Could ADHD In Women Be The Key For 2024's Challenges?
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 unable at work, have difficulty with peer relationships, and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also have a better chance of creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is narrowing as we age. This is why it's critical that people suffering from ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or abandoned when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women grow into adults, they often remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances and keeping their home clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they may blame themselves for their troubles.
In contrast to other mental disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Girls and women are more likely to hide their symptoms by using methods of coping, but these often fail to work. In addition, hormone changes 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 the track of time, having trouble paying attention in class or work and trouble with daily routines, such as meal planning, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to consider whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their difficulties.
It's important that people with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out any other medical conditions. Certain people with ADHD also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety as well as low self-esteem and issues with relationships and social interaction. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health problems such as tics or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD aren't diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't treat them as seriously. They might not think their problems are serious enough issue to seek help, or they may believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting, low self-esteem or other external factors. Certain women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they are in their 40s or 50s, and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and may have issues 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 can develop coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms and make them less well-known. This means that their issues with organisation, concentration and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to recognize their symptoms. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, like anxiety and depression. They may be unable to control their emotions. This can be exacerbated because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these conditions may lead to low self-esteem or relationships problems. As a result, it isn't easy to talk about their issues and seek assistance. This could delay the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with others. They might not attend social events or fail to show to appointments, and are unable to read body language or read other people's nonverbal signals. They may also be prone to going off on tangents when they're talking, making it harder for others to keep up with them.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as possible. This can be an "lightbulb" moment for women. This Webpage will help them to understand their struggles and accept themselves better. It can also help women to focus on their strength and adopt steps to improve their life management skills. This could positively impact their professional, personal and family lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As girls and women develop into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their personal and professional lives. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance and result in anxiety and a lack of confidence. They may also make it more difficult to manage the demands of adulthood, such as managing finances, keeping a home organized and 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 girls and women suppressing or denying their own symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD for both genders. A licensed health professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The most popular choice is stimulant medications, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. Additionally, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your physician to address related conditions such as depression or anxiety.
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that increase concentration and focus, and reduce stress, anxiety and other mood issues which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Group activities, such as team sports or group fitness classes, are particularly beneficial.
adult add women includes therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial to improve communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) rather than a person's affirmed gender identity. To ensure that our content is clear and consistent, and to avoid confusion among our readers, we use this terminology. This article is applicable to all individuals who were assigned male at birth, including transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We acknowledge that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. This is because girls and women tend to hide symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to identify. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who frequently come up with strategies to help them feel normal and meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy activities such as setting phone reminders or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and they could suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress.
Women and girls with ADHD can experience low self-esteem and other symptoms like anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to being unable to attend school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents for helping them with their daily chores. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that can be difficult to break.
In adolescence, girls as well as women who suffer from ADHD are at a higher chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This can be due to impulsivity, poor planning, or a lack of ability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and can be at greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults may benefit from medications to treat symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also receive therapy, individually or in partnership. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It can aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services may also include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to work and household responsibilities and look after children.