ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women with ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality of sleep which can cause more symptoms.
Girls and women are typically better at concealing their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to conform to social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Focusing is the biggest challenge for women suffering from ADHD. adhd test for women can make it difficult to concentrate at school, during meetings at work or while reading or listening to other people talk. It can be challenging to complete everyday tasks such as keeping track of appointments or taking medications.
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. According to CHADD women who suffer from the inattentive version of the disorder may have difficulty organizing their home and their desk. They may be unable to prioritize their tasks. These problems can cause them to miss appointments, arrive in the wrong place at the correct time or fail to follow through on their job responsibilities. They may also cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems believing they're lazy or forgetful.
Inattention ADHD symptoms can make it hard to stay on top of the demands of life, resulting in poor work or school performance as well as the accumulation of debt. They can be caused by stress or other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression that often co-occur with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.
Certain women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of the biases teachers and parents may be prone to towards males and females. 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 cause symptoms for women who suffer from ADHD. They may be more apparent during perimenopausal or menstrual cycle which is the period leading up to menopausal symptoms, when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues like mood swings and irritation.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration, but it will not cure the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations that can help with these issues, too.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. It can be difficult to remember important details about people or events particularly when they occur in a noisy or busy environment. You may also end up having trouble remembering appointments or getting late to school or work. Women who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or responding to emails, which could lead to financial stress and an impression of urgency. You might have trouble working in a noisy or loud office and often zone out during conversations, causing others feeling ignored or misunderstood.
Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than other people to feel overwhelmed due to the fact that they struggle to control their emotions. They may also be struggling with their self-esteem and they might view their difficulties as a "personal fault" instead of recognizing that their behavior is linked to their ADHD symptoms.
Girl and women with ADHD are also often overlooked due to gender bias since their symptoms are more noticeable than those of males and females. They are more likely to camouflage their symptoms with anxiety or mood problems which could lead to being misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
The symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones, especially during puberty when estrogen drops and progesterone increases. This can result in greater variation in symptoms throughout the day, which can make it harder to diagnose and manage ADHD properly.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like sugar, caffeine and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. You can also practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to relax your mind, decrease impulsiveness and restlessness, and improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional might be able to assist by discussing possible accommodations that could aid you in managing ADHD symptoms at school or at work.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to be less attentive than those with hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. It could be because the brains of women and girls differ from those of boys and men or it could have to do with how much activity is occurring in the parts of the brain that manage impulsive and disruptive behavior.
This means it can be difficult for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some are healthy, but others are not long-lasting and could lead to other health problems. For example some women resort to excessive alcohol or drugs to deal with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or other mental health problems such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it difficult for people to recognize they have a problem and can delay an accurate 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, ignoring important events or tasks and being easily distracted by other things in their environment or in their minds. They might fidget, tap their hands or feet, or squirm. They may also shout or speak loudly, and can interrupt.
Women who have the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty concentrating during lectures or conversations and juggling schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following directions in the classroom or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be disorganized, forgetful, and messy. It can be difficult for them to stick on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or lose items such as eyeglasses, wallets, and keys.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of adhd can cause issues at work, home, or school. It can also cause feelings of irritability, boredom and frustration. They are not able to wait for their turn in school, at work, or at home. They often interrupt others. They tend to be reckless and are not able to control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD can have a harder to manage their symptoms than males and females. This is due to the social expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to meet her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This, in turn, can make it harder to seek treatment for her ADHD.
In addition, women with ADHD often have difficulty 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. They are more likely to develop coping mechanisms that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For example the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be mistaken as symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD for women can differ at different times during the woman's lifetime. For instance, during times of hormonal changes, like menstruation or pregnancy, a woman may notice her ADHD symptoms to become more intense. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or dismissed as a woman who is excessively emotional.
The information in this article is based on research about how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a male, female, or nonbinary person. This distinction is important as it allows us to better comprehend the reasons behind why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. This is why throughout this article we refer to males and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys as well as women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This is consistent with how many research studies use this terminology. For more information, check out the guide to sex & gender by Verywell Health.