ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can make symptoms worse.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms better than males by employing strategies to manage their stress and meet the social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD focus is the biggest challenge. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school or during work meetings, or when reading and listening to others' conversations. 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 women who suffer from the inattentive form of the disorder may struggle with organizing their homes and their desks. They may also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These issues can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location, or failing to complete their work tasks. These issues can cause them to feel bad about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their own problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD can also lead to poor performance at school or at work and can also lead to debt accumulation. According to CHADD, they are often triggered by stress or other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of biases that teachers and parents 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 increase symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. They may be more apparent during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods that is the time leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
attention deficit disorder in women suffering from ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with focus and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to stay on top of daily activities or take care of the responsibilities. It can be difficult to keep track of important details, especially if they occur in a noisy area. You might also notice that you often forget appointments or are late for work and school. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which could cause financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or busy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This could cause the other person to feel unimportant or confused.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to feel overwhelmed due to the fact that they are unable to manage their emotions. They might also have a problem with their self-esteem and they might view their issues as something that is a "personal fault" instead of realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases, women and girls with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They may be more likely to conceal their symptoms as anxiety or mood problems and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
ADHD symptoms can differ based on the fluctuation in hormone levels. This is particularly the case during puberty when estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to identify and manage ADHD.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop the life skills needed to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can relax your mind and reduce restlessness and impulsiveness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. Talking with a mental health professional can also be helpful, as they can suggest possible adjustments at work or school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD are more inattentive than hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be because women and girls have different brains than males and females. Or it could be due to the level of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
It can be challenging for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop strategies for coping to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others are not long-lasting and could lead to other health issues. Some women, for example are prone to drinking excessively and other drugs to deal with their problems. They might also develop depression or suffer from mental health problems like anxiety. adhd traits in women of coping can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom in women that can affect work or school performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks and being easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their feet or hands or shake their hands. They can also yell or speak loudly, and they may interrupt.
Women who have the most inattentional subtype of adhd can struggle to concentrate on conversations or lectures as well as keeping up with writing, reading, or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling their daily chores. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It can be difficult for them to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace items like eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can cause problems at work, home or at school. It can also cause feelings of boredom, restlessness and anger. They have a difficult time waiting for their turn at school, at home or at work and often interrupt other people. They aren't able to manage their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD might find it difficult to manage their symptoms. This is partly due to the expectations of society that insist that women and mothers are the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to manage her responsibilities, she could be afflicted with anxiety and stress that can cause low self-esteem. This in turn can make it harder to seek treatment for her ADHD.
Women with ADHD are often not diagnosed as easily as males or females because their symptoms don't appear as obvious. 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. Furthermore they are more likely to develop strategies for coping to disguise their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD for women can vary at different times throughout the woman's life. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This could result in being dismissed or misinterpreted as a terribly emotional woman and can cause a feeling of anger.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology: chromosomal make-up hormones, hormones, and anatomical structure, while gender is a subjective sense of the person you are as a man, woman, or, if non-binary, a person. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of how and why the ways in which ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article, we refer to males and those who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and those who were assigned females at conception as women and girls. This terminology is used in a variety of research studies. For more information, read the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.