Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to many issues for girls and women. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle in social relationships or suffer from depression and anxiety.
They also tend to be better in establishing coping mechanisms that cover their ADHD symptoms, making it harder to be diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people age. It's crucial that those who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or forgotten.
As girls and women grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their mental health and self-esteem over time, as they might blame themselves for their problems.
In contrast to other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope however, these strategies often fail. Furthermore, hormonal changes that occur during menstrual periods or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms usually include being impulsive or forgetful in the sense of losing track of time, difficulties paying attention during classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines like meal planning, laundry or scheduling. 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 think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is the cause of their struggles.
It's important that people with ADHD are examined by a certified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms, medical history and rule out other conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues like depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. It is also common for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues, such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD aren't diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They may not think that their issues are serious enough problem to seek assistance or they might believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or they are not diagnosed until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They may also face challenges if it is detected. 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 manage their symptoms, which can result in them not being noticed as often. This means that their problems with organisation, concentration and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to recognize the symptoms. Additionally, they may have co-occurring conditions that impact their life management skills like depression and anxiety. They may find it difficult to manage their emotions. This can be exacerbated because of hormonal changes during the menstrual period or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
Many of these conditions may result in low self-esteem and relationships problems. It can be difficult for people with these conditions to discuss their problems and seek help. This can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment.
It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with others. They may miss social events, not attend appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They may also be prone to going off on tangents while talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up with them.
It's important to get a proper diagnosis and act as soon as you can. For women, this may be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept their own uniqueness. It also allows to identify their strengths and make steps to improve their life management abilities. This could positively impact their personal, professional and family lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the personal and professional lives of women and girls as they reach adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance and cause frustration and low confidence. They can also make it more difficult to cope with the demands of adulthood including managing finances, keeping your home clean and in good 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 stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Females and females might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by the society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The first option is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants are also effective for some people. In addition, a mix of treatments could be suggested by your healthcare professional to address related conditions like depression or anxiety.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can also help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, as well as reduce anxiety, stress and other issues with mood that are common in people with ADHD. Group activities, such as group fitness or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) rather than a person's affirmed gender identity. This is to ensure more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for our readers. This article applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender people and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to recognize. They may also have symptoms that are less obvious to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who frequently come up with strategies to help them be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities, such as keeping daily schedules or setting phone reminders. They can also be unhealthy like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships 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 physical complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to being unable to attend school or work activities. They could also become more dependent on their parents to help with daily tasks. This can result in an environment of dependency and reliance on others that's hard to break.
In adolescence, girls and women who suffer from ADHD are at a higher risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This could be due to impulsivity, poor planning, or a lack of ability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activities, and are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
As adhd symptoms women , women who suffer from ADHD are often able to benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also seek out therapy, either individually or with partners. This can help them to identify their struggles and develop more positive internal dialogs. It can aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services may include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs and manage their home responsibilities and look after children.