Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their lives. They may feel unable at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also tend to be better in establishing coping mechanisms that conceal their ADHD symptoms, which makes it difficult to be diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects both men and boys more often than women and girls however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people get older. This is why it's vital that people with ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or abandoned when they reach the age of adulthood.
As women and girls grow into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances, keeping the house clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they may blame themselves for their troubles.
In contrast to other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormone changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can include the inability to remember things or being oblivious, having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulties with daily routines, such as food planning, scheduling or washing. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to determine if comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their difficulties.
It's also crucial that people who suffer from ADHD be assessed by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional who can assess their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other issues. For example, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and difficulty with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues like anxiety or chronic stress.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They might not think their issues are serious enough to seek help or they might believe their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting, low self-esteem or other external factors. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are diagnosed with ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and can be faced with challenges when it does occur. 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 also have strategies to cope with their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as frequently. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity might be overlooked over a number of time.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms harder to pick up on. They can also have co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, including depression and anxiety. They may find it difficult to manage their emotions. This is often by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
A lot of these issues could result in low self-esteem and relationships problems. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to talk about their problems and seek assistance. This can result in delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and communicating with other people. They might not attend social events or fail to show up for appointments and can't read body language or recognize the non-verbal signals of others. They may even go off on tangents during conversations and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It is crucial to receive a proper diagnose and act as fast as you can. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also assist them focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. signs of add in adult women could have a positive effect on their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal lives of women and girls as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, resulting in frustration and low self-esteem. They may also make it difficult to manage the demands of adulthood, such as managing finances, keeping a home tidy 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 can lead to gender stereotypes about the disorder. Girls and women might then conceal or minimize their symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The first choice is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants are also effective for certain individuals. Additionally, a combination of treatments might be recommended by your healthcare professional to address related conditions like depression or anxiety.
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that increase concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other issues with mood that are that are common among people with ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an important part of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists people recognize and alter negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also be beneficial in improving communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. To ensure that our content is uniform and clear and to avoid confusion among our readers, we use this terminology. This article is applicable to all people who were assigned males at birth, including transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We acknowledge that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to spot. They may also have signs that aren't obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who often develop coping strategies to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These coping strategies could include healthy actions like setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily schedule. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel anxious or depressed, and overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD can experience low self-esteem or other symptoms like anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These feelings can lead to avoiding school or work, as well as social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance on others that's hard to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with non-consensual companions during adolescence. This is due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or the inability to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medications to treat symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek out therapy, either individually or with a partner. This can help them learn to understand their challenges and develop more positive internal conversations. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services may also include special programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD and coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs and manage their home responsibilities, and care for children.