Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls are often faced with a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also tend to be better in developing coping mechanisms to conceal their ADHD symptoms, which makes it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as we age. It is crucial that people with ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As girls and women grow into adults, they frequently still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their self-esteem and mental health, because they blame themselves for their issues.
ADHD is a chronic condition unlike other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using coping strategies that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormonal changes during menstrual periods as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms typically include being impulsive or forgetful in the sense of losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention in classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines, such as food preparation, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the many ways women and girls can suffer from ADHD, and consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression is contributing to these difficulties.
It is essential that those suffering from ADHD are examined by a certified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues like anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties with relationships and social interactions. It's also normal for people with ADHD to suffer from other health issues that are co-occurring such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD do not receive a diagnosis because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They may not think that their issues are serious enough to seek help, or they may believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. Women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children are treated for ADHD. Some aren't diagnosed until they are in their 40s or their 50s, and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They may also be faced with challenges 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 to disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less visible. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity could be ignored for a long time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify the symptoms. There are also co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, like anxiety and depression. For instance, they might have trouble controlling their emotions, and this can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
A lot of these issues could cause low self-esteem or relationship issues. In the end, it is often difficult for them to speak up about their challenges and seek assistance. This could delay diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and engaging with others. They might miss social engagements, fail to turn to appointments, and are unable to detect body language or recognize other people's nonverbal signals. They might even go off on tangents when talking which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
It is essential to get an accurate diagnosis and act as swiftly as possible. This could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also help to identify their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This could have a positive impact on their work, family and personal lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal life of girls and women as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance and result in anxiety and a lack of confidence. They may also make it difficult to manage the demands of adulthood, such as managing finances, keeping the home organized 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 stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Girls and women might then conceal or minimize their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The first option is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants may also be effective for some people. Your doctor may suggest a combination treatment to treat related disorders, such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus, and also reduce stress and anxiety. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Therapy is also an important part of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. please click the following article can also help improve communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) instead of an individual's affirmation of gender identity. This is to ensure more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for readers. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB), and to transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. It's because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to determine. There are also signs that are less apparent to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization, instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who typically develop strategies for coping to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These coping strategies may include healthy actions such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders for phone calls. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may experience anxiety or depressed, and overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges women and girls who suffer from ADHD face can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression or even somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings can lead to avoidance of school, work or social activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents for help with daily tasks. This could lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent period. This could be due the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or an inability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults can benefit from medication to manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also receive therapy either on their own or in a partnership. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It will help them improve their relationships.
Support services could include programs specifically designed for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD and coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs, manage their home responsibilities and take care of their children.