Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD experience low self-esteem. They struggle to meet social expectations, and often feel their discontent.
They may also be suffering from emotional distress including sensitivity to rejection. They are more likely to engage dangerous behaviors.
ADHD symptoms can also change during hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle or pregnancy. This can make it more difficult to diagnose.
Signs and symptoms
Women may struggle to identify their ADHD symptoms because they often cover them up. This could lead to an inaccurate diagnosis, and incorrect treatment may cause more problems than they solve. undiagnosed adhd in women have difficulty being diagnosed, particularly when they reach adulthood. This could be due to the fact that diagnostic criteria were formulated on the basis of studies conducted on males. Some experts are working to improve the criteria.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women are usually like those experienced by males. For instance, many people with ADHD experience difficulty concentrating or listening. They might forget important tasks or lose things. They may spend hours organizing their home or work space, but not keep up. They often get distracted easily by noise or activities in the vicinity. People who suffer from ADHD are prone to having trouble sleeping and may worry over their health and the safety of others.
If women and girls experience symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD It can affect the entirety of their lives. They may have difficulty at school or work as well as having issues with their romantic relationships and friendships. They can have low self-esteem and anxiety, so they may use unhealthy strategies to cope like drugs or alcohol.
Undiagnosed ADHD can cause more frustration and miscommunications in relationships with friends, family and colleagues. Teachers and coaches could criticize them or they may be unfairly treated at work. Having ADHD can make it more difficult to focus on tasks and meet deadlines.
Many people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD develop strategies to cope with their problems over the years. They might work late into the night to get ahead of their work or hide their problems from family members. When they find out that their challenges are because of ADHD, it is like an epiphany. They will then be able to understand how to overcome their challenges and utilize their strengths (like creativity and high levels of energy) to their advantage.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect an individual's work, relationships, and life. It can cause social isolation, financial instability as well as depression. Some people who suffer from ADHD, who are not diagnosed are prone to developing an addiction to stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines. This can cause serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke.
Diagnosis
Many women with ADHD aren't diagnosed because symptoms are more difficult to detect in women than in men. This may be due to the fact that women have more trouble communicating with health professionals about their struggles and are more likely to use coping strategies to mask their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could require changing behaviors for example, like putting in more hours at school or work to compensate for their inability in focus, or using productivity tools to help them stay organized and on to schedule with their projects. These strategies may work in the short term but they can be exhausting and not sustainable.
Many people are unaware that women they know may have ADHD due to gender stereotypes. Some symptoms can be exacerbated due to hormonal changes like those that occur during menstruation or during pregnancy. This can cause women to be viewed as a moody or emotional, which may increase their frustration.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms in women include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and an impulsive nature. They are also prone to jumping from one thing to another and have difficulties maintaining relationships. Women with undiagnosed ADHD are more likely to have co-existing conditions, such as depression and anxiety. These conditions may manifest symptoms similar to ADHD and can cause an incorrect diagnosis and treatment.
It isn't easy to distinguish between anxiety and ADHD due to the fact that they share many symptoms. Anxiety symptoms include restlessness, difficulty in concentration and a constant feeling that something isn't right. Anxiety disorders don't have the impulsivity or inattention of ADHD.
For women who are not diagnosed with ADHD, receiving an assessment from a professional can be a game changer. In a number of studies, women have reported that their symptoms have decreased after receiving a diagnosis. The fact that they had an external explanation for their problems let them stop blaming themselves, and instead viewing their own challenges as something they could control.
It takes time to diagnose ADHD however it is worth the waiting. Treatment of ADHD by psychotherapy and medication can improve relationships, assist women excel at work and school and give them an improved understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Girls and women often suffer from different symptoms of ADHD than men, which can make it harder to obtain a diagnosis and treatment. It is also possible that girls are more adept at hiding their symptoms, which makes it more difficult to get assistance or support. This can include: not remembering appointments, not being able to complete tasks at school or at work, or experiencing difficulties in relationships. They could also be more at chance of being pushed to engage in sexually inappropriate activities or being the victim of intimate partner violence due to their difficulty recognizing and resolving to their own emotions.
Early diagnosis and a successful treatment can make a huge difference for these women. A 2020 study found that a missed or late diagnosis can have lasting negative impacts on a woman's social-emotional well-being and ability to establish and keep relationships. It can also impact the way she feels about her life and self-worth. Many of the women in these studies reported feeling a sense of relief and self-confidence boosting after receiving a diagnosis and treatment for their ADHD.
It is important to note that research has proven that women with undiagnosed ADHD are less confident and less likely to seek help than their male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their impulsivity, attention and organizational issues on personal or social factors rather than their ADHD.
Apart from medication, there are various treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD. Some of the most common include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT helps people recognize and overcome negative behavior and thoughts, whereas DBT provides skills to improve mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which blends aspects of these therapies with instruction in strategies to increase concentration and focus is a different option. This treatment is offered in individual or group sessions, and is designed for adults suffering from ADHD. Note in this article, the word "women", is used to describe those who were assigned a female at birth, regardless of their gender identity. It also refers to those assigned male at birth as "men" to include people of all gender identities.
Support
Many people suffering from ADHD are in a state of confusion or fearful of their symptoms. Because social pressures and hormonal changes significantly influence how ADHD manifests in women, it's common for females to be undiagnosed or not diagnosed. This can lead both to a lack of effectiveness or improper treatment, and an increased risk of developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In contrast to men, who might have hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more often, females are often better at masking their symptoms at work or at school. They can become adept at working late into the night, and rely on productivity apps to mask their lack of attention. The problem is that these coping mechanisms can take a toll on self-esteem and ultimately affect the quality of life.
Even when women with ADHD seek assistance, the process of diagnosing can be confusing and frustrating. Traditional ADHD criteria were developed for men, so they may not accurately reflect the full spectrum of symptoms that women experience. Many women who suffer from undiagnosed ADHD have been misdiagnosed with other disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
Clara was not an exception. Clara was smart committed, hardworking and committed to her work. But, she struggled to meet deadlines and felt overwhelmed by the demands of her job. She believed that her failures were her own fault and felt like she was not adequate enough. Her shattered confidence was a knock-on effect of undiagnosed ADHD.
When she was diagnosed with adult ADHD it was a moment of revelation. Clara realized that her issues were not a result of personal failures. She was able to stop viewing them as a sign of laziness and begin to consider her ADHD thread as a thread that could be woven into a meaningful personal and professional life.
As women and adhd of the different ways in how ADHD manifests in women and the need to encourage inclusion in treatments and research will become more important. This is particularly true in the area of specific treatments for sex, as new research is geared toward understanding how gender influences the disorder and developing medications that work well for women. This will hopefully lead to better diagnosis and treatment for women with undiagnosed ADHD.