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 unsatisfied at work, have difficulty with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also have a better chance of creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to recognize and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is narrowing as we age. This is the reason it's crucial that those suffering from ADHD issues don't feel abandoned or unloved when they reach adulthood.
As girls and women grow into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they may blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic illness unlike other mental disorders. Women and girls are prone to mask their symptoms with coping strategies, but these often backfire. Furthermore, hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual period as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can include the inability to remember things or being oblivious and having difficulty paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulties with daily routines, such as meal planning, scheduling or doing laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the many ways girls and women suffer from ADHD, and consider whether depression or anxiety can be a contributing factor to these issues.
Home that people with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare provider. They can assess their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD suffer from additional mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with relationships and social interactions. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience physical health issues like tics or chronic stress.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD do not receive a diagnosis because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to need help. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. Certain women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They may also have issues if discovered. 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 also develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as often. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity might go unnoticed over a period of years.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to recognize the symptoms. Furthermore, they could suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives like anxiety and depression. For example, they can have trouble controlling their moods, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
Many of these issues cause a loss of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. This means it can be difficult to talk about their issues and seek assistance. This can lead to delay in diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and engaging with others. They might miss social events, not attend appointments, and have trouble reading body language. They may even go off on tangents when talking and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It is crucial to receive a proper diagnose and act as swiftly as you can. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation for their struggles and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also help to identify their strengths and make steps to improve their life management skills. This can be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
As women and girls develop into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their personal and professional lives. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They may also make it more difficult to manage the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping a home tidy 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 result in gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which can result in women and girls avoiding or hiding their own symptoms to avoid getting stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed health professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The first option is a stimulant, however nonstimulants may also be effective for some people. Additionally, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your healthcare professional to treat related disorders such as anxiety or depression.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can also aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and also reduce stress and anxiety. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be helpful in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
We employ the terms "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender that was established at birth, rather than to the person's gender identity. To make our content more consistent and clear and to avoid confusion among readers, we use this terminology. This article applies to all individuals who were male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. It's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to determine. They may also have signs that aren't obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who frequently develop coping mechanisms that allow them to feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping mechanisms can include healthy actions like making phone reminders or keeping a daily calendar. But they can also be unhealthy, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and they could be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that girls and women with ADHD face can contribute to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings may lead to being unable to attend school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to help them with their daily chores. That can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that is difficult to break.
In adolescence, girls and women with ADHD are at a higher chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This is due to impulsivity, poor organization, or inability to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activities, and are at a greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
As adults, women who suffer from ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also receive therapy, individually or in a partnership. This will help them to recognize their issues and create more positive internal dialogs. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services can also include coaching for parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs, handle their household responsibilities, and care for their children.