Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty in social relationships or suffer from depression and anxiety.
They also tend to be better in establishing coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms, making it difficult for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as people age. This is why it's vital that people with ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or abandoned when they reach the age of adulthood.
As women and girls grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances or keeping the house clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their self-esteem and mental health, since they blame themselves for their issues.
In contrast to other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Women and girls tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but they often fail to work. In addition, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms usually 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 like food preparation, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the different ways girls and women be diagnosed with ADHD, and consider whether depression or anxiety is contributing to these difficulties.
It's important that people with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other conditions. Certain people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression as well as low self-esteem and problems with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health issues, such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD aren't diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't treat them as seriously. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to need help. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are diagnosed with ADHD, or they do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood 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 also develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as often. This means that their issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity could be ignored for a long time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the signs. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring conditions that impact their ability to manage their lives including anxiety and depression. They may be unable to control their emotions. This may be worsened due to hormonal changes during the menstrual period, pregnancy, and menopause.
A variety of these issues can result in a low self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It can be difficult for people with these conditions to discuss their problems and seek assistance. This can delay the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to form friendships or communicate with others. They may miss social gatherings, or not show up for appointments, and may have difficulty understanding body language. They could even wander off on tangents when talking, making it difficult for others to follow their lead.
In these circumstances, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and get it as soon as possible. This can be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It will help them to understand their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also help them to focus on their strengths and make steps to improve their life management skills. This could positively impact their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As girls and women develop into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance. They can lead to anxiety and a lack of confidence. They can also make it more difficult to manage the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping the 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 can lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which can lead to girls and women suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatments available for ADHD for girls and women. The medications control brain activity and to manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The first choice is stimulant medications, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. In addition, a combination of treatments might be recommended by your healthcare professional to treat related issues like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other mood disorders that are which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thought patterns that contribute 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 gender assigned at birth (AFAB) rather than an individual's affirmation of gender identity. To ensure that our content is clear and consistent, and to avoid confusion among readers, we use this terminology. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. It's because women and girls tend to hide symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to determine. They also might have symptoms that aren't obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who frequently create coping mechanisms to help them feel normal and meet societal expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy things like making phone reminders or keeping a daily schedule. However, they can also be unhealthy, such as binge eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. They may also be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls who suffer from ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of low self-esteem depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can lead to avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. That can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that's hard to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD might be at a greater risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or a failure to make use of contraception. They are also more susceptible to being pushed into unintentional sexual activity and are more vulnerable to domestic violence and the exploitation of.
As adults, women with ADHD can often benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. They can also receive therapy on their own or in a partnership. This can help them to identify their struggles and build more positive internal conversations. attention deficit disorder in women will also help improve their relationships.
Support services could also include coaching for parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs, manage responsibilities at home, and care for children.