Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to various issues for girls and women. They may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to identify and treat them.
Symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects boys and men more often than girls and women however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people get older. This is why it's vital that people suffering from ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or abandoned as they grow older.
As girls and women grow into adults, they typically still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their troubles.
ADHD is a chronic disorder, unlike some other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to mask their symptoms with strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as the inability to remember things or being oblivious, having trouble paying attention in classes, and having trouble with daily routines like scheduling meals, meal planning or doing laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the different ways girls and women present with ADHD and think about whether depression or anxiety contributes to the difficulties.
It is crucial that those with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other illnesses. For instance, some people with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues like depression or anxiety, low self-esteem and trouble with relationships and social interactions. It is also common for adults with ADHD to suffer from other health issues that are co-occurring such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD do not receive a diagnosis because they're not considered serious by family members, teachers or friends. They might not think their problems are a serious enough problem to seek assistance, or they may believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some cases, girls and women with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are having difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood and may face challenges when it does happen. 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 frequently. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration, and impulsivity may be unnoticed for a period of years.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. Moreover, they can suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their life including anxiety and depression. For instance, they may struggle to manage their emotions, and this can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
Many of these conditions may result in low self-esteem and relationship problems. It can be difficult for people with these conditions to talk about their problems and ask for assistance. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with others. They might not attend social events and fail to show to appointments, and are unable to detect body language or recognize the non-verbal signals of others. They could even go off on tangents while talking, making it difficult for others to follow them.
For these reasons, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and act as soon as possible. For women, this can be a "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation for their difficulties and allow them to accept themselves more fully. It can also assist women to focus on their strengths and adopt steps to improve their life management skills. This can have a positive impact on their work, family and personal lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As girls and women develop into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, and lead to frustration and low confidence. They can also make it difficult to cope with adult demands, like managing finances, maintaining a clean home, or 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 can lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which could lead to girls and women suppressing or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. Medications regulate brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The first option is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants are also effective for certain individuals. Your doctor might suggest a combination therapy to treat related conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders.
In addition to medications, lifestyle changes can aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, such as team sports or group fitness classes, can be particularly beneficial.
adhd test for women includes therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender determined at birth (AFAB) rather than a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to ensure the use of a more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to make it easier for readers. This article applies to all those who were assigned male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. It's because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to determine. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization, rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who often come up with strategies to help them be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities like maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders on phones. They can also be unhealthy like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and they could suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress.
The challenges women and girls with ADHD face can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in avoidance of school, work or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to help them with their daily chores. That can create an environment of dependency and reliance on others that is difficult to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with non-consensual partners in the adolescent years. This could be due impulsivity, poor planning, or a failure to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into unwanted sexual activities, and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also seek help from a therapist, either individually or with an individual or with a partner. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It can also help them improve their relationships.
Support services can include coaching to teach parenting skills and programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or parenting. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD keep their jobs, manage their home responsibilities and take care of their children.