Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their lives. They may feel unable at work, have difficulty with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects both men and boys more frequently than girls and women however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people get older. This is why it's critical that those suffering from ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or unloved when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women develop into adults, they often remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances, keeping the house clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they may blame themselves for their problems.
Contrary to other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Girls and women are more likely to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but they often result in a negative effect. In addition, hormonal changes during the menstrual period as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can manifest as forgetfulness or being absentminded, having trouble paying attention at work or in classes, and having trouble in daily routines such as 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's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the different ways girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to consider whether anxiety or depression are contributing to their problems.
It is crucial that those with ADHD are examined by a certified healthcare provider. They can evaluate their symptoms, medical history and rule out other illnesses. For instance, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem, and difficulties with social relationships and relationships. It's also common for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not believe that their problems are a serious enough to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, among other external factors. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are treated for ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and can be faced with challenges 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 develop coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms which allows them to be less visible. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity can remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. They can also have co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, like depression and anxiety. They may find it difficult to manage their emotions. This may be worsened due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these conditions can cause a loss of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. As a result, it can be difficult to talk about their issues and seek help. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and engaging with others. They might miss social engagements or fail to show up for appointments and can't read body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal signals. They may even be prone to going off on tangents while talking, making it difficult for others to keep up.
In these circumstances, it's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and act immediately. It could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their struggles and accept themselves better. It also allows them focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This could positively impact their family, work and personal lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their professional and personal lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. They can make it difficult to deal with adult demands like managing finances and maintaining a clean home 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 create gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can result in women and girls suppressing or denying their own symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD for both genders. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant drugs are the first choice, but non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain people. Additionally, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your healthcare professional to address related conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can help control ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other issues with mood that are common in people with ADHD. Group activities, like group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy is also an important component of treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and change negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender determined at birth (AFAB) instead of a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to ensure the use of a more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to reduce confusion for readers. However, this article also applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary people. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to identify. They might also exhibit symptoms that aren't evident to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization, instead of hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This is crucial for women who often develop strategies for coping to feel normal and to meet social expectations. add women of coping can include healthy activities like making daily schedules or setting reminders for phone calls. However, they could also be harmful, such as binge eating or a drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and may have relationship issues and chronic stress.
Girls and women with ADHD can experience low self-esteem and other symptoms like depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in being unable to attend school or work, as well as social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily chores. That can create a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that is difficult to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD might be at a greater chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This is due to insanity, poor organization, or a failure to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into sexual activities that are not desired, and they can be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also receive therapy on their own or in a group. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services can include programs specifically designed for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD and coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD to keep their jobs, handle their home responsibilities and look after their children.