Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also do better at developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is narrowing as we age. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As girls and women grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they may blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic condition unlike other psychiatric disorders. Girls and women tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormonal changes during the menstrual period or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can include forgetfulness or being absentminded, having trouble paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulties in daily routines such as scheduling meals, meal planning or doing laundry. 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 different ways that girls and women suffer from ADHD and also consider whether depression or anxiety can be a contributing factor to these issues.
It is also essential that those with ADHD be assessed by a doctor or another qualified healthcare provider who can assess their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other issues. For example, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. It's also common for adults with ADHD to have other health issues that are co-occurring such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. In some cases, girls and women with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD or they do not receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may have issues 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 may develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms which allows them to be less noticed. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity could go unnoticed over a period of time.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms more difficult to recognize. Additionally, they may have co-occurring illnesses that affect their life management skills, such as depression and anxiety. For add and adhd in women , they might find it hard to control their moods, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal.
A lot of these issues could result in low self-esteem and relationship problems. As a result, it is often difficult for them to speak up about their challenges and seek assistance. This can delay the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and interacting with others. They might miss social engagements, fail to turn on time for appointments, and fail to detect body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal signals. They may 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 fast as you can. For women, this can be an "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also assist women to focus on their strengths and to adopt steps to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their family, work and personal lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal lives of girls and women as they reach adulthood. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in anxiety and low self-esteem. They can also make it more difficult to handle the demands of adult life like managing finances, keeping a home clean and in good 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 gender stereotypes regarding the disorder. Females and females might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options available for ADHD for girls and women. adhd in adult women and to manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. Stimulant drugs are the first option, however non-stimulants may also be effective for some people. Your doctor might suggest a combination treatment to treat related disorders, such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can also aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients recognize and alter negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can help improve communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
We use the words "girls", "women" and "womens" to refer to the gender that was established at birth, rather than to the person's gender identity. To make our content more uniform and clear, and to avoid confusion among our readers we employ this term. This article applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB), and to transgender people and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and we welcome all of our readers.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. It's because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have signs that aren't obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization rather than the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who typically develop coping strategies to feel normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities, such as making daily schedules or setting phone reminders. But they could also be harmful like binge eating or a drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
Women and girls with ADHD may experience low self-esteem or other symptoms like anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoiding school or work, as well as social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to help them with their daily chores. That can create an environment of dependency and dependence on others that's difficult to break.
In adolescence, girls and women with ADHD are at a higher risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This could be due an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to make use of 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 with ADHD who are adults can benefit from medications to treat symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also receive therapy, individually or in partnership. This can help them to identify their struggles and create more positive internal conversations. It will also help them improve their relationships.
Support services could include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, take care of their household responsibilities, and look after their children.