ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor sleep quality which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are typically more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for women suffering from ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it hard to stay on task at school, during meetings at work, or even when listening to other people's conversations. It can be difficult to complete everyday 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 form of the disorder might have difficulty organizing their home and desk. They might be unable to prioritize tasks. These issues can lead them to miss appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the right time or not follow through on their job responsibilities. They can cause them to feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their troubles and think they are lazy or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to keep track of the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. They can be caused by stress or other mental health issues like anxiety and depression that often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Teachers and parents could be biased towards males and females, which can cause 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 adult women with ADHD symptoms, they may be worsened due to hormonal changes. For instance, they could be more evident during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and irritation.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to boost their concentration however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can assist with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or manage responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important information about events or people particularly when they occur in a crowded or noisy environment. You may also find that you are often late for appointments or are late for work and school. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or responding to emails, which could cause financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or loud office and often get lost in conversations, leaving the other person to feel disregarded or untruthful.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into unintentional sexual activity or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They might also have a problem with their self-esteem and may see their issues as an "personal flaw" rather than realizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases, women and girls with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and boys. They could disguise symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders, which could lead to a misdiagnosis and improper treatment.
adhd in adults women can vary depending on the fluctuation in hormone levels. This is particularly evident during puberty, as estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and manage ADHD.
When diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like caffeine, sugar and drinks with sugar that can worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve emotional regulation. Talking with an expert in mental health can be beneficial, since they can discuss possible accommodations at work or at school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to be more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the amount of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be harder for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could cause other health issues. For example some women resort to drinking or using drugs to cope with their symptoms. They may also be depressed or have other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize that they are suffering from a disorder and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can impact their school or work performance, and even their relationships. They often include not staying focused on a task, forgetting important events or tasks, and becoming easily distracted by other aspects of the environment or in their minds. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm their seats. They may also yell or talk loudly, and they may interrupt.
Women who have the inattentive subtype can have difficulty concentrating during lectures or conversations or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in the classroom or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They are often disorganized and messy and find it difficult to adhere to commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to losing or misplacing 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 disorder can cause problems at home, at work, as well as at schools, and can cause feelings of restlessness and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They have a hard time waiting for their turn at home, school or in the workplace and often interrupt others. They are not able to control their behavior and are likely to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult dealing with their issues than boys and men. This is due in part to the expectations of society that require women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman suffering from ADHD struggles to keep up with her obligations, she may feel anxious and stressed which can lead to low self-esteem. This makes it harder for her to seek help.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to be diagnosed because their symptoms aren't as evident as the men and boys. 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 mask their ADHD symptoms, including frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADHD for women can differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. Women can experience ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstruation and pregnancy. This can cause her to be misunderstood or thought of as being emotionally overly sensitive.
The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. While gender refers to an internal sense of being a male, female or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it allows us to better comprehend the ways and reasons ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. In this article we will refer to both men and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men as well as women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.