather than realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Women and girls with ADHD are also underdiagnosed due to gender bias because their symptoms are less evident than those of males and females. They are more likely to disguise their symptoms as mood or anxiety issues and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
When diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage 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 help to calm your mind and decrease the impulsiveness and restlessness. They also aid in improving the regulation of emotions. Talking to an expert in mental health can be beneficial, since they can suggest possible adjustments at school or at work to help you manage your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than boys and men. It could also be due to the amount of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
This means it is often difficult for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and may cause other health problems. For instance women may turn to drinking or using drugs to manage their symptoms. They could also develop depression or other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have a problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom that affects women and can impact school or work performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a specific task, or forgetting important tasks or events, and easily getting distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seats. They may also yell or speak loudly, and they may interrupt.
adhd in women signs with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd might struggle with concentrating on lectures or conversations as well as keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It can be challenging for them to stick with commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to misplacing or losing items, including 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 disorder can cause problems at work, home or in school. It can also lead to feelings of boredom, restlessness, and frustration. They are not able to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are not able to control their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult time coping with their symptoms than men and boys. This is partly due to social expectations that insist that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and household. If a woman is struggling to fulfill her obligations, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it harder for her to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often not diagnosed 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. They are also more likely to develop coping strategies which mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change over a woman's lifetime. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This can lead her to be misunderstood or considered being emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a matter of biology: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structures, whereas gender is an internal sense of what you're like as a man, woman, or, if non-binary, a person. This distinction is important as it allows us to better comprehend how and why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. For this reason, throughout this article, we refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as men and boys and women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This is in line with the way many research studies employ this terminology. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.