Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, have difficulty with peer relationships and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also tend to be better in developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms, which makes it more difficult for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects men and boys more often than girls and women, the gender gap narrows as people age. It's crucial that those with ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or forgotten.
As girls and women grow into adults, they often remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health, as they blame themselves for their issues.
In contrast to other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Women and girls are prone to mask their symptoms with coping strategies however, these strategies often fail. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as the inability to remember things or being oblivious or having trouble paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulties in daily routines such as food planning, scheduling, or laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to consider whether comorbid depression or anxiety is the cause of their struggles.
It's also critical that people with ADHD be evaluated by a physician or other qualified healthcare provider who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other issues. Certain people with ADHD also have mental health issues like depression or anxiety or low self-esteem, as well as problems in social interactions and relationships. It's also common for people with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
adhd symptoms in women and girls who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In some cases, girls and women with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD, or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood, and they can have issues 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 may develop coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less well-known. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity may be overlooked over a number of years.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms more difficult to pick up on. Additionally, they may have co-occurring conditions that impact their life management skills, such as anxiety and depression. They may find it difficult to control their emotions. This may be worsened because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
Many of these conditions can cause a loss of self-esteem and problems with relationships. It is often difficult for those with these conditions to talk about their problems and ask for help. This can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and interacting with other people. They may skip social events, not show up for appointments, and have trouble reading body language. They may even wander off on tangents during conversations and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as possible. For women, this could be a "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation for their difficulties and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also help them focus on their strengths and make steps to improve their life management abilities. This could have a positive effect on their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the professional and personal life of girls and women as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance. They can lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. They may also make it difficult to handle the demands of adult life including 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, in turn, can lead to gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which can result in women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. Stimulant medications are the first option, but non-stimulants could also be effective for some people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination therapy to treat related disorders such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Alongside medication lifestyle changes can aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists individuals identify and modify negative thought patterns that contribute ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also be beneficial to improve communication and resolve conflict in relationships.
We use the words "girls", "women" and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to a person's gender identity. This is to provide clearer and more consistent terms across our content and to avoid confusion for readers. This article applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and those who were assigned females at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to spot. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who typically develop coping strategies to feel normal and meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy activities such as setting phone reminders or keeping a schedule for the day. But they can also be harmful, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women who are not treated for ADHD may experience anxiety or depressed, and overwhelmed and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls with ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily chores. This can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual companions during the adolescent period. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or inability to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into unwanted sexual activity, and they are at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also seek out therapy in a couple or on their own with a partner. This can help them learn to understand their challenges and develop more positive internal conversations. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services can also include coaching to teach parenting skills and programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, take care of their responsibilities at home and care for their children.
