Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their daily lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, have difficulty with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They are also more adept in developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms, making it difficult for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects boys and men more frequently than girls and women but the gap between genders narrows as people age. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD issues don't feel neglected or forgotten.
As girls and women mature into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances and keeping their home clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they might blame themselves for their troubles.
Unlike some other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Girls and women tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies for coping, but these often backfire. In addition, changes in hormones during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being impulsive or forgetful in the sense of losing track of time, difficulties paying attention during classes or at work, and having trouble with daily routines, such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to determine if the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their difficulties.
It's also crucial that people who suffer from ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or another qualified healthcare provider who can evaluate their symptoms and medical history to rule out other medical conditions. Some people with ADHD also have mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and problems with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience physical health issues, such as tics or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think that their problems are serious enough problem to seek assistance, or they may believe their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or do not receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and have difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and can face challenges when it does happen. 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 may also develop strategies to cope with their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as much. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity may be ignored for a long time.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify the symptoms. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. For instance, they may have trouble controlling their moods, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Many of these issues result in a low self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. In the end, it isn't easy to talk about their challenges and seek assistance. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with other people. They might miss social gatherings, fail to attend appointments, and may have difficulty understanding body language. They may also be inclined to go off on tangents while talking, making it harder for others to keep up.
For these reasons, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as possible. For women, this can be an "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation of their problems and help them accept their own uniqueness. It can also aid women to recognize their strengths and make changes to improve their life management abilities. This can positively impact their professional, personal and family lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the professional and personal life of girls and women as they grow into adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance and cause frustration and low confidence. They can make it difficult to deal with adult demands, like managing finances, maintaining a clean home, 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 could result in gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which could lead to women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. The most effective medications are stimulants. option, however non-stimulants may also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor may recommend a combination treatment to treat related disorders, such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
In addition to medications, lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. add in women test , like group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. This is to provide clearer and more consistent terms across our content and to reduce confusion for readers. This article is applicable to all those who were assigned males at birth, which includes transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. It's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making it harder for doctors to determine. There are also signs that are less evident to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization, instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is essential for women who frequently develop strategies for coping to feel normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions, such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting phone reminders. They can also be harmful like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. They may also be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD can experience low self-esteem, or other symptoms like anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can cause being unable to attend school, work or social activities. They could also become more reliant on their parents to assistance with their daily tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual companions during the adolescent period. This can be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also seek therapy in a couple or on their own with an individual or with a partner. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This will also help improve their relationships.
Support services could also include coaching for parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD keep their jobs, handle their responsibilities at home and look after their children.