15 ADHD Symptoms For Women Benefits That Everyone Should Be Able To
ADHD Symptoms For Women
Women suffering from ADHD often report symptoms of emotional instability and an sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which may cause symptoms to get worse.
Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms better than men and employ strategies to manage their stress and meet social expectations and norms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
1. Trouble focusing
Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women with ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder may make it hard to remain focused at school, in meetings at work, or even when listening to others talk. It can be difficult to complete everyday tasks such as keeping track of appointments or taking medications.
Difficulty focusing is one of the most common adhd symptoms for girls and women, regardless of their gender identity or whether they have hyperactive/impulsive or inattentive ADHD. According to CHADD the women who suffer from the inattentive form of the disorder may have difficulty organizing their home and desk. They might be unable to prioritize tasks. These problems can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location or failing to finish their tasks. These issues can cause them to feel uneasy about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their own problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at work or in school, and the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD the symptoms are often triggered by stress or other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Teachers and parents could be biased towards males and girls, leading to some women and girls to be misdiagnosed. They may not be able to express their ADHD symptoms as well, especially the hyperactive/impulsive ones, and may have difficulty finding treatment that works for them.
Hormonal changes can also increase symptoms in women who suffer from ADHD. For instance, they could be more evident during menstrual cycles, or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems such as mood swings and irritability.
Stimulant medications can help improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't cure the condition. Other strategies, such as lifestyle changes, mindfulness training and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in focusing and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities to assist with these issues.
2. Forgetting Things
Inattention can make it difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or manage obligations. You may find it difficult to remember important details, especially if they occur in a noisy setting. You might also find that you often forget appointments or get late to work or school. Women with ADHD are prone to forgetting to pay bills or reply to emails, which could result in financial stress and a sense of urgency. You may experience difficulties working in a busy or noisy office, and you may get lost in conversations. This can cause the other person to feel unimportant or misunderstood.
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They also run the risk of being forced into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming intimate partner violence victims. They are more likely than others to be overwhelmed because they have difficulty regulating their emotions. They may also have issues with self-esteem and could be more inclined to see their issues as "personal imperfections" instead of acknowledging that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.
Females and females who suffer from ADHD are also often overlooked because of gender bias because their symptoms are less obvious than the symptoms of men and boys. They may be more likely to camouflage their symptoms as anxiety or mood problems and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.
Symptoms of ADHD vary with hormone fluctuations particularly during puberty, when progesterone levels drop and estrogen increases. This can result in greater variation in symptoms throughout the day, which makes it difficult to diagnose and manage ADHD properly.
Being diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn how to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also make lifestyle changes such as eating healthy and balanced meals and avoiding stimulants like sugar, caffeine and drinks with sugar that could worsen symptoms. It is also possible to practice mindfulness and meditation techniques to help calm your mind, decrease impulsiveness and restlessness, and improve emotional regulation. Talking with a mental health professional can be beneficial, since they can discuss possible accommodations at school or at work that can aid in managing your ADHD symptoms better.
3. Disruptive Behavior
Women with ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the amount of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.
It can be a challenge for doctors to identify ADHD in women. Many women develop strategies for coping to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others are not sustainable and can lead to other health issues. For instance women may turn to excessive alcohol or drugs to cope with their symptoms. They might also develop depression or have other mental health conditions such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it difficult for people to recognize they have a problem and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Disruptive behaviors are a common adhd symptom for women that can affect work or school performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are in a state of disorientation and not being able to focus on a specific task, forgetting important events or tasks and being easily distracted by the surroundings or their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm their seats. They may also talk loud or yell, and they can be interruptive.
Women with the predominantly inattentive type of adhd might have trouble concentrating on conversations or lectures as well as keeping up with reading, writing, or schoolwork; following instructions at work or in class; and juggling daily tasks. They are often disorganized, messy, and forgetful and find it difficult to keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more vulnerable to misplacing or losing things such as keys, wallets, and eyeglasses.
Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of adhd can cause problems at work, at home, and in school, and can lead to feelings of agitation or boredom. They are unable to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or at home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They have a tendency to be reckless and are unable control their behavior.
4. Anxiety
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have a difficult time coping with their symptoms than males and females. This is due to the social expectations that demand women and mothers be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman with ADHD is unable to keep up with her obligations, she may experience heightened feelings of anxiety which can lead to low self-esteem. This makes it more difficult for her to seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are typically not diagnosed as readily as males or females because their symptoms do not appear as obvious. They may present with primarily inattentive symptoms, which do not have the same outward appearance as hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms, making them less likely to receive a referral for treatment from teachers and parents. They are also more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms. For example excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness could be interpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADHD in women can change at different times in the woman's life. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstruation or pregnancy, women may notice her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This can cause her to be viewed as a victim of prejudice or dismissed as an emotionally overly sensitive.
women and adhd in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sexual. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology: chromosomal make-up hormones, hormones and anatomical structures, whereas gender is a subjective sense of what you're like as a man, woman, or if non-binary, you're a person. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of how and the ways in which ADHD manifests can vary between genders. In this article, we will refer to males as well as people who were assigned males at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as females and girls. This terminology is used in many research studies. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide on gender and sex.