ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitive to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor quality sleep, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Women and girls are often better at masking their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to meet societal expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis or delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school or during work meetings, or when reading and listening to others talk. It can also be challenging to get through daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or making sure to take medications.
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 version of the condition can struggle with organizing their homes and their desks. They might also find it hard to prioritize tasks. These problems can cause them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the correct time, or fail to keep up on their tasks. They may cause them to feel embarrassed and blame themselves for their problems believing they're lazy or forgetful.
Inattentional ADHD can also lead to poor performance at work or in school and can also lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD, they can be triggered either by stress or other mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of biases that teachers and parents may have towards men and boys. 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 can also be exacerbated due to hormonal changes. They can be more noticeable during menstruation or perimenopause which is the period leading up to a woman's menopause as estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration however, it cannot solve the problem. Other strategies, like lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can aid in focusing and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting adhd in young women of forgetting can make managing daily chores and responsibilities difficult. You may have difficulty remembering important details about people or events, especially when they happen in a crowded or noisy environment. You may also find that you are often late for appointments or get late for work and 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 noisy office. You may also lose focus during conversations, leaving the other person to feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They also run the risk of being forced into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. This is because they have a more difficult to manage their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They might also be struggling with self-esteem, and may see their difficulties as a "personal flaw" rather than realizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They might be more likely to conceal their symptoms as mood disorders or anxiety which could lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when progesterone drops and estrogen increases. This can lead to a wider range of symptoms, making it harder to identify and manage ADHD.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and sugary drinks that could worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They also aid in improving the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional could be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that can aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or at school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to be more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be due to the fact that 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.
It can be difficult for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others are unsustainable and can cause health issues of other kinds. For instance, some women turn to drinking or using drugs to cope with their symptoms. They may also become depressed or suffer from other mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize they have mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom in women that can affect school or work performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a specific task, or forgetting important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their hands or feet, or squirm. They can also yell or speak loudly and can interrupt.
Women with the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork writing, reading, or reading assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They can also be messy. It can be challenging to keep up with tasks or commitments. They are more likely to lose or misplace items like 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 trouble at home, at work and at school, and can cause feelings of restlessness and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They are not able to wait for their turn, whether at school, work, or home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They tend to be reckless and are not able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD can have a harder to manage their symptoms than men and boys. This is due in part to the social expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman suffering from ADHD is unable to keep up with her responsibilities, she can be afflicted with anxiety and stress which can lead to low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment.
Women with ADHD are not often diagnosed as readily as males or females 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. They are more likely to develop coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change over the life of a woman. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This can cause her to be misunderstood, or considered being overly emotional.
This article is based upon research into how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology: chromosomal make-up, hormones, and anatomical structure, while gender is a subjective sense of what you're like as a male, a woman, or if you're non-binary, you're or a person. This distinction is important as it helps us to better comprehend how and why ADHD can manifest differently in women and men. For this reason, throughout this article we will refer to both men and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys, and to women and those assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. To learn more, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sexuality.