Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to a variety of problems for women and girls. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty with peer relationships and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to recognize and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as we age. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or forgotten.
As girls and women grow 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 affect their self-esteem and mental health, since they blame themselves for their issues.
Contrary to other mental disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Women and girls tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies for coping, but these often backfire. Furthermore, hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual period, pregnancy, and menopause can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically are characterized by being forgetful or numb and losing track of time, difficulties paying attention during classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines, such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's crucial that healthcare providers are aware of the various ways women and girls can present with ADHD, and consider whether depression or anxiety contributes to the difficulties.
It's also critical that people who suffer from ADHD be assessed by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional who can evaluate their symptoms and medical background to rule out other medical conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties with relationships and social interactions. It's also normal for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they're not taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They may not think that their issues are serious enough to seek help or they might believe their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style, low self-esteem or other external factors. In some cases, girls and women with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD or don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may have issues if detected. 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 develop coping strategies that disguise their symptoms which allows them to be less well-known. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity may be unnoticed for a period of years.
Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. Moreover, they can have co-occurring conditions that impact their life management skills, such as depression and anxiety. They may be unable to manage their emotions. This may be worsened by hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual period as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A variety of these issues can cause a loss of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It can be difficult for these people to discuss their problems and seek assistance. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or communicate with others. They might miss social events, not attend appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They may also be prone to wander off on tangents when they're talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up.
It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and act as swiftly as possible. This could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them understand their struggles and accept themselves better. It can also help women focus on their strength and make changes to improve their life management abilities. This could be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can also make it difficult for people to deal with adult demands like managing finances and keeping your home in order 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 in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
Fortunately, there are effective treatment options for ADHD for girls and women. A licensed health professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The most popular choice is stimulant medication, but non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor might suggest a combination treatment to address related conditions, such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can help control ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and stress. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also be beneficial to improve communication and resolve conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. This is to facilitate the use of a more consistent and clear terms across our content and to reduce confusion for readers. This article applies to all individuals who were male at birth, which includes transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and welcome all our readers.
Support
Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD, are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have symptoms that are not apparent to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization instead of hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who frequently create coping mechanisms to make them feel comfortable and meet societal expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy activities such as setting phone reminders or keeping a schedule for the day. They could also be harmful, like binge eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and may have relationship issues and chronic stress.
The difficulties that women and girls who suffer from ADHD face can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings may lead to being unable to attend school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents for helping them with daily tasks. That can create an environment of dependency and reliance on others that's difficult to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with non-consensual companions during adolescence. This could be due impulsivity, poor planning, or a failure to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at higher risk for domestic violence and the exploitation of.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults can benefit from medications to treat symptoms and coping techniques. click here for more can also get therapy on their own or in partnership. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services may also include coaching for parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs, manage their responsibilities at home and care for their children.