5 Must-Know ADHD Symptoms For Women Techniques To Know For 2024
ADHD Symptoms For Women Women suffering from ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity towards rejection. They may also experience insomnia and low quality sleep, which may cause symptoms to get worse. Women and girls are often better at masking their ADHD symptoms by using coping strategies to comply with social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. 1. Difficulty Focusing For many women with ADHD focus is the biggest challenge. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to focus at school or during work meetings or while reading or listening to others' conversations. It can also be challenging to manage everyday tasks, such as keeping track of appointments or making sure to take 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 with the inattentive form of the disorder might struggle with organizing their homes and their desk. They might be unable to prioritize tasks. These problems can lead them to miss appointments, show up in the wrong place at the right time, or fail to follow through on their tasks. They can make them feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their troubles, thinking they are lazy or forgetful. Inattention ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to manage obligations, resulting in poor school or work performance and an accumulation of debt. According to CHADD, they are often triggered by stress or other mental disorders like anxiety and depression. Teachers and parents might be biased against boys and men, causing some girls and women to be underdiagnosed. 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. For women who are adults who suffer from ADHD symptoms, they can be caused by hormonal changes. For instance, they could become more noticeable during the menstrual cycle or during perimenopause, which is the time before menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and anger. The use of stimulants can help improve concentration for adults with ADHD, but it won't treat the condition. Other strategies like mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can also assist with organization and focus. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities to assist with these issues. 2. Forgetting Things Forgetfulness can make it difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or to manage your the responsibilities. You may have difficulty remembering important details about events or people particularly when they take place in a noisy or crowded environment. You might also find that you are often late for appointments or run late for school or work. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails, which can result in financial stress and a feeling of urgency. You might have trouble working in a noisy or busy office, and you may zone out during conversations. This can cause the other person to feel ignored or misunderstood. Many women and girls suffering from ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unintentional sexual activity or being victims of intimate partner violence. This is because they have a more difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to become overwhelmed. They may also have issues with self-esteem and could be more likely to view their issues as “personal imperfections” instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms. Due to gender bias due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and boys. They may be more likely to camouflage their symptoms as mood or anxiety issues which could lead to being misdiagnosed and improperly treated. The symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty when progesterone levels drop and estrogen increases. This can lead to a greater variation in symptoms from day to day which can make it harder to recognize and manage ADHD effectively. When diagnosed and treated, you can learn how to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also change your lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting stimulants like caffeine, sugar and drinks with sugar which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce restlessness and impulsiveness. They also aid in improving emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to assist by discussing possible accommodations that may assist you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school. 3. Disruptive Behavior Women who suffer from ADHD tend to be more inattentive than hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. It could also be due to the volume of brain activity areas that regulate impulsive behavior. It can be challenging for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and may result in other health issues. Some women, for example are prone to drinking excessively or drugs to manage. They may also be depressed or suffer from mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy ways of coping can make it difficult for people to recognize an issue with their mental health and delay an accurate diagnosis. Disruptive behavior is one of the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can impact their work or school performance, as well as their relationships. They typically involve not being focused on a task, ignoring important dates or events, and becoming easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their thoughts. They may fidget, tap their hands or feet, or make a squirming sound. They may also shout or speak loudly and can interrupt. Women who have the inattentive subtype can have difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions and juggling schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and juggling daily tasks. They may be unorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to adhere to commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to misplacing or losing items like keys, wallets and eyeglasses. Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can lead to trouble at home, at work and at school, and can trigger feelings of anxiety, boredom, and frustration. They have a tough time waiting for their turn at home, school or at work and they frequently interrupt others. They are unable to manage their behavior and tend to be reckless. 4. Anxiety Girls and women with ADHD may find it harder to cope with their symptoms. This is due to the expectations of society that require women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman with ADHD struggles to keep up with her responsibilities, she could feel anxious and stressed which can lead to low self-esteem. This, in turn, could make it difficult to seek out treatment for her ADHD. In addition, women with ADHD are often unable to be diagnosed since their symptoms aren't as prominent 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 instance the excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness could be interpreted as symptoms of anxiety disorders. The signs of ADHD for women can change at different times in the woman's lifetime. For high functioning adhd in women , during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles or pregnancy, a woman may notice her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or thought of as being emotionally overly sensitive. This article is based on research on how ADHD affects different individuals based on their gender. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology: hormonal makeup, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender is a subjective sense of being a male, female or a nonbinary. This distinction is crucial because it helps us comprehend how and why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article, we are referring to males and people who were assigned males at birth as boys and males. We also refer to females and those who were assigned female at conception as girls and women. This is in line with the way many research studies use this term. For more information, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sex.