This History Behind ADHD In Women Will Haunt You Forever!

Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to many issues for girls and women. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle with peer relationships or experience depression and anxiety.

They are also more adept in establishing coping mechanisms that cover their ADHD symptoms, which makes it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.

Signs and symptoms

The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as we age. It's crucial that those with ADHD issues don't feel neglected or ignored.

As girls and women develop into adults, they typically still struggle with their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances, keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their mental health and self-esteem in the long run, and they may blame themselves for their troubles.

Unlike some other mental disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Women and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using coping techniques, but they often fail to work. In addition, hormone changes throughout the menstrual cycle, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.

Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being forgetful or absentminded, losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention during class or work and trouble 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. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to determine if the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their difficulties.

It's also critical that people who suffer from ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other medical conditions. For example, some individuals with ADHD have additional mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem and trouble with relationships and social interactions. 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 who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to need help. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem. In some cases, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD, or they are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having difficulties with their daily activities.

Diagnosis

Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. They also may have issues if discovered. 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 which allows them to be less noticed. It is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration and impulsivity could go unnoticed over a period of years.

Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms harder to pick up on. Moreover, they can suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their life like anxiety and depression. For example, they can find it hard to control their moods, which can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.

Many of these issues cause a loss of self-esteem and issues with relationships. As a result, it is often difficult to talk about their issues and seek help. This could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or communicate with others. They may miss social events and fail to show to appointments, and are unable to read body language or read the non-verbal signals of others. They could even go off on tangents during conversations which makes it difficult for others to follow their lead.

For these reasons, it's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and get it as soon as possible. For women, this could be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation of their problems and allow them to accept themselves more fully. It can also aid women to recognize their strengths and adopt steps to improve their life management abilities. This could be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives.  online  is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.

Treatment

Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal life of girls and women as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, and lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. They can make it difficult to manage adult demands, like managing finances and keeping a home in order or 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-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can result in women and girls suppressing or denying their own symptoms to avoid being stigmatized by society.

There are effective treatments for ADHD for both genders. Medicines regulate brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a certified healthcare professional. The first choice is a stimulant, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain people. Your doctor might recommend a combination treatment to treat related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.

In addition to medications lifestyle changes can also aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, like group fitness or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial.

Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms.  click here for more  can also be beneficial to improve communication and resolve conflict in relationships.

At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender assigned at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. This is to facilitate the use of a more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to make it easier for readers. This article is applicable to all individuals who were male at birth, which includes transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our website.

Support

Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. It's because girls and women tend to hide symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to diagnose. They may also have symptoms that aren't evident to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization, instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.

This masking is essential for women who typically develop strategies for coping to be normal and meet social expectations.  online  coping mechanisms may include healthy activities such as making phone reminders or keeping a schedule for the day. They could also be harmful, such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious and depressed, and they could suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress.

The challenges that girls and women with ADHD face can contribute to feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings can lead to avoiding school and work, or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily chores. This can result in a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's hard to break.

Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with nonconsensual partners during adolescence. This is due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or inability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexually inappropriate activities and are at a 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 get therapy on their own or in partnership. This can help them learn to identify their struggles and develop more positive internal dialogues. This can also help improve their relationships.

Support services could also include specialized programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs, manage responsibilities at home and look after children.