ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which could make symptoms worse.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms more effectively than men by employing coping strategies to meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis as well as delays in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For many women suffering from ADHD concentration is the biggest challenge. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it hard to stay on task at school, during work meetings, or even when reading and listening to others ' conversations. It can also be difficult to manage 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. Women suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder might have trouble organizing their home or their desks and may have difficulty focusing on tasks, according to CHADD. These problems can result in them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location, or failing to complete their work duties. These issues can cause them to feel uneasy about themselves, and they could blame themselves for their problems.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also make it hard to keep track of responsibilities, leading to poor work or school performance as well as the accumulation of debt. They are often triggered by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of the biases parents and teachers may be prone to towards males and females. 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 exacerbate symptoms in adult women with ADHD. They can be more noticeable during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle which is the period leading up to a woman's menopause, when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
Stimulant medication can enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't cure the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to keep track of your daily tasks or manage the responsibilities. It may be difficult to remember important information especially when they take place in a noisy setting. You may also find that you frequently forget appointments or get late to work or school. Women who suffer from ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or responding to emails, which can cause financial stress and an impression of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a crowded or loud office and often lose focus during conversations, causing the other person feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls who have ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They also run the risk of being forced into inappropriate sexual behaviour or becoming intimate partner violence victims. This is because they have a harder time regulating their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They could also be struggling with their self-esteem, and they might view their problems as something that is a "personal flaw" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Girl and women who suffer from ADHD are also not diagnosed because of gender bias since their symptoms are more obvious than the symptoms of men and boys. They might be more likely to conceal their symptoms as mood disorders or anxiety which could lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on hormone fluctuations. This is particularly true during puberty, when hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels increase. This can lead to a greater variation in symptoms from day to day which can make it harder to identify and manage ADHD correctly.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to become worse. You can also try mindfulness techniques and meditation to help calm your mind, reduce the impulsiveness and anxiety and improve your emotional control. A mental health professional may be able to assist by discussing possible accommodations that can aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women with ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. This could be due to the fact that girls and women have different brains than males and females. Or it could be due to the amount of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
As a result, it can be difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could cause other health problems. For attention deficit in women I Am Psychiatry resort to alcohol or other drugs to deal with their symptoms. They may also be depressed or suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have an issue with their mental health and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptoms for women. It can affect their work or school performance, or even their relationships. This includes being in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a specific task, forgetting important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the surroundings or their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seat. They may also shout or speak loudly, and they may interrupt.
Women with the inattentive subtype may have trouble concentrating during lectures or conversations and juggling schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following instructions in class or at work, and managing daily tasks. They can be disorganized and messy and find it difficult to adhere to commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items like glasses, wallets, keys and even wallets.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can lead to trouble at home, at work as well as at school, and can lead to feelings of agitation and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at school, home or at work and often interrupt other people. They are prone to be reckless and are not able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder to manage their symptoms than boys and men. This is largely due to societal expectations that demand that mothers and wives be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This makes it harder to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not recognized as easily as males or females because their symptoms do not seem to be as apparent. 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 instance, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change throughout the life of a woman. Women may experience ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstruation and pregnancy. This can lead to being viewed as a terribly emotional woman and can cause a feelings of frustration.
This article is based upon research on how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structure. gender is an internal sense of the person you are as a male, a woman, or, if non-binary, an individual. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of how and the ways that ADHD manifests can vary between genders. In this article we refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men as well as women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This is in line with how many research studies employ this terminology. For more information, read Verywell Health's guide to gender and sex.