ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently experience symptoms of emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality sleep which can make symptoms worse.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than men, using coping strategies to meet social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis as well as an inability to treat.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for women suffering from ADHD. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to concentrate at school, at work meetings, or even when reading and listening to others talk. It can be challenging to complete everyday tasks such as remembering appointments or taking 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. Women with the inattentive form of the condition may have trouble organizing their house or desks and may struggle to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These issues can lead them to miss appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the correct time or not follow through on their tasks. These problems can make them feel bad about themselves, and they could blame themselves for their troubles.
Inattentional ADHD can also result in poor performance at school or at work and can also lead to debt accumulation. According to adhd test for women can be triggered either by stress or other mental conditions like anxiety and depression.
Some girls and women with inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of biases that teachers and parents might have toward boys and men. 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 women of adult age who suffer from ADHD symptoms, they may be exacerbated due to hormonal changes. For instance, they could become more noticeable during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and anger.
Stimulant medication can improve concentration for adults with ADHD, but it won't treat the condition. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with organization and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations that can help with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to keep track of daily activities or take care of responsibilities. You may struggle to remember important information about events or people, especially when they happen in a crowded or noisy environment. You may also find yourself not remembering appointments or being late to work or school. Women with ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or respond to emails, which could cause financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You might have trouble working in a noisy or loud office and often zone out during conversations, leaving others feeling unimportant or misunderstood.
Many girls and women with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a harder time regulating their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They could also have a problem with self-esteem, and may see their problems as a "personal flaw" instead of recognizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Women and girls with ADHD are also often overlooked due to gender bias because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and females. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which can lead to a misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
ADHD symptoms can be different based on fluctuations in hormones. inattentive adhd in women is particularly evident during puberty, as hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels rise. This can cause a greater range of symptoms, making it harder to identify and manage ADHD.
Diagnosed and treated, you can learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks that can worsen symptoms. You can also try meditation and mindfulness techniques to calm your mind, decrease the impulsiveness and anxiety, and improve emotional regulation. Talking to an expert in mental health can be beneficial, as they can talk about possible accommodations at school or at work that might assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD are more inattentive than hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
In the end, it is often difficult for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and can lead to other health issues. For example women may turn to alcohol or other drugs to cope with their symptoms. adhd symptoms women may also develop depression or other mental health problems like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize they have a problem and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is one of the most common symptom of adhd in women. It can affect their academic or work performance, or even their relationships. They often include not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important events or tasks and becoming easily distracted by other aspects of the environment or in their minds. They may fidget or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seats. They can also talk out loudly or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women who are inattentive can have difficulty concentrating during lectures or conversations and juggling schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in class or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They might be unorganized, forgetful, and messy. It is often difficult for them to follow through with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or misplace 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 type of disorder can cause problems at work, at home, as well as at schools, and can trigger feelings of anxiety and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They have a tough time waiting for their turn at school, home or at work and are often disruptive to others. They aren't able to control their behavior and are likely to be reckless.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder dealing with their issues than boys and men. This is largely due to societal expectations, which demand that mothers and women be the primary caregivers of their children and their household. When a woman struggles to fulfill her obligations, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This in turn can make it harder to seek treatment for her ADHD.
Women with ADHD are not often diagnosed as readily as boys or men 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 that mask their ADHD symptoms. For example, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the course of a woman's lifetime. Women may be afflicted with ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This can cause her to be misunderstood or thought of as a woman who is overly emotional.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to the internal feeling of being a man, woman or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of how and the ways ADHD manifests can differ between genders. In this article, we refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys 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, check out the guide to sex and gender by Verywell Health.