ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD experience emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They can also experience insomnia or poor quality sleep, which may make symptoms 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 misdiagnosis or delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
For many women with ADHD focus is the most challenging thing. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it hard to remain focused at school, during meetings at work, or even when listening to other people's conversations. It can also be difficult to manage everyday tasks, such as 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. Women suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder might have trouble organizing their homes or at their desk and struggle to prioritize tasks, according to CHADD. These problems can result in being late for appointments, turning up at the wrong time or location or failing to finish their work duties. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they might blame themselves for their problems.
Inattentive ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or in school, and the accumulation of debt. They are often triggered by stress or other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression that are often associated with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.
Teachers and parents might be biased towards males and girls, leading to some women and girls to be misdiagnosed. 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 with ADHD symptoms, they may be caused due to hormonal changes. They can be more evident during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle which is the period leading up to the menopausal phase of a woman, when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from stimulant medications to improve their focus however, it cannot treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
Forgetfulness can make it difficult to keep track of daily tasks or to manage your responsibilities. It may be difficult to remember important information particularly when they happen in a noisy setting. You might also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to school or work. Women with ADHD tend to forget to pay bills or reply to emails, which can cause financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or busy office, and may zone out during conversations. This could make the other person feel unimportant or confused.
Many girls and women who have ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They also run the risk of being pushed into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they are unable to manage their emotions. They might also have trouble with their self-esteem and may be more likely to interpret their difficulties as "personal flaws" instead of acknowledging that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender bias Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are underdiagnosed as their symptoms are less obvious than those of men and boys. They may be more likely to camouflage their symptoms by claiming mood or anxiety issues which could lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on the fluctuation in hormone levels. This is particularly evident during puberty, as estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can result in greater variation in symptoms throughout the day, which makes it difficult to identify and treat ADHD correctly.
When diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like sugar, caffeine and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can calm your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They can also improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to assist by discussing possible accommodations that may help you manage ADHD symptoms at work or in school.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females with ADHD experience more inattentive symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. That may be because the brains of girls and women differ from the brains of men and boys or it could be to do with the amount of activity is occurring in the areas of the brain responsible for managing disruptive and impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, but others are not sustainable and could cause other health problems. Women, for instance are prone to drinking excessively and drugs to cope. They may also be depressed or have other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize a mental health problem and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common symptom of adhd for women. It can affect their academic or work performance, or even their relationships. signs of adhd in women involve not staying focused on a particular task, not remembering important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other things in the surroundings or in their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their hands or feet or squirm. They may also yell or speak loudly, and they may interrupt.
Women who have the most inattentional type of adhd might have trouble concentrating on their lectures or conversations and juggling reading, writing or schoolwork; adhering to instructions at school or at work; and juggling their daily chores. They may be disorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be difficult for them to follow through with commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to losing or misplacing items, including 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 issues at home, at work, and at school, and it can lead to feelings of agitation and boredom. It can also cause frustration. They can't wait for their turn in school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They tend to be reckless and aren't able to manage their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls with ADHD may have a harder dealing with their issues than males and females. This is due to societal expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman suffering from ADHD struggles to manage her responsibilities, she can experience heightened feelings of anxiety that can cause low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek help.
Women with ADHD are not often diagnosed as easily as males or females because their symptoms do not appear as obvious. 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 that cover up their ADHD symptoms, like excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness which can be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change over the woman's life. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstruation or pregnancy, a woman could notice her ADHD symptoms to become more intense. This can lead her to be misunderstood, or considered a woman who is overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research into how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, including hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to an internal sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is crucial as it allows for a better understanding of the ways and the ways in which ADHD manifests can vary between genders. In this article, we will refer to males and those who were assigned male at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females as well as people who were assigned females at conception as women and girls. This terminology is used in a variety of research studies. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide on gender and sex.