Ten Common Misconceptions About ADHD In Women That Aren't Always True
Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their daily lives. They may feel unable at work, have difficulty with peer relationships and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also do better at developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to recognize and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as we age. This is the reason it's crucial that people suffering from ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or unloved as they grow older.
As girls and women grow into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances and keeping their home clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their self-esteem and mental health, since they blame themselves for their troubles.
Contrary to other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a chronic condition. More hints and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope, but they often fail to work. In addition, hormone changes during menstrual cycles as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type 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's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to determine if the presence of anxiety or depression is the cause of their struggles.
It's important that people with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. They can look at their symptoms, medical history and rule out other conditions. Certain people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues like depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and issues with relationships and social interaction. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health problems such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't take them seriously. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and have difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They also may have issues if detected. 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 which allows them to be less well-known. This means that their issues with organisation, concentration and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms harder to pick up on. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, including anxiety and depression. For instance, they might have trouble controlling their emotions, and this can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these conditions can result in a low self-esteem and problems with relationships. In the end, it isn't easy for them to speak up about their struggles and seek help. This could delay the diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with others. They may miss social events, not show up for appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They could even go off on tangents while talking which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
It is crucial to receive a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as possible. This could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them understand their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It can also help women to recognize their strength and take steps to improve life management skills. This can positively impact their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their personal and professional lives. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance. They can lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. They may also make it harder to cope with the demands of adulthood including managing finances, keeping your 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, in turn, can lead to gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which can result in girls and women suppressing or hiding their own symptoms to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatment options for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed health professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant drugs are the first option, however non-stimulants may also be effective for some people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination therapy to address related conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can help control ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce stress, anxiety and other issues with mood that are that are common among people with ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an essential component of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender determined at birth (AFAB) rather than the person's gender-specific identity. To ensure that our content is more consistent and clear and to avoid confusion among readers we employ this term. This article applies to all individuals who were assigned male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to spot. They may also have signs that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who typically develop coping strategies to feel normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities like making daily schedules or setting reminders for phone calls. But they can also be unhealthy such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD might feel anxious or depressed, and overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD may experience low self-esteem, or other symptoms like depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These feelings may lead to being unable to attend school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents for helping them with daily tasks. This can lead to a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that's hard to break.
In adolescence, girls as well as women with ADHD are at a higher risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or the inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be forced into unwanted sexual activities, 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 seek out therapy in a couple or on their own with partners. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. This will also help improve their relationships.
Support services could include programs specifically designed for mothers who are pregnant or with ADHD, as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD maintain their jobs, take care of their household responsibilities, and take care of their children.