Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls are often faced with many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their daily lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, have difficulty with peer relationships, and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also have a better chance of developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to identify and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people age. This is the reason it's crucial that people with ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or unloved as they grow older.
As women and girls develop into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact 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 tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but these often backfire. Additionally, hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can manifest as forgetfulness or being absentminded or having trouble paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulty with daily routines, such as meal 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 that healthcare professionals are aware of the different ways that girls and women be diagnosed with ADHD and think about whether comorbid anxiety or depression is contributing to these difficulties.
It is also essential that those who suffer from ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider who can examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out other medical conditions. For instance, some individuals with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and difficulty with social relationships and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues, such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't treat them as seriously. They may not believe that their problems are serious enough issue to seek help, or they may believe their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, among other external factors. Certain women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children are treated for ADHD. Some aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s, and are having difficulty with daily living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They may also 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 may develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less visible. mouse click the next web page is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration, and impulsivity may go unnoticed over a period of years.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms harder to recognize. They can also have co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, like depression and anxiety. 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 contribute to a lack of self-esteem and issues with relationships. It is often difficult for these people to discuss their problems and ask for assistance. This can lead to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and communicating with others. They might not attend social events or fail to show on time for appointments, and fail to read body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal signals. They might even be prone to wander off on tangents while talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up.
It's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action immediately. For women, this may be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept their own uniqueness. It can also assist women focus on their strength and adopt steps to improve their life management abilities. This can be beneficial to their professional, personal 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 reach adulthood. adult add in women can impact relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can also make it harder to manage the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping a 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 can lead to gender stereotypes regarding the disorder. Females and females may then suppress or hide their symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
Fortunately, there are effective treatment options available for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The most effective medications are stimulants. choice, but non-stimulants can also be effective for certain people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination treatment to treat related conditions, such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
In addition to medications lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, like group fitness classes or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender assigned at birth (AFAB) instead of an individual's affirmation of gender identity. This is to facilitate more consistent and clear terms across our content and to make it easier for readers. However, this article also applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Women and those who were assigned females at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to spot. They might also exhibit symptoms that are not obvious to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is essential for women who typically come up with strategies to help them feel normal and to meet social expectations. These coping strategies could include healthy activities such as setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily schedule. But they could also be harmful, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD may experience anxiety or depressed, and overwhelmed and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges that women and girls who suffer from ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can cause avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents for helping them with daily tasks. This can lead to an environment of dependency and reliance on others that is difficult to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual interactions with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent years. This could be due to impulsivity, poor organization, or the inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pushed into sexually inappropriate activities and can be at greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
As adults, women with ADHD typically benefit from medication and coping strategies to manage their symptoms. They can also seek therapy, either individually or with a partner. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services may also include specialized programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can make it easier for women with ADHD to maintain jobs and manage their home responsibilities, and care for children.