Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their lives. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle in relationships with peers or suffer from anxiety and depression.
They are also better at developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to recognize and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects boys and men more often than women and girls however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people get older. This is why it's critical that people suffering from ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or unloved when they reach adulthood.
As girls and women mature into adulthood They continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their confidence in themselves and mental health, because they blame themselves for their troubles.
In contrast to other mental disorders, ADHD is a lifelong condition. Women and girls are prone to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but these often backfire. In addition, hormone changes throughout the menstrual cycle as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it difficult to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as inattention or forgetfulness or having trouble paying attention in classes, and having trouble 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 crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the different ways women and girls can be diagnosed with ADHD and also consider whether depression or anxiety contributes to the difficulties.
It is also essential that those with ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or another qualified healthcare professional who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD suffer from additional mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social relationships and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues like tics or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't consider them serious. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or a lack of self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are treated for ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and have significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They also may be faced with challenges if recognized. 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 cope with their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as often. It is possible that girls' problems with concentration, organization and impulsivity could be overlooked over a number of years.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify the symptoms. Additionally, they may suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their life like anxiety and depression. For instance, they might struggle to manage their emotions, and this can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Many of these conditions can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and issues with relationships. In the end, it is often difficult for them to open up about their challenges and seek assistance. This can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and interacting with others. They might miss social gatherings, fail to show up for appointments, and have trouble reading body language. They may even go off on tangents during conversations which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
It's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as possible. It could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also help women to focus on their strengths and adopt steps to improve their life management abilities. This could positively impact their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As women and girls develop into adults untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance and cause feelings of anxiety and frustration. They can make it difficult to deal with adult demands, such as 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 could create gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can result in women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatment options for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The most popular choice is a stimulant, however nonstimulants are also effective for some people. In addition, a mix of treatments might be recommended by your physician to treat related disorders like depression or anxiety.
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other mood disorders that are that are common among people with ADHD. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.
Therapy is also a crucial element of treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. To ensure that our content is clear and consistent, and to avoid confusion among readers we employ this term. This article applies to all people who were assigned male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary people. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD, are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. This is because girls and women tend to hide symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to determine. They may also have signs that aren't obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization, rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who frequently develop coping strategies that make them feel comfortable and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping strategies may include healthy activities such as making daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. However, they can also be unhealthy such as binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may experience anxiety over, depressed, or overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD can experience low self-esteem or other symptoms like depression, anxiety, or abdominal pain. add in women test may lead to avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents for helping them with their daily chores. That can create a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's difficult to break.
In adolescence, girls and women with ADHD might be at a greater risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or a failure to use 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 the exploitation of.
As adults, women with ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. add in women test can also seek therapy either on their own or in partnership. This can help them to recognize their issues and create more positive internal dialogues. It will aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services can also include coaching for parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to keep their jobs and household responsibilities and look after children.