Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to many issues for women and girls. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle with peer relationships or experience depression and anxiety.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to identify and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as we age. It's important that adults with ADHD issues don't feel neglected or ignored.
As girls and women grow into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances, keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their self-esteem and mental health, as they blame themselves for their troubles.
ADHD is a chronic disorder and is not like other psychiatric disorders. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using coping strategies that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormone changes during menstrual cycles, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it difficult to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as the inability to remember things or being oblivious or having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulties with daily routines like scheduling meals, meal planning, or laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to think about whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their difficulties.
It is essential that those suffering from ADHD are examined by a certified healthcare professional. They can look at their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other conditions. Certain people with ADHD have mental health issues like anxiety or depression as well as low self-esteem and difficulties with relationships and social interaction. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience physical health issues, such as tics or chronic stress.
Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or they are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s and have significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and can be faced with challenges when it does occur. 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 also develop strategies to cope with their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as often. This means that their problems with concentration, organisation and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.
Women are more likely to be affected by high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify the symptoms. They can also have co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. They may find it difficult to manage their emotions. This is often because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
A variety of these issues can cause a loss of self-esteem and issues with relationships. It can be difficult for these people to openly discuss their issues and ask for assistance. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or communicate with others. They may miss social events, not attend appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They may even go off on tangents when talking and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
For these reasons, it's essential to obtain a correct diagnosis and take action as soon as you can. It could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them understand their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also assist women to focus on their strength and take steps to improve life management skills. This can have a positive effect on their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the personal and professional lives of girls and women as they enter adulthood. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can make it difficult to deal with adult demands like managing finances, maintaining a clean home or 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 result in gender stereotypes about the disorder. Girls and women might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms in order to avoid being judged by society.
Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant drugs are the first option, however non-stimulants may also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor may suggest a combination therapy to treat related conditions like depression or anxiety disorders.
adhd in women treatment , along with medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, as well as reduce stress, anxiety and other mood issues common in people with ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also a crucial element of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people recognize and alter negative thought patterns that contribute ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
We use the terms "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender assigned at birth, not to a person's gender identity. To ensure that our content is uniform and clear and to avoid confusion among our readers we use this term. This article is applicable to all individuals who were assigned males at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD, are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to recognize. They may also have signs that aren't apparent to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is essential for women who typically develop strategies for coping to feel normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions such as keeping daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. They can also be unhealthy like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may experience anxiety over, depressed, or overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD can experience low self-esteem, or other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoiding school, work or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents for assistance with their daily tasks. That can create a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that's hard to break.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent years. This can be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or an inability to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activity, and are more vulnerable to domestic violence and exploitation.
As adults, women suffering from ADHD are often able to benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also seek out therapy in a couple or on their own with an individual or with a partner. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services can include programs specifically designed for mothers who are pregnant or with ADHD and coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs and household responsibilities, and care for children.