Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause 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 diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects men and boys at a higher rate than girls and women but the gap between genders narrows as people age. This is why it's critical that people with ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or unloved when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women grow into adults, they frequently remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances and keeping their home clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their mental health and self-esteem over time, as they may blame themselves for their troubles.
Unlike some other mental disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Girls and women tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being forgetful or absentminded and losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines, such as meal planning, laundry 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 many ways girls and women present with ADHD and think about whether comorbid anxiety or depression is contributing to these difficulties.
inattentive add in women 's also critical that people with ADHD be assessed by a physician or other qualified healthcare provider who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other issues. For instance, some individuals with ADHD have additional mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health issues, such as tics or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't treat them as seriously. They may not believe that their issues are serious enough to seek help or they might believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting, low self-esteem or other external factors. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children are treated for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or their 50s and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may face challenges if it is recognized. 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 can also develop strategies to manage their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as much. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration, and impulsivity may be overlooked over a number of years.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to pick up on. They can also have co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, like depression and anxiety. For instance, they may have trouble controlling their emotions, and this can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
A variety of these issues can lead to low self-esteem or relationships problems. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to talk about their problems and seek help. This could lead to delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with other people. They might miss social events, not show up for appointments, and have trouble reading body language. They might even wander off on tangents when talking and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It's important that you get a proper diagnose and act as swiftly as you can. It could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It will help them to understand their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It can also help women to focus on their strengths and adopt steps to improve their life management abilities. This can positively impact their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As women and girls develop into adults, untreated ADHD can take a toll on their professional and personal lives. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in frustration and low self-esteem. They may also make it harder to manage the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping a 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, in turn, can lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which could lead to women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options for ADHD in women and girls. Medications control brain activity and manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a certified healthcare professional. The most popular choice is a stimulant, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. In addition, a mix of treatments may be recommended by your healthcare professional to address related conditions like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can help control ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that increase concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other issues with mood that are which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also help improve communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender assigned at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. To ensure that treatment for adhd in women is more consistent and clear, and to avoid confusion among our readers we use this term. This article applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary people. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and welcome all our readers.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to identify. There are also signs that are less apparent to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who often develop coping strategies to be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions, such as making daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. They could also be harmful, like binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and they could have relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women who suffer from ADHD confront can result in feelings of low self-esteem depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents to help with daily tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that's difficult to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual partners in the adolescent period. This can be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or a failure to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexually inappropriate activities and can be at greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to manage symptoms and strategies for coping. treatment for adhd in women can also seek therapy, either individually or with partners. This will help them to identify their struggles and develop more positive internal dialogs. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services can 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 maintain their jobs, take care of their household responsibilities, and care for their children.