ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity towards rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor sleep quality which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women are typically better at concealing their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the biggest issue for many women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school, during meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to others talk. It can also be difficult to get through everyday tasks, such as keeping track of appointments or remembering to take medication.
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. According to CHADD the women who suffer from the inattentive form of the disorder may have difficulty organizing their home and their desk. They might also find it hard to prioritize tasks. These difficulties can lead to them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location or not completing their work duties. They may make them feel embarrassed and blame themselves for their shortcomings and think they are incompetent or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of responsibilities, leading to poor work or school performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD, they can be triggered either by stress or other mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
signs of add in adult women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of the biases teachers and parents might 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.
For adult women who suffer from ADHD symptoms, they can be caused by hormonal changes. For instance, they may become more noticeable during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and irritability.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration, but it will not cure the condition. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also help with organization and focus. Some schools and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
The habit of forgetting can make managing daily chores and responsibilities difficult. You may have difficulty remembering important details about people or events particularly when they take place in a crowded or noisy environment. You might also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to work or school. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is a common occurrence for women with ADHD and can cause financial stress and leave you feeling stressed. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This could make someone else feel unimportant or confused.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unintentional sexual activity or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed due to the fact that they are unable to manage their emotions. They may also struggle with self-esteem, and may be more likely to view their issues as "personal flaws" rather than recognizing the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Girl and women with ADHD are also often overlooked due to gender bias, because their symptoms are less noticeable than those of boys and men. They might be more likely to disguise their symptoms as mood disorders or anxiety which could lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones, especially during puberty when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. This can cause greater variation in symptoms from day to day which makes it difficult to identify and manage ADHD effectively.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks that could worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also improve emotional regulation. Talking with an expert in mental health can also be helpful, as they can talk about possible accommodations at work or at school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women with ADHD have more irritable symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones. That may be because the brains of girls and women differ from those of males and females or it could have to do with the amount of activity is happening in the parts of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
This means it is often difficult for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to mask their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't long-lasting and could lead to other health issues. Women, for instance are prone to drinking excessively or drugs to manage. They might also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for people to recognize mental health issues and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can affect their school or work performance, or even their relationships. These include being unable to stay focused on a particular task, ignoring important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their feet or hands or squirm their seats. They may also yell or talk loudly, and they may interrupt.
Women who are inattentive are prone to having difficulty staying focused during lectures or conversations and juggling schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following directions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It is often difficult for them to stick with tasks or commitments. They are more prone to misplacing or losing items, including keys, wallets and eyeglasses.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of adhd can cause issues at home, work or at school. It can also lead to feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They can't wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or home. They also interrupt others frequently. They are not able to control their behavior and are likely to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have a difficult time coping with their symptoms than boys and men. This is due to the expectations of society that demand that women and mothers are the primary caregivers for their children and their household. When a woman struggles to fulfill her obligations this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This in turn can make it harder to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed as their symptoms aren't as prominent as the men and boys. 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 also more likely to develop coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For example excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD for women can vary at different times throughout the woman's life. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual or pregnancy, a woman could find her ADHD symptoms to be exacerbated. This can lead her to be misunderstood or considered being emotionally overly sensitive.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology: chromosomal make-up hormones, hormones and anatomical structure. gender is an internal perception of who you are as a man, woman, or if nonbinary, a person. This distinction is important as it allows us to better know how and why ADHD can manifest differently in men and women. For this reason, throughout this article we refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as men and boys, and to women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. For more information, check out the guide on sex and gender by Verywell Health.