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Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their lives. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty in relationships with peers or experience depression and anxiety.
They also do better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to identify and treat them.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is narrowing as people age. This is why it's critical that people suffering from ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or abandoned when they reach adulthood.
As girls and women grow into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances as well as keeping their homes tidy or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem over time, as they may blame themselves for their problems.
ADHD is a chronic condition and is not like other psychiatric disorders. Girls and women are more likely to mask symptoms with strategies to cope, but they often fail to work. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes may make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded, losing track of time, difficulty paying attention in class or work and trouble 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 many ways women and girls can suffer from ADHD and also consider whether depression or anxiety is contributing to these difficulties.
It's also crucial that people with ADHD be evaluated by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, a low self-esteem and difficulty with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience physical health issues like chronic stress or tics.
Many girls and women with ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they aren't taken seriously by their teachers, families or friends. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to need help. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children are treated for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they reach their 40s or their 50s, and are having difficulty with daily living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood and may 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 can develop coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms and make them less noticed. This means that their problems with organization, concentration and impulsivity may go unnoticed for years.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify their symptoms. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring conditions that impact their ability to manage their life like anxiety and depression. They may be unable to manage their emotions. This can be exacerbated due to hormonal changes during the menstrual period as well as pregnancy and menopausal.
Many of these issues contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. This means it is often difficult for them to open up about their challenges and seek help. This could delay diagnosis and treatment.
It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to make friends or interact with other people. They might miss social gatherings, fail to attend appointments, and may have difficulty understanding body language. They may even be prone to wander off on tangents while talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up with them.
It is essential to get an accurate diagnosis and act as fast as you can. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation for their difficulties and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also aid women focus on their strengths and to make changes to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their professional, personal and family lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal lives of girls and women as they grow into adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. They can also make it difficult to cope with the demands of adulthood, such as managing finances, keeping a home tidy 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 result in gender stereotypes regarding the disorder. Women and girls might also try to hide or suppress their symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by the society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options available for ADHD in women and girls. adhd in women uk licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. The first choice is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants may also be effective for certain individuals. Your doctor might recommend a combination treatment to treat related conditions such as anxiety or depressive disorders.
In addition to medication lifestyle changes can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and stress. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports, are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an important part of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) rather than a person's affirmed gender identity. To make our content more clear and consistent, and to avoid confusion among our readers we use this term. This article applies to all people who were assigned males at birth, including transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our website.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed. It's because girls and women tend to hide symptoms, making it harder for doctors to identify. They may also have symptoms that aren't obvious to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This is particularly important for women, who frequently develop coping strategies that help them feel normal and meet societal expectations. These coping mechanisms can include healthy actions like setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a schedule for the day. They could also be harmful, like binge eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious over, depressed, or overwhelmed and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.
The challenges that girls and women with ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss, anxiety, depression, or somatic complaints like headaches or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They could also become more reliant on their parents for help with everyday tasks. This can lead to an environment of dependency and reliance on others that's difficult to break.
As they grow older, girls and women with ADHD are at a higher chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This could be due to insanity, poor organization, or the inability to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be forced into unwanted sexual activities, and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medications to treat symptoms and coping techniques. They can also get therapy either on their own or in partnership. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also aid in improving their relationships.
Support services could 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 suffering from ADHD to keep their jobs, take care of their responsibilities at home and care for their children.
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