Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause various issues for women and girls. They may feel unsatisfied at work, have difficulty with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also do better at developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to identify and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as people age. This is the reason it's crucial that people with ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or unloved when they reach the age of adulthood.
As girls and women develop into adults, they often continue to have trouble with their ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances or keeping the house 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 issues.
ADHD is a chronic condition and is not like other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to cover up their symptoms using coping strategies however, these strategies often fail. Furthermore, hormonal changes that occur during menstrual periods, pregnancy, and menopause may make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing track of time, difficulties paying attention during classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines, such as meal planning, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's crucial that healthcare providers are aware of the different ways girls and women be diagnosed with ADHD and also consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression can be a contributing factor to these issues.
It is also essential that those with ADHD be assessed by a doctor or another 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 depression or anxiety as well as low self-esteem and problems in social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from physical health problems such as chronic stress or tics.
Many girls and women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD or they don't receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until later in life, and they can have issues when it does occur. 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 coping strategies that mask their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as often. This means that their problems with organisation, concentration and impulsivity could be ignored for a long time.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms harder to pick up on. They can also have co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, like anxiety and depression. They may have difficulty to control their emotions. This may be worsened because of hormonal changes during the menstrual period, pregnancy, and menopause.
Many of these conditions may cause low self-esteem or relationships problems. It can be difficult for these people to openly discuss their issues and seek assistance. This could lead to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with others. They might not attend social events or fail to show on time for appointments, and fail to detect body language or recognize other people's nonverbal cues. adhd in adult women treatment might even be prone to wander off on tangents while talking, making it harder for others to keep up with them.
It's important that you get a proper diagnose and act as fast as possible. For women, this can be an "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation for their struggles and help them accept their own uniqueness. It can also help women focus on their strengths and take steps to improve life management skills. This can positively impact their personal, professional and family lives. The article is medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the personal and professional lives of women and girls as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, resulting in anxiety and low self-esteem. They may also make it more difficult to manage the demands of adult life including managing finances, keeping the 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 regarding the disorder. Girls and women may then suppress or hide their symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by the society.
Fortunately, there are effective treatment options available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. The first option is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants are also effective for some people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination therapy to treat related disorders, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
In addition to medications lifestyle changes can also help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus as well as reduce anxiety and stress. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an important part of treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
We employ the words "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender that was established at birth, not to a person's gender identity. This is to provide the use of a more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for readers. However, this article also applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to spot. They might also exhibit symptoms that aren't obvious to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization instead of the impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who frequently come up with strategies to help them be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions like maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders for phone calls. However, they can also be unhealthy, such as binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and they could have relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women with ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can cause being unable to attend school, work, or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to help them with their daily chores. This can create an addiction and reliance that is hard to break.
As they grow older, girls and women with ADHD might be at a greater chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This can be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or a lack of ability to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and may be at a higher risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
As adults, women who suffer from ADHD typically benefit from medication and coping strategies to manage their symptoms. They can also seek therapy, individually or in a group. This can help them to understand their challenges and create more positive internal dialogs. It can also help them improve their relationships.
Support services may also include special programs for mothers who are pregnant or with ADHD, as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to work and household responsibilities and look after children.