Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel incompetent at work, have difficulty in relationships with peers, or suffer from depression and anxiety.
They also do better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as we age. It's crucial that those who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As girls and women grow into adults, they frequently still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances or keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their confidence in themselves and mental health, as they blame themselves for their issues.
ADHD is a chronic illness and is not like other mental disorders. Girls and women tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormonal changes during the menstrual period, pregnancy, and menopause could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention in classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines, such as meal planning, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's crucial that healthcare providers are aware of the different ways girls and women suffer from ADHD, and consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression contributes to the difficulties.
It's important that people with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other conditions. For instance, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health issues like anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and trouble with social relationships and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues, such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not believe that their problems are a serious enough to seek help or they might believe their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting, low self-esteem or other external factors. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are treated for ADHD or do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and have major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They also may face challenges if it is discovered. 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. simply click the next internet page can also develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms, which can result in them not being noticed as frequently. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation 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 symptoms. Moreover, they can suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives including anxiety and depression. They may have difficulty to control their emotions. This is often due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A variety of these issues can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and issues with relationships. This means it can be difficult to talk about their issues and seek assistance. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or communicate with others. They may miss social gatherings, fail to attend appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They may even be prone to wander off on tangents while talking, making it harder for others to keep up.
It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and act as swiftly as possible. This could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their struggles and accept themselves better. It can also aid women focus on their strengths and to take steps to improve life management skills. This could positively impact their family, work and personal lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the personal and professional life of girls and women as they enter adulthood. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can also make it harder to handle the demands of adulthood like 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 regarding the disorder. Women and girls might then conceal or minimize their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options available for ADHD for girls and women. The medications control brain activity and to manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. Stimulant drugs are the first choice, but non-stimulants can also be effective for some people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination treatment to address related conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders.
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 also reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as team sports or group fitness classes, can be particularly beneficial.
Therapy is also an essential component of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and modify negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) instead of a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to facilitate more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to reduce confusion for our readers. However, this article also applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender people and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. This is because girls and women tend to hide symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose. They also might have symptoms that aren't obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is essential for women who often come up with strategies to help them feel normal and meet social expectations. These coping strategies could include healthy things like making phone reminders or keeping a daily calendar. But they could also be harmful like excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and they could have relationship issues and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD may experience low self-esteem or other symptoms like depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. That can create a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's hard to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD may be at greater risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This can be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or a failure to use contraception. They are more likely to be forced into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also get therapy on their own or in a group. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. This will also help improve their relationships.
Support services can also include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, manage their responsibilities at home and take care of their children.