Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls are often faced with many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, have difficulty with peer relationships, and suffer from depression or anxiety.
They also tend to be better at building coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms, making it harder for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects boys and men at a higher rate than women and girls however, the gap between the genders shrinks as people age. This is why it's vital that those suffering from ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or ostracized when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women develop into adults, they frequently still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they may blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic disorder, unlike some other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to mask symptoms with methods of coping, but these often fail to work. In addition, changes in hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms usually include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines such as food preparation, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. click here for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is the cause of their struggles.
It's important that people with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can evaluate their symptoms and medical history, and rule out other 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 interactions and relationships. It is also common for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or a lack of self-esteem. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only when their children are treated for ADHD or don't receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and have difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and may face challenges 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 can also develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as often. This means that their problems with organization, concentration and impulsivity may go unnoticed for years.
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 ability to manage their lives like anxiety and depression. For instance, they may find it hard to control their emotions, which can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these issues cause a loss of self-esteem and issues with relationships. As a result, it isn't easy for them to open up about their struggles and seek assistance. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and engaging with others. They might miss social gatherings, fail to show up for appointments, and may have difficulty reading body language. They might even be prone to wander off on tangents when they're talking, making it harder for others to keep up with them.
It is essential to get an accurate diagnosis and take action as quickly as possible. This can be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them understand their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also aid women focus on their strength and take steps to improve life management abilities. This could be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can affect the professional and personal lives of women and girls as they reach adulthood. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, resulting in feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can also make it difficult for people to manage adult demands like managing finances, keeping your home in order 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 result in stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Females and females might then conceal or minimize their symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The first option is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants may also be effective for certain people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination therapy to treat related conditions, such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports are especially beneficial.
Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients recognize and alter negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can also help improve communication and resolve conflicts in relationships.
We employ the words "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender assigned at birth, rather than to the person's gender identity. This is to ensure the use of a more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for our readers. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender people and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually-exclusive, and welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. It's because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms which makes it difficult for doctors to identify. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who frequently develop coping mechanisms that allow them to feel normal and meet societal expectations. These coping strategies may include healthy activities like maintaining a daily schedule or setting phone reminders. However, they can also be unhealthy such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women who are not treated for ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. They may also suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women with ADHD face can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in avoiding school, work or social activities. They could also become more dependent on their parents for help with daily tasks. This can lead to a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's hard to break.
In adolescence, girls as well as women with ADHD are at a higher chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This can be due to the impulsiveness of their lives, insufficient planning, or a failure to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into sexual activities that are not desired, and they are at a higher risk of domestic violence and sexual exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults could benefit from medications to treat symptoms and coping techniques. They can also seek therapy either on their own or in partnership. This can help them learn to understand their challenges and create more positive internal conversations. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services could include programs specifically designed for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD and coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to work, manage responsibilities at home, and care for children.