Is ADHD In Women The Best There Ever Was?

Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to many issues for women and girls. They may feel unsatisfied 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 diagnose and treat them.

Signs and symptoms

The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as people get older. This is the reason it's crucial that people with ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or abandoned when they reach the age of adulthood.

As girls and women grow into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances and keeping their home clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their issues.

Unlike some other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but these often backfire. In addition, changes in hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.

Attention-deficit ADHD can manifest as forgetfulness or being absentminded or having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulties in daily routines such as food planning, scheduling or doing laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the various ways girls and women suffer from ADHD, and consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression is contributing to these difficulties.

It's important that people with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms, medical history and rule out any other medical conditions. Some people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and issues with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health issues, such as tics or chronic stress.

Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are diagnosed with ADHD or they do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.

Diagnosis

Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They may also face challenges if it is 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 disguise their symptoms, allowing them to be less noticed. This means that their issues with organisation, concentration and impulsivity can go unnoticed for years.

Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms harder to detect. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. For instance, they may struggle to manage their moods, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.

A variety of these issues can result in low self-esteem and relationship issues. This means it isn't easy for them to speak up about their challenges and seek assistance. This could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to make friends or communicate with others. They may miss social events or fail to show up for appointments and can't discern body language or recognize the non-verbal signals of others. They could even go off on tangents when talking and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.

It's important that you get a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as you can. For women, this can be an "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also help women to recognize their strengths and take steps to improve life management abilities. This could positively impact their professional, personal and family 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 reach adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, resulting in anxiety and low self-esteem. They may also make it difficult to handle the demands of adult life like managing finances, keeping a home clean and in good 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 about the disorder. Females and females might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms to avoid being judged by the society.

There are effective treatment options for ADHD in girls and women. Medications control brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The first choice is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants may also be effective for certain individuals. Your doctor may recommend a combination treatment to treat related disorders like anxiety or depressive disorders.

In addition to medication lifestyle changes can aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce stress, anxiety and other issues with mood that are which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.

Therapy is also an essential element of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also help improve communication and resolve conflict in relationships.

At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. This is to provide the use of a more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to make it easier for readers. However, this article also applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.

Support

Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to recognize. There are also signs that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.

This is particularly crucial for women, who typically develop coping mechanisms that help them feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping mechanisms may include healthy activities such as setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be harmful like binge eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and they could have relationship issues and chronic stress.

Women and girls who suffer from ADHD may experience low self-esteem and other symptoms such as anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in being unable to attend school, work or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. This could lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that can be difficult to break.

Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual companions during adolescence.  treatment for adhd in women  is due to insanity, poor organization, or the inability to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activity, and are more vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual exploitation.

Women with ADHD who are adults can benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also seek therapy either on their own or in partnership. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a positive internal dialogue. It can aid them in improving their relationships.

Support services can include coaching to teach parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, take care of their home responsibilities and take care of their children.