Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They are also more adept in establishing coping mechanisms that conceal their ADHD symptoms, which makes it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects both men and boys at a higher rate than women and girls however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people age. It's important that adults with ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or ignored.
As women and girls develop into adults, they often still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their problems.
Contrary to other mental disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using coping techniques, but they often result in a negative effect. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines such as food preparation, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the different ways that girls and women suffer from ADHD and think about whether comorbid anxiety or depression can be a contributing factor to these issues.
It is also essential that those with ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or another qualified healthcare provider who will evaluate their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other issues. Some people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues such as depression or anxiety or low self-esteem, as well as difficulties with social interactions and relationships. It is also common for people with ADHD to have other health issues that are co-occurring such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
attention deficit disorder in women and women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD or they do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may face challenges if it is 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 also have coping strategies that mask their symptoms, which can result in them not being noticed as frequently. It is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration, and impulsivity could be overlooked over a number of time.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify the symptoms. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring illnesses that affect their ability to manage their life, such as depression and anxiety. They may be unable to control their emotions. This is often because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
A variety of these issues can cause low self-esteem or relationship issues. In the end, it isn't easy to talk about their struggles and seek assistance. This could delay diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to form friendships or interact with other people. They might miss social engagements, fail to turn to appointments, and are unable to read body language or recognize the non-verbal signals of others. They may even be prone to going off on tangents when they're talking, making it harder for others to keep up with them.
It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and take action as quickly as possible. This could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them understand their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also aid women to focus on their strengths and to adopt steps to improve their life management abilities. This can have a positive effect on their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As women and girls develop into adults untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, leading to frustration and low self-esteem. They can also make it difficult for people to deal with adult demands, such as managing finances, keeping a home in order, or maintaining healthy 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, in turn, can result in gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which can result in women and girls suppressing or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant drugs are the first option, however non-stimulants may also be effective for certain people. In addition, a mix of treatments could be suggested by your physician to treat related disorders such as anxiety or depression.
In addition to medications lifestyle changes can also help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, as well as reduce stress, anxiety and other issues with mood that are common in people with ADHD. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
We employ the words "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to a person's gender identity. This is to facilitate the use of a more consistent and clear language across our content, and to reduce confusion for readers. This article applies to all individuals who were assigned male at birth, including transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to spot. They might also exhibit symptoms that aren't evident to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is particularly important for women, who typically develop coping mechanisms that help them feel normal and meet societal expectations. These coping mechanisms can include healthy things like setting phone reminders or keeping a daily schedule. But they can also be unhealthy like binge eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls with ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings can result in avoidance of school and work, or social activities. They could also become more dependent on their parents for help with daily tasks. This could lead to a cycle of dependence and reliance that can be difficult to break.
In adolescence, girls and women with ADHD may be at greater risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This can be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and can be at greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medications to treat symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also receive therapy on their own or in a partnership. This will help them to understand their challenges and build more positive internal conversations. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services may also include special programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to work, manage responsibilities at home, and care for children.