Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle with peer relationships, and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also do better at developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects both men and boys more frequently than women and girls but the gap between genders narrows as people age. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or ignored.
As girls and women develop into adults, they often remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances, keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem over time, as they might blame themselves for their problems.
In contrast to other mental disorders, ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Women and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using methods of coping, but these often result in a negative effect. Additionally, hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms usually are characterized by being forgetful or numb and losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention during classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines, such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. 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 different ways girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to consider whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their problems.
It's also crucial that people with ADHD be evaluated by a physician or other qualified healthcare provider who will examine their symptoms and medical background to rule out other medical conditions. For example, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health problems such as tics or chronic stress.
Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't treat them as seriously. adult add in women may not think that their problems are a serious enough issue to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they are in their 40s or their 50s, and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may be faced with challenges if 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 develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms and make them less well-known. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity could be ignored for a long time.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring conditions that impact their life management skills like anxiety and depression. For example, they can struggle to manage their moods, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
A variety of these issues can cause low self-esteem or relationship issues. It can be difficult for these people to openly discuss their issues and ask for assistance. This could lead to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and engaging with other people. They might not attend social events and fail to show up for appointments and can't read body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal signals. They may even go off on tangents when talking which makes it difficult for others to follow them.
It's essential to obtain a correct diagnosis and take action as soon as you can. For women, this can be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation for their difficulties and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also assist women to focus on their strengths and to make changes to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their family, work and personal lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal lives of girls and women as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, and lead to frustration and low confidence. They can also make it harder to cope with the demands of adulthood, such as managing finances, keeping a home tidy 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 result in gender stereotypes regarding the disorder. Women and girls might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD for both genders. A licensed health professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant drugs are the first option, however non-stimulants may also be effective for certain people. Additionally, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your doctor to treat related issues like depression or anxiety.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can also aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists individuals identify and modify negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
We employ the terms "girls", "women" and "womens" to refer to the gender that was established at birth, and not to the person's gender identity. To ensure that our content is more uniform and clear, and to avoid confusion among our readers, we use this terminology. However, this article also applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sex 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. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to recognize. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization, rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who often create coping mechanisms to help them feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions, such as keeping daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. But they can also be harmful such as binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may experience anxiety, depressed, overwhelmed, and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.
Women and girls with ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem or other symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. adult add women can lead to being unable to attend school or work activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to assist them with daily tasks. This can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
Girls and women with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent period. This could be due impulsivity, poor planning, or a failure to utilize 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 with ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. They can also seek out therapy in a couple or on their own with partners. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It can help them improve their relationships.
Support services may include programs specifically designed for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs, manage responsibilities at home, and care for children.