ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They can also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which may cause the symptoms to become worse.
Girls and women are generally more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for many women with ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it hard to stay on task at school, during work meetings, or even when reading or 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. According to CHADD, women with the inattentive form of the condition can struggle with organizing their homes and desk. They might also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize their tasks. These issues can result in being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or location, or failing to complete their work tasks. These problems can make them feel embarrassed about themselves and they might blame themselves for their troubles.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also make it difficult to manage the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. They are often caused by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety that often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Teachers and parents may be biased against males and girls, leading to some women and girls to be overlooked. 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.
Hormonal changes can also increase symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. They may be more apparent during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle, the run-up to the menopausal phase of a woman which is when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
The use of stimulants can help enhance concentration in adults suffering from ADHD however it doesn't treat the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Some workplaces and school have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
It can be difficult to keep track of daily tasks or to manage your the responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important information about people or events particularly when they take place in a crowded or noisy environment. You might also find that you are often late for appointments or get late to work or school. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or responding to emails, which could result in financial stress and an impression of urgency. You might have trouble working in a busy or loud office and often lose focus during conversations, causing others feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into inappropriate sexual behaviour or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed due to the fact that they have difficulty regulating their emotions. They may also be struggling with self-esteem, and may view their difficulties as something that is a "personal fault" instead of recognizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias, women and girls with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which can lead to a misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone fluctuations and, particularly during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen increases. This can result in greater variance in symptoms from day to day, which makes it difficult to identify and manage ADHD properly.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you gain life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They can also help improve emotional regulation. Talking with a mental health professional could be beneficial, since they can suggest possible adjustments at work or school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. It could be because the brains of women and girls differ from those of men and boys, or it could have to do with how much activity is occurring in the regions of the brain that control disruptive and impulsive behavior.
It can be challenging for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others aren't sustainable and may cause health issues of other kinds. For example, some women turn to drinking or using drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or other mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptoms for women. It can impact their academic or work performance, and even their relationships. This includes being unable to stay focused on a specific 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 in their seat. They may also talk loud or yell. they could be disruptive.
Women with the inattentive subtype can have difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in class or at work, and managing daily tasks. They may be unorganized and messy and have a difficult time adhere to commitments or tasks. inattentive adhd in women are more likely to lose or misplace items such as 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 subtype can lead to problems at work, at home, as well as at schools, and can trigger feelings of anxiety, boredom, and frustration. They have a difficult waiting for their turn at home, school or at work and they frequently interrupt other people. They are prone to be reckless and are not able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have a difficult time coping with their symptoms than men and boys. This is partly due to social expectations that demand that mothers and women be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to manage her obligations, she may feel anxious and stressed that lead to low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not diagnosed as readily as boys or men because their symptoms don't appear as prominent. 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. Furthermore they are more likely to develop coping strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness which can be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can also change throughout the woman's life. Women can experience ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstruation and pregnancy. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or considered a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. While adhd test for women refers to an internal sense of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is important as it allows us to better understand how and why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article, we are referring to males and people who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as females and girls. This is in line with the way many research studies use this term. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sex.