Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their lives. They may feel inadequate at work, experience difficulties in social relationships, or suffer from depression and anxiety.
They also do better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to identify and treat them.
Symptoms
While research confirms ADHD affects men and boys at a higher rate than girls and women, the gender gap narrows as people age. This is the reason it's crucial that people with ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or ostracized when they reach adulthood.
As girls and women mature into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances, keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their issues.
In contrast to other mental disorders, ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls and women tend to mask their symptoms with strategies to cope that can backfire, but they often do. 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 typically include being impulsive or forgetful and losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention in 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. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the different ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to consider whether anxiety or depression are contributing to their difficulties.
It is crucial that those with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other illnesses. Certain people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues like anxiety or depression as well as low self-esteem and difficulties in social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health problems such as anxiety or chronic stress.
Many women and girls who have ADHD aren't diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think that their problems are a serious enough problem to seek assistance, or they may believe that 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 after their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s, and are having difficulty with daily living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They can also have issues if 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 may also develop strategies to cope with their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as much. It is possible that girls' problems with organization, concentration and impulsivity might be unnoticed for a period of years.
Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms harder to recognize. There are also co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. For instance, they might have trouble controlling their emotions, which can be caused by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Many of these conditions can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and issues with relationships. This means it is often difficult for them to speak up about their challenges and seek assistance. This can delay the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also normal for people with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or communicate with others. They might miss social engagements, fail to turn up for appointments and can't detect body language or recognize other people's nonverbal signals. They could even wander off on tangents during conversations and make it difficult for others to follow them.
It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and act as swiftly as possible. It could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also help to identify their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This can positively impact their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their personal and professional lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They may also make it harder to cope with the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping your home organized 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 lead to gender stereotypes about the disorder. Women and girls might then conceal or minimize their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are effective treatment options for ADHD for both genders. The medications regulate brain activity and help to manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. add and adhd in women is a stimulant, however nonstimulants are also effective for certain individuals. In addition, a mix of treatments could be suggested by your healthcare professional to treat related disorders such as depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, and also reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as team sports or group fitness classes, are particularly beneficial.
Therapy is also an important component of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
We use the words "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to the person's gender identity. To make our content more clear and consistent and to avoid confusion among readers we employ this term. This article is applicable to all people who were assigned male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality 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 go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to recognize. They might also exhibit symptoms that are not apparent to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is particularly crucial for women, who frequently develop coping strategies that allow them to feel normal and fulfill the expectations of society. These coping mechanisms can include healthy activities such as setting phone reminders or keeping a schedule for the day. They could also be harmful, like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or 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 self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to being unable to attend school, work, or social activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to assist them with their daily tasks. This can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
In adolescence, girls as well as women who suffer from ADHD may be at greater risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or the inability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into unwanted sexual activities, and are at a greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medications to treat symptoms and techniques for coping. They can also receive therapy on their own or in partnership. This will help them to recognize their issues and develop more positive internal conversations. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services could also include coaching to teach parenting skills, as well as specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or have children. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD maintain their jobs, take care of their household responsibilities, and take care of their children.