ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD frequently experience symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which may cause symptoms to get worse.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms better than men and employ strategies to cope with the social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis or a delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD, focusing is the most difficult thing to do. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school or during work meetings as well as when reading or listening to other people talk. It can also be difficult to manage everyday tasks like keeping track of appointments or making sure to take medications.
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. Women with the inattentive form of the condition may have trouble organizing their house or desk and find it difficult to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These difficulties can lead them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the correct time or fail to follow through on their tasks. They can cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems and think they are incompetent or forgetful.
Inattentional ADHD can also lead to poor performance at school or at work, and debt accumulation. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered by stress or other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents may be biased against boys and men, causing some girls and women 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 who are adults with ADHD symptoms, they may be worsened by hormonal changes. They can be more evident during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle which is the period leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to improve their concentration however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist in focusing and organization. Some workplaces and schools have facilities that can assist with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important details particularly when they happen in a noisy environment. You might also find that you often forget appointments or get late for work and school. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails, which could result in financial stress and a sense of urgency. You might have trouble working in a crowded or noisy office. You may also lose focus during conversations, leaving others feeling unimportant or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to be overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They may also struggle with their self-esteem and may be more likely to view their difficulties as "personal flaws" rather than recognizing the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and boys. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which can result in a misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.
ADHD symptoms can differ based on fluctuations in hormones. This is especially evident during puberty, as hormone levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can lead to a greater variance in symptoms from day to day which can make it more difficult to identify and treat ADHD properly.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you learn life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that might cause symptoms to worsen. It is also possible to practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to help calm your mind, decrease the impulsiveness and anxiety, and improve emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional could also be helpful, as they can talk about possible accommodations at work or school that might assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women 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 boys and men. Or it could be due to the volume of brain activity areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
It can be difficult for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and can lead to other health issues. For instance, some women are prone to drinking excessively and drugs to cope. They might also develop depression or other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping mechanisms can make it difficult for people to recognize that they are suffering from a condition and may delay a correct diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common symptom of adhd for women. It can impact their academic or work performance, and even their relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their minds. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seat. They may also shout or speak loudly and can interrupt.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive type of adhd may struggle with concentrating on lectures or conversations; keeping up with reading, writing or schoolwork; adhering to instructions at work or in class; and juggling daily tasks. They can be disorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like 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 type of adhd can cause issues at work, home, or school. It can also trigger feelings of boredom, restlessness and frustration. They can't wait for their turn in school, work, or home. adhd symptoms in women adults interrupt others frequently. They tend to be reckless and are not able to control their behavior.
4. adhd in young women and women with ADHD may find it harder to manage their symptoms. This is largely due to societal expectations that demand that mothers and women be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman suffering from ADHD is unable to keep up with her responsibilities, she can be afflicted with anxiety and stress that lead to low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment.
Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed since their symptoms aren't as evident 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. Additionally, they are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms, such as frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can also change at different times in the woman's lifetime. For instance, during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual or pregnancy, women may notice her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This could cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or dismissed as being excessively emotional.
The information in this article is based on research into how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to the internal feeling of being a man, woman, or nonbinary person. This distinction is important because it helps us to better know the reasons behind why ADHD can manifest differently in women and men. In this article, we refer to both men and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys and women and those assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This is in line with how many research studies use this terminology. For more details, refer to the guide to sex and gender by Verywell Health.