Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause various issues for women and girls. They may feel unprepared at work, have difficulty in social relationships or experience anxiety and depression.
They also do better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects both men and boys more frequently than women and girls, the gender gap narrows as people get older. This is the reason it's crucial that people suffering from ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or ostracized as they grow older.
As girls and women grow into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing finances or keeping the house clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their confidence in themselves and mental health, as they blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic disorder unlike other psychiatric disorders. Girls and women tend to mask their symptoms with strategies to cope, but these often backfire. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms usually are characterized by being forgetful or numb, losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during classes or at work and difficulty 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 is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the different ways that girls and women suffer from ADHD, and consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression contributes to the difficulties.
It's also crucial that people with ADHD be evaluated by a physician or other qualified healthcare provider who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other issues. For instance, some individuals with ADHD are also suffering from mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with social relationships and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues, such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't treat them as seriously. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are treated for ADHD, or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and have major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often 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 develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms which allows them to be less noticed. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity may be overlooked over a number of years.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. There are also co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, like depression and anxiety. They may find it difficult to control their emotions. This is often due to hormonal changes during the menstrual period as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A variety of these issues can cause low self-esteem or relationship issues. This means it is often difficult to talk about their struggles and seek help. This can delay the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or interact with other people. They may skip social gatherings, fail to show up for appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They may also be prone to wander off on tangents when they're talking, making it difficult for others to keep up with them.
In these circumstances, it's essential to obtain a correct diagnosis and act as soon as possible. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation of their problems and help them accept themselves more fully. It also allows them to focus on their strengths and make steps to improve their life management abilities. This can positively impact their professional, personal and family lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal lives of girls and women as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, and lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. They can also make it difficult for people to manage adult demands, such as managing finances, keeping a home in order or 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-based stereotypes about the disorder, which could lead to women and girls avoiding or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. The medications regulate brain activity and to manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The most effective medications are stimulants. option, but non-stimulants could also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor may suggest a combination treatment to treat related disorders such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
related web site , along with medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, as well as reduce anxiety, stress and other mood disorders that are that are common among people with ADHD. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Therapy is also a crucial part of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help individuals identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
We employ the words "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to a person's gender identity. To ensure that our content is consistent and clear and to avoid confusion among our readers we employ this term. However, this article also applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary people. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. This is because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to recognize. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who often develop coping strategies that allow them to feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping strategies may include healthy actions such as making daily schedules or setting reminders for phone calls. They can also be unhealthy like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that girls and women with ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings may lead to being unable to attend school, work, or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily chores. That can create a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that is difficult to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with non-consensual companions during adolescence. This could be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and can be at greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
As adults, women with ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also get therapy on their own or in partnership. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It can help them improve their relationships.
Support services can also include coaching for parenting skills and programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs and household responsibilities and look after children.