ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality of sleep, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than men and employ strategies to cope with the social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for many women with ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to others' conversations. It can also be difficult to get through everyday tasks, such as keeping track of appointments or remembering to take 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 type of the disorder might struggle to organize their home and desk. They might be unable to prioritize their tasks. These problems can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location, or failing to complete their tasks. These difficulties can make them feel embarrassed about themselves and they could blame themselves for their own problems.
Inattentive ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or in school and can lead to debt accumulation. They can be triggered by stress or other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression that are often associated with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Teachers and parents may be biased against males and females, which can cause 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 women of adult age with ADHD, symptoms can also be caused by hormonal changes. For instance, they could be more evident during the menstrual cycle or during perimenopause, which is the time before menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems, including mood swings and anger.
Stimulant medications can help increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't cure the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in focusing and organization. Some workplaces and schools offer accommodations to help with these issues as well.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to keep track of daily tasks or manage the responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important information about events or people particularly when they take place in a noisy or crowded environment. You may also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to school or work. Inability to pay bills or reply to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD and can cause financial stress and make you feel stressed. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or busy office, and may get lost in conversations. This could make the other person feel ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to be overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They might also have a problem with their self-esteem and may view their problems as something that is a "personal flaw" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They are more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming mood or anxiety issues, which can result in being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on fluctuations in hormones. This is particularly the case during puberty when hormone levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can result in greater variation in symptoms from day to day which makes it difficult to diagnose and manage ADHD effectively.
When diagnosed and treated, you can learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants like caffeine, sugar and drinks with sugar that can worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help calm your mind and reduce restlessness and impulsiveness. They can also improve the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional could be able to assist by discussing possible accommodations that may help you manage ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be due to the fact that girls and women have different brains than males and females. Or it could be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
In high functioning adhd in women , it is often difficult for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are unsustainable and can cause health issues of other kinds. Women, for instance use excessive alcohol and other drugs to deal with their problems. They may also develop depression or other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for someone to recognize they have an issue with their mental health and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom that affects women and can affect school or work performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are incapable of staying focused on a specific task, or forgetting important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the surroundings or their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seats. They may also speak out loud or yell. they can be interruptive.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive type of adhd might have trouble concentrating on lectures or conversations; keeping up with writing, reading, or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and managing daily tasks. They may be disorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be difficult to keep up with tasks or commitments. They are more susceptible to misplacing or losing things 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 subtype can lead to problems at home, at work, and in school, and it can trigger feelings of anxiety or boredom. They have a hard time waiting for their turn at home, school, or in the workplace and often interrupt others. They tend to act recklessly and are not able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD may find it harder 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 their household. If a woman is struggling to fulfill her obligations and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often not recognized as easily as men or boys because their symptoms do not seem to be as apparent. 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 symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change throughout the life of a woman. Women may suffer ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This could result in being viewed as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive and can cause a feelings of frustration.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structures, whereas gender is an internal perception of what you're like as a male, a woman, or, if non-binary, or a person. This distinction is important as it helps us understand the reasons behind why ADHD manifests differently in women and men. This is why throughout this article we refer to males and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys and women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sex.