ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality sleep which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women are generally better at concealing their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For many women with ADHD, focusing is the most difficult thing to do. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to concentrate at school, at work meetings, or even when listening to other people's conversations. It can be difficult to complete daily tasks like 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 who suffer from the inattentive type of the disorder may have difficulty organizing their home and their desks. They might also find it hard to prioritize their tasks. These issues can cause them to miss appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the right time or fail to keep up on their work duties. They may make them feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their problems, thinking they are incompetent or forgetful.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of the demands of life, resulting in poor school or work performance as well as the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms are often triggered by stress or other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents might be biased against boys and men, causing some women and girls to be underdiagnosed. 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 who are adults who suffer from ADHD, symptoms can also be caused by hormonal changes. They may be more apparent during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods which is the period leading up to a woman's menopause, when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to boost their concentration, but it will not cure the condition. Other strategies, such as lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can aid in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities that can help with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
The habit of forgetting can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. It may be difficult to remember important information, especially if they occur in a noisy area. You may also find that you frequently forget appointments or get late for work and school. Forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women with ADHD, which can create financial stress and make you feel stressed. You may experience difficulties working in a noisy or busy office, and you might zone out during conversations. This can cause the other person to feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They are also at risk of being forced into inappropriate sexual behaviour 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 have a problem with self-esteem, and may see their issues as a "personal fault" rather than realizing that their behavior may be linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias, women and girls with ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They may be more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming anxiety or mood problems, which can result in being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen rises. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, making it harder to identify and manage ADHD.
Finding a doctor and getting treatment can help you develop life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks that can worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help to calm your mind and decrease the impulsiveness and restlessness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. Talking with a mental health professional could be beneficial, as they can discuss possible accommodations at work or at school that might aid in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In the majority of cases, women who suffer from ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. This could be because women and girls have different brains than males and females. It could also be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
This means it is often difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could cause other health problems. For instance some women resort to alcohol or other drugs to cope with their symptoms. They may also be depressed or suffer from other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it harder for someone to recognize that they have a problem and delay a proper diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom in women that can affect school or work performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, forgetting important events or tasks and being easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their minds. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seat. They may also yell or speak loudly, and may interrupt.
Women with the predominantly inattentive subtype of adhd can struggle with concentrating on lectures or conversations as well as keeping up with reading, writing, or schoolwork; following instructions at the workplace or in class and juggling daily tasks. They are often disorganized and messy and have a difficult time adhere to commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items such as 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 adhd can cause issues at home, at work as well as at school, and it can lead to feelings of agitation or boredom. They can't wait for their turn, whether at school, work, or home. They often interrupt others. They have a tendency to be reckless and aren't able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder time to manage their issues. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman with ADHD struggles to manage her obligations, she may experience heightened feelings of anxiety which can lead to low self-esteem. This makes it harder for her to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not 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. In addition, they are more likely to develop coping strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms, including frequent fidgeting and forgetfulness that could be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADHD in women can also differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms in the course of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This could result in being dismissed or misinterpreted as a woman who is emotionally overly sensitive which can increase her feelings of frustration.
signs of adhd in women is based on research into how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy. whereas gender refers to the internal feeling of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it enables a better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests may differ between genders. In this article we will refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as men and boys, and to women and those assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is utilized in many research studies. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to sex and gender.