ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms better than men and employ strategies to manage their stress and meet social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis as well as delays in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD concentration is the most challenging thing. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school in meetings at work as well as when reading or listening to other people talk. It can also be difficult to complete daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or remembering to take your 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. Women suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder might struggle to organize their house or desks and may have difficulty focusing on 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 tasks. These difficulties can make them feel embarrassed about themselves and they may blame themselves for their troubles.
Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at work or in school and can lead to debt accumulation. According to CHADD, they can be triggered either by stress or other mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
Teachers and parents could be biased towards boys and men, causing some women and girls to be overlooked. 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.
Hormonal changes can also cause symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. For instance, they may be more evident during the menstrual cycle or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and can cause emotional issues such as mood swings and irritation.
Stimulant medication can increase the concentration of adults suffering from ADHD, but it won't cure the condition. Other strategies, such as lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Some schools and workplaces offer accommodations to help with these issues, as well.
2. Forgetting Things
The habit of forgetting can make managing your daily chores and responsibilities difficult. It may be difficult to remember important details particularly when they happen in a noisy environment. You might also find that you often forget appointments or run late to work or school. Forgetting to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women suffering from ADHD, which can create financial stress and make you feel rushed. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office, and you may get lost in conversations. This could make the other person feel unimportant or confused.
Many girls and women with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they are unable to manage their emotions. They could also be struggling with their self-esteem, and may see their difficulties as something that is a "personal flaw" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Due to gender biases Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They may be more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming mood disorders or anxiety, which can result in being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when estrogen drops and progesterone increases. This can cause a greater range of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet and limiting sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They also aid in improving emotional regulation. A mental health professional might be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that can assist you in managing ADHD symptoms at school or at work.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience less attentive than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that girls and women have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the amount of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
It can be difficult for doctors to identify ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and may cause other health problems. For instance women may turn to alcohol or other drugs to deal with their symptoms. They may also become depressed or suffer from other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
add test for women are a common adhd symptom for women that can affect work or school performance and relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a task, forgetting important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other things in their surroundings or in their thoughts. They might fidget or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seats. They may also yell or talk loudly, and can interrupt.
Women who have the most inattentional type of adhd might struggle with concentrating on their lectures or conversations and juggling writing, reading or schoolwork; following instructions at the workplace or in class and managing daily tasks. They might be unorganized, forgetful, and messy. It is often difficult for them to follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of disorder can cause problems at work, at home or at school. It can also cause feelings of irritability, boredom and frustration. They can't wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They aren't able to manage their behavior and tend to behave recklessly.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD can have a harder to manage their symptoms than males and females. This is due to the expectations of society that require women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it harder to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
Women with ADHD are typically not recognized as easily as men or boys 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. Furthermore, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that mask their ADHD symptoms, such as excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which could be misinterpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADHD in women can also change at different times in the woman's lifetime. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. adhd symptoms women could result in being viewed as a terribly emotional woman which can increase her sense of frustration.
This article is based upon research into how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structure. gender is an internal sense of the person you are as a man, woman, or if non-binary, you're or a person. This distinction is important because it helps us to better know how and why ADHD can manifest differently in women and men. In this article we will refer to both men and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as boys and men and women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This terminology is used in many research studies. For more details, refer to the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.