ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which may make symptoms worse.
Girls and women often hide their ADHD symptoms better than men, using strategies to cope with the social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis or delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for many women suffering from ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to remain focused at school, in work meetings, or even when listening to others talk. It can also be challenging to get through everyday tasks like keeping track of appointments or remembering to take your 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 with the inattentive form of the disorder might have difficulty organizing their home and their desks. They might be unable to prioritize their tasks. These problems can lead them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the correct time or not follow through on their work duties. These issues can cause them to feel embarrassed about themselves and they may blame themselves for their problems.
adhd symptoms women can lead to poor performance at work or in school, and debt accumulation. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
Teachers and parents might be biased towards males and girls, leading to some girls and women to be underdiagnosed. 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 in women who suffer from ADHD. For example, they can be more apparent during the menstrual cycle or during perimenopause, which is the time before menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and irritability.
Stimulant medication can improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't solve the problem. Other strategies, such as lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with focus and organization. Some workplaces and schools have accommodations that can help with these issues, too.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or manage obligations. It can be difficult to remember important information about events or people particularly when they take place in a noisy or busy environment. You might also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can cause financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a busy or noisy office, and you may zone out during conversations. This could make the other person feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls with ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of violence from intimate partners. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they are unable to manage their emotions. They may also struggle with self-esteem and could be more likely to view their difficulties as "personal imperfections" instead of recognizing the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases, women and girls with ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They are more likely to disguise their symptoms as anxiety or mood problems and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones, especially during puberty when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to diagnose and manage ADHD.
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 such as caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help to calm your mind and decrease anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also improve emotional regulation. adhd symptoms women could be able to help you by discussing possible accommodations that may aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the amount of activity in the brain 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 strategies for coping to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could result in other health issues. For instance, some women use excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They may also develop depression or other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it harder for someone to notice that they are suffering from a condition and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common symptom of adhd in women. It can impact their school or work performance, and even their relationships. They typically involve not being 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 may fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm their seats. They may also shout or speak loudly and can interrupt.
Women with the predominantly inattentive subtype of adhd can struggle to concentrate on their lectures or conversations; keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling their daily chores. They can be disorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to adhere to commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items like glasses, wallets, keys and even wallets.
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 issues at home, at work and in school, and can lead to feelings of agitation and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at home, school or at work and are often disruptive to other people. They are unable to control their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD might find it difficult to cope with their symptoms. This is partly due to social expectations, which demand that mothers and women be the primary caregivers of their children and household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to manage her responsibilities, she can experience heightened feelings of anxiety which can lead to low self-esteem. This, in turn, makes it more difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women with ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed as their symptoms are not as prominent as those of boys and men. 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 more likely to develop coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For instance the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADHD in women can also vary at different times throughout the woman's lifetime. Women may experience ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstruation and pregnancy. This can result in her being misunderstood or dismissed as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive which can increase her feeling of anger.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a man, woman or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it helps us to better understand the reasons behind why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article we refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men and women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. For more details, refer to the guide on sex and gender by Verywell Health.