Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their lives. They may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with peer relationships and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also tend to be better at building coping mechanisms that cover their ADHD symptoms, which makes it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects both men and boys at a higher rate than women and girls, the gender gap narrows as people get older. It's important that adults who suffer from ADHD issues don't feel neglected or ignored.
As girls and women grow into adults, they frequently remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their confidence in themselves and mental health, as they blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic condition, unlike some other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope however, these strategies often fail. In addition, hormonal changes during menstrual periods as well as pregnancy and menopausal symptoms can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can manifest as forgetfulness or being absentminded, having trouble paying attention in classes, and having trouble with daily routines like meal 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 for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to consider whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their problems.
It's also critical that people who suffer from ADHD be evaluated by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional who can examine their symptoms and medical background to rule out other conditions. Some people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties with relationships and social interaction. It's also common for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they're not considered serious by teachers, family or friends. They may not believe that their problems are a serious enough issue to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, among other external factors. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s, and are experiencing problems with daily life.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and can be faced with 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 may develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms and make them less visible. It is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration, and impulsivity may be overlooked over a number of years.
Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms harder to pick up on. Additionally, they may have co-occurring conditions that impact their ability to manage their lives like depression and anxiety. For instance, they might struggle to manage their moods, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Many of these conditions may result in low self-esteem and relationship issues. It is often difficult for people with these conditions to talk about their problems and ask for help. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with other people. They might miss social engagements or fail to show on time for appointments, and fail to discern body language or recognize other people's nonverbal signals. They may also be prone to wander off on tangents when they're talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up.
In these circumstances, it's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and act as soon as you can. For women, this may be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also aid women to focus on their strength and adopt steps to improve their life management abilities. This can be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal life of girls and women as they reach adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance. They can lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. They can make it difficult to cope with 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, in turn, can create 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 in girls and women. A licensed health professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The most effective medications are stimulants. choice, but non-stimulants can also be effective for certain people. In addition, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your healthcare professional to address related conditions like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports, are especially beneficial.
Therapy is also an essential part of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be helpful in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) instead of an individual's affirmation of gender identity. To make our content more clear and consistent, and to avoid confusion among our readers, we use this terminology. inattentive adhd in women is applicable to all individuals who were assigned males at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have symptoms that are not obvious to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization instead of hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is important for women who frequently develop coping strategies to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities like maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders for phone calls. However, they could also be harmful like binge eating or a drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges that girls and women who suffer from ADHD have to face can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can cause being unable to attend school or work activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents for helping them with their daily chores. That can create an environment of dependency and reliance on others that's difficult to break.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activity with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent period. This can be caused by insanity, poor organization, or inability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to manage symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also seek out therapy in a couple or on their own with partners. This can help them learn to identify their struggles and build more positive internal conversations. It can aid them in improving their relationships.
Support services could also include special programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD and coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD maintain their jobs, manage their responsibilities at home and look after their children.