ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently experience symptoms of emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They may also suffer from insomnia and poor sleep quality which can make symptoms worse.
Girls and women are generally better at concealing their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis or an inability to treat.
1. Trouble focusing
For a lot of women suffering from ADHD focus is the most difficult thing to do. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it difficult to remain focused at school, in meetings at work, or even when listening to others talk. signs of adhd in women can also be challenging to get through daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or remembering to take your medication.
Difficulty focusing is one of the most common adhd symptoms for girls and women, regardless of their gender identity or whether they have hyperactive/impulsive or inattentive ADHD. adhd symptoms women suffering from the inattentive type of the disorder may be struggling to organize their home or their work desk and struggle to prioritize tasks according to CHADD. These problems could cause them to skip appointments, show up in the wrong place at the right time, or fail to keep up on their work duties. These problems can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they could blame themselves for their own problems.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to poor performance at work or in school and can also lead to debt accumulation. They can be triggered by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety that often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Women and girls with inattentive ADHD aren't diagnosed or treated because of biases that parents and teachers may have toward boys and men. They may not be able to express their ADHD symptoms as well, especially the hyperactive/impulsive ones, and may have difficulty finding treatment that works for them.
Hormonal changes can also exacerbate symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. For instance, they could be more apparent during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopause--when estrogen levels dip and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and irritation.
The use of stimulants can help improve concentration for adults with ADHD, but it won't cure the condition. Other strategies such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with organization and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
The habit of forgetting can make managing your daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. You may find it difficult to remember important information especially when they take place in a noisy setting. You might also notice that you frequently forget appointments or run late for school or work. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women with ADHD and can cause financial stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office. You may also lose focus during conversations, leaving the other person feeling unimportant or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD are also having a difficult time maintaining friendships and are at risk of being forced into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of intimate partner violence. This is because they have a harder time regulating their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also struggle with self-esteem, and may be more likely to view their issues as "personal imperfections" rather than recognizing the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.
Because of gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are more subtle than those of men and boys. They may camouflage symptoms with anxiety and mood disorders, which can result in a misdiagnosis or improper treatment.
ADHD symptoms can vary depending on fluctuations in hormones. This is especially evident during puberty, as hormone levels drop and progesterone levels rise. This can cause a greater variety of symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like sugar, caffeine, and sugary drinks that can worsen symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can to calm your mind and decrease restlessness and impulsiveness. They can also improve emotional regulation. Talking to an expert in mental health can be beneficial, since they can talk about possible accommodations at school or at work to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
In most cases, females who suffer from ADHD have more irritable symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive. It could be because the brains of girls and women differ from the brains of men and boys, or it could have to do with the amount of activity is occurring in the areas of the brain that manage disruptive and impulsive behavior.
In the end, it can be harder for a physician to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others are unsustainable and can cause other health problems. Some women, for example, turn to excessive alcohol or drugs to manage. They could also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for someone to recognize that they have a mental health problem and delay the diagnosis.
Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom in women that can affect school or work performance and relationships. They often include not staying focused on a task, forgetting important events or tasks, and becoming easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their minds. They may fidget, shake their feet or hands, or make a squirming sound. They may also shout or speak loudly and can interrupt.
Women who have the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty staying focused during lectures or conversations, keeping up with schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in class or at work, and managing daily tasks. They may be disorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It can be challenging for them to stick on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items such as keys, wallets and eyeglasses.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of disorder can cause issues at work, at home, as well as at schools, and can cause feelings of restlessness, boredom, and frustration. They have a tough waiting for their turn at school, at home, or in the workplace and they frequently interrupt other people. They aren't able to control their behavior and tend to behave in a reckless manner.
4. Anxiety
Women and girls who have ADHD may find it harder to manage their issues. This is due to social expectations, which demand that mothers and women be the primary caregivers for their children and their household. If a woman is struggling to manage her responsibilities this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This in turn could make it difficult to seek treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women with ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed as their symptoms aren't as pronounced as the men and boys. They may present with primarily inattentive symptoms, which do not have the same outward appearance as hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms, making them less likely to receive a referral for treatment from teachers and parents. In addition, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping to disguise their ADHD symptoms, like excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, which can be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD for women can change at different times in the woman's life. Women may experience ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can lead to her being misunderstood or dismissed as a terribly emotional woman which can increase her sense of frustration.
This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different people based on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a matter of biology: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones and anatomical structures, whereas gender is a subjective sense of who you are as a man, woman, or, if non-binary, or a person. This distinction is important as it allows us to better know the ways and reasons ADHD manifests differently in men and women. This is why throughout this article we will refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys, and to women and those assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. For more information, read Verywell Health's guide on sex and gender.