Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle in social relationships or experience depression and anxiety.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. navigate here makes it difficult to diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects boys and men more often than women and girls however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people age. This is why it's critical that people with ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or unloved when they reach adulthood.
As girls and women grow into adulthood They continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances, keeping the house clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their self-esteem and mental health as they blame themselves for their issues.
ADHD is a chronic condition and is not like other mental disorders. Girls and women are more likely to hide their symptoms by using methods of coping, but these often fail to work. In addition, changes in hormones during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause can make it difficult to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms typically are characterized by being forgetful or numb, losing track of time, difficulties paying attention in class or work and 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 that girls and women present with ADHD and to think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their difficulties.
It's important that people with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional. They can look at their symptoms, medical history and rule out other conditions. For example, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with relationships and social interactions. It is also common for adults with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They may not believe that their problems are serious enough problem to seek assistance or they might believe their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, among other external factors. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or are not diagnosed until they're in their 40s or 50s and are having major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and may be faced with 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 develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms and make them less well-known. This means that their problems with organisation, concentration and impulsivity could be ignored for a long time.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. They can also have co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, including depression and anxiety. For example, they can find it hard to control their emotions, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
A variety of these issues can result in a low self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to discuss their problems and seek assistance. This could delay diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and communicating with others. They might not attend social events, fail to turn to appointments, and are unable to discern body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal cues. They might even wander off on tangents during conversations which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and act as fast as you can. For women, this could be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept their own uniqueness. It can also help to identify their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This can have a positive effect on their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As girls and women develop into adults untreated ADHD can take a toll on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance. They can result in anxiety and a lack of confidence. They can make it difficult to deal with adult demands, such as managing finances and 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 can result in stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Girls and women might then conceal or minimize their symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD in girls and women. The medications regulate brain activity and help control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a certified healthcare professional. Stimulant medications are the first option, but non-stimulants could also be effective for certain people. Your doctor might suggest a combination treatment to treat related disorders like depression or anxiety disorders.
Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other mood issues which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial in improving communication and resolve conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) instead of a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to provide clearer and more consistent language across our content, and to reduce confusion for our readers. This article is applicable to all people who were assigned males at birth, which includes transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all of our readers.
Support
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. This is because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to spot. There are also signs that aren't apparent to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who typically develop coping strategies that make them feel comfortable and meet societal expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities, such as keeping daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. However, they can also be harmful like excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women who are not treated for ADHD may experience anxiety, depressed, overwhelmed, and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD can experience low self-esteem and other symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to being unable to attend school, work, or social activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents for help with everyday tasks. This can lead to a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that is difficult to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent years. This is due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or inability to use contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into unintentional sexual activity and are more vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults can benefit from medications to treat symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also get therapy, individually or in a group. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It will aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services may also include special programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD to keep their jobs, handle their household responsibilities, and take care of their children.