ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitive to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor sleep quality which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women often hide their ADHD symptoms better than men by employing coping strategies to meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis or delay in treatment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For many women suffering from ADHD, focusing is the most difficult thing to do. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work or while reading or listening to others' conversations. It can also be challenging to complete daily 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. According to CHADD the women who suffer from the inattentive form of the disorder might struggle with organizing their homes and their desks. They might be unable to prioritize their tasks. These issues can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or place or failing to finish their work tasks. These problems can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their problems.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance and an accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they are often triggered by stress or other mental conditions like anxiety and depression.
Teachers and parents may be biased against males and girls, leading to some 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.
Hormonal changes can also cause symptoms in adult women with ADHD. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods, the run-up to the menopausal phase of a woman as estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems like mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medications can help improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't treat the condition. Other strategies, such as lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Some workplaces and schools have accommodations that can help with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. It may be difficult to remember important details especially when they take place in a noisy setting. You may also find that you frequently forget appointments or run late for work and school. Inability to pay bills or reply to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD and can cause financial stress and leave you feeling rushed. You might have trouble working in a crowded or noisy office. You may also zone out during conversations, leaving the other person feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unintentional sexual activity or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult to manage their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They could also have a problem with self-esteem, and may view their issues as something that is a "personal fault" rather than realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Girl and women who suffer from ADHD are also often overlooked because of gender bias as their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and females. They might be more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming anxiety or mood problems and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when progesterone drops and estrogen increases. This can cause a greater range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that could cause symptoms to worsen. It is also possible to practice meditation and mindfulness techniques to relax your mind, decrease impulsiveness and restlessness, and improve emotional regulation. Talking with a mental health professional could be beneficial, since they can suggest possible adjustments at work or school that might aid in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females with ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the amount of activity in the brain areas that control impulsive behavior.
As a result, it is often difficult for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and could cause other health issues. For instance some women resort to alcohol or other drugs to manage their symptoms. They might also develop depression or suffer from other mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to notice that they have a problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom for women that can affect school or work performance and relationships. These include being in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a particular task, or forgetting important events or tasks and being easily distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seats. They may also talk loudly or yell, and they could be disruptive.
Women with the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following directions in class or at work, 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 vulnerable to misplacing or losing items 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 subtype can cause problems at work, at home, or school. It can also trigger feelings of restlessness, boredom and frustration. They can't wait for their turn in school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are prone to act recklessly and are unable control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder to manage their symptoms than males and females. This is due to the expectations of society that require women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to fulfill her obligations and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This in turn can make it harder to seek treatment for her ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not diagnosed as readily as males or females because their symptoms don't appear as obvious. 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 which mask their ADHD symptoms. For example the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADHD in women can differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, a woman could notice her ADHD symptoms to become more intense. This could result in being viewed as an overly emotional woman which can increase her feelings of frustration.
inattentive add in women is based upon research into how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to the internal feeling of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is important as it helps us comprehend the ways and reasons ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article, we refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys and women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in a variety of research studies. For more information, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.