Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls are often faced with a variety of issues 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 strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to recognize and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is narrowing as people get older. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or ignored.
As women and girls grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances, keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their self-esteem and mental health in the long run, and they may blame themselves for their troubles.
Unlike some other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a condition that lasts for a lifetime. Women and girls are prone to hide their symptoms by using strategies for coping, but these often backfire. Additionally, hormonal changes during the menstrual period or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as inattention or forgetfulness and having difficulty paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulties in daily routines such as food planning, scheduling or washing. 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 girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to think about whether comorbid depression or anxiety is the cause of their struggles.
It's also crucial that people who suffer from ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional who can evaluate their symptoms and medical background to rule out other issues. Certain people with ADHD also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety as well as low self-esteem and issues with relationships and social interaction. It's also normal for people with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD aren't diagnosed because they aren't taken seriously by teachers, family or friends. They may not think that their issues are serious enough problem to seek assistance or they might believe their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting, low self-esteem or other external factors. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD, or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and have significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and may face challenges when it does occur. 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 which allows them to be less well-known. This means that their problems with organisation, concentration and impulsivity can remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the signs. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring illnesses that affect their life management skills including depression and anxiety. They may find it difficult to manage their emotions. This may be worsened by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
Many of these conditions can cause a loss of self-esteem and problems with relationships. This means it is often difficult for them to open up about their issues and seek help. This can result in delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and communicating with other people. They may miss social gatherings, fail to show up for appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They might even be prone to wander off on tangents when they're talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up with them.
It's important that you get a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as possible. For women, this can be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation of their problems and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also help them focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management abilities. This could be beneficial to their work, family and personal lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
adhd in women uk
As girls and women grow into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They may also make it more difficult to manage the demands of adulthood including managing finances, keeping the home organized 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 could lead to gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which can result in women and girls suppressing or denying their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are, thankfully, effective treatment options for ADHD both in girls and women. Medicines regulate brain activity and help control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional. Stimulant drugs are the first choice, but non-stimulants can also be effective for some people. Additionally, a combination of treatments may be recommended by your healthcare professional to address related conditions like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and stress. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients identify and modify negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
We use the terms "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to the person's gender identity. This is to facilitate the use of a more consistent and clear terms across our content and to reduce confusion for readers. However, this article also applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB), and to transgender people and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. It's because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is essential for women who typically come up with strategies to help them be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions like maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders for phone calls. They can also be harmful like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD may experience anxiety or depressed, and overwhelmed and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The difficulties that girls and women who suffer from ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can lead to avoiding school or work, as well as social activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents for assistance with their daily tasks. This can lead to an environment of dependency and reliance on others that's difficult to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual companions during adolescence. This can be due to the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or a lack of ability to use contraception. They are also more susceptible to being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at a higher risk of domestic violence and the exploitation of.
Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek help from a therapist, either individually or with a partner. This will help them to identify their struggles and develop more positive internal dialogues. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services may also include coaching for parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to keep their jobs and household responsibilities and take care of children.