It's Time To Expand Your ADHD Symptoms For Women Options
ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They can also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which can cause the symptoms to become worse.
Women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than men, using strategies to cope with the social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women with ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder can make it difficult to concentrate at school or during work meetings as well as when reading or listening to others talk. It can also be challenging to get through 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. According to CHADD, women with the inattentive type of the disorder may struggle with organizing their homes and their desk. They might also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These difficulties can lead to them missing appointments, showing up at the wrong time or place or not completing their tasks. These problems can make them feel bad about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their own problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at work or in school and can also lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms can be triggered either by stress or other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Some girls and women with inattentional ADHD are not diagnosed or recognized because of biases that parents and teachers may be prone to towards males and females. 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 adult women with ADHD, symptoms can also be worsened due to hormonal changes. For example, they can become more noticeable during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and cause emotional problems, including mood swings and irritation.
The use of stimulants can help improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't cure the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help with focus and organization. Some workplaces and school have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make managing your daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important details particularly when they happen in a noisy area. You may also find yourself having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to work or school. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails, which could result in financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may have difficulty working in a noisy or crowded office, and may zone out during conversations. This could make the other person feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to feel overwhelmed due to the fact that they have difficulty regulating their emotions. They may also have issues with self-esteem and could be more inclined to see their issues as "personal flaws" instead of acknowledging that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are more subtle than those of males and boys. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which could result in a misdiagnosis or improper treatment.
ADHD symptoms can differ based on the fluctuation in hormone levels. This is especially the case during puberty when estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels increase. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Diagnosed and treated, you will learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like caffeine, sugar and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can to calm your mind and decrease restlessness and impulsiveness. They can also improve the regulation of emotions. A mental health professional might be able to assist you by discussing possible accommodations that could aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at school or at work.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, women who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. This could be because girls and women have different brains than boys and men. It could also be due to the level of activity in the brain areas that regulate impulsive behavior.
It can be challenging for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop strategies for coping to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others are unsustainable and can result in other health issues. For example women may turn to alcohol or other drugs to manage their symptoms. They may also be depressed or suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have mental health issues and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. This includes being unable to stay focused on a specific task, or forgetting important events or tasks, and easily getting distracted by the surrounding environment or their thoughts. They might fidget, tap their feet or hands or shake their hands. They can also talk out loudly or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive type of adhd may struggle with concentrating on conversations or lectures as well as keeping up with writing, reading or schoolwork; adhering to instructions at work or in class; and managing daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It can be challenging for them to follow through with commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to misplacing or losing 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 cause problems at work, at home, or school. It can also cause feelings of irritability, boredom and anger. They can't wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are unable to control their behavior and are likely to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women with ADHD can have a harder time coping with their symptoms than males and females. This is largely due to social expectations that insist that women and mothers are the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to meet her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This in turn makes it more difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women with ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed as their symptoms aren't as pronounced as those of men and boys. 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. They are more likely to develop coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD can change throughout the life of a woman. inattentive add in women may be afflicted with ADHD symptoms when hormonal changes occur, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can lead her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or considered an overly emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a matter of biology: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones, and anatomical structures, whereas gender is a subjective sense of who you are as a man, a woman, or, if non-binary, you're or a person. This distinction is important as it helps us to better know the ways and reasons ADHD manifests differently in women and men. In this article, we refer to males and people who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as females and girls. This is consistent with how many research studies use this term. For more information, read Verywell Health's guide to sex and gender.