Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to various issues for women and girls. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle with peer relationships or suffer from depression and anxiety.
They are also more adept in developing coping mechanisms to conceal their ADHD symptoms, making it more difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects both men and boys more often than girls and women, the gender gap narrows as people age. This is why it's critical that those suffering from ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or unloved when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women develop into adults, they typically continue to have trouble with their ADHD symptoms. adhd in older women may struggle with managing their finances, keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they might blame themselves for their problems.
Contrary to other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but they often fail to work. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual periods, pregnancy, and menopause could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can be characterized by the inability to remember things or being oblivious or having trouble paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulties in daily routines such as meal planning, scheduling or doing laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to think about whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their problems.
It's also critical that people with ADHD be assessed by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out other conditions. For high functioning adhd in women , some individuals with ADHD have additional mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social relationships and relationships. It's also common for adults with ADHD to have other health issues that are co-occurring such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or their 50s, and are having problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They can also have issues if detected. 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 also develop strategies to manage their symptoms, which can result in them not being noticed as frequently. It is possible that girls' problems with concentration, organization and impulsivity may go unnoticed over a period of years.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the symptoms. Moreover, they can suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their life, such as anxiety and depression. For example, they can find it hard to control their emotions, and this can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these conditions may lead to low self-esteem or relationship problems. It is often difficult for these people to openly discuss their issues and seek assistance. This could delay the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with other people. They may miss social events, not show up for appointments, and may have difficulty reading body language. They might even wander off on tangents when talking which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
women and adhd is essential to get a proper diagnose and act as fast as possible. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation of their problems and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also aid women focus on their strength and make changes to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their work, family and personal lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As girls and women develop into adults, untreated ADHD can take a toll on their personal and professional lives. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance. They can result in anxiety and a lack of confidence. They can also make it difficult to manage adult demands like managing finances, maintaining a clean home and maintaining healthy 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 lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which can result in women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. Medicines regulate brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The most popular choice is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants are also effective for certain people. Your doctor may recommend a combination treatment to treat related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender assigned at birth (AFAB) rather than a person's affirmed gender identity. To make our content more clear and consistent, and to avoid confusion among our readers we use this term. This article applies to all those who were assigned male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to identify. There are also signs that aren't apparent to others, such as inattention or disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who often develop strategies for coping to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms can include healthy actions like making phone reminders or keeping a schedule for the day. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. They may also suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress.
The difficulties that girls and women who suffer from ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings may lead to the avoidance of school or work activities. They may also become more reliant on their parents to help with daily tasks. That can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that is difficult to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD might be at a greater chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or an inability to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and they are at a higher risk of domestic violence and sexual exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also seek therapy on their own or in partnership. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. It will also help them improve their relationships.
Support services can also include specialized programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD, as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, handle their responsibilities at home and care for their children.