Female ADHD Symptoms
Females who have ADHD often go undiagnosed as children, because the disorder is different in girls than in boys. Adult women may have the inattentive type of ADHD or combined inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
They also have a tendency to develop unhealthy strategies for coping, like excessive drinking and substance abuse, which mask ADHD symptoms and delay a proper diagnosis. Coexisting conditions, such as depression and anxiety are also common among these individuals.
Attention!
Women with inattentive ADHD typically have a difficult time to keep up with their schoolwork, job and daily routines. They may forget appointments or leave things unattended around the home. They are unable to keep track of their finances as well as household chores and record-keeping. They also tend to forget names and dates, and suffer from memory problems. These women also have difficulty being still for long periods and aren't able to concentrate or follow directions.
While impulsivity and hyperactivity are more often associated with males and boys, the inattentive subtype of ADHD is equally prevalent for women and girls. Around 80% of ADHD sufferers are considered inattentive. To qualify for a diagnosis, you must have at least five ongoing inattention symptoms that last more than six months.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms are often difficult for people to identify because they don't view them as a sign of a disorder or have different expectations of how girls should act. This is why parents and teachers are less likely to recommend ADHD assessments for girls than they are for boys.
Additionally, the way that ADHD affects women's lives can change over different periods of her life due to hormonal changes. For instance, a woman's symptoms may become more severe during her menstrual cycle, while she's pregnant, or when she enters menopause.
These symptoms can have an impact on a woman’s self-esteem and her life satisfaction. They can trigger feelings of shame and low self-worth due to the fact that they make it difficult to manage relationships, work and domestic tasks. Women who are not treated for ADHD can also suffer from anxiety and depression. They are also at risk of engaging in sexual activities that increase the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases as well as other health problems. They may also experience rejection sensitivity because they have a hard time accepting real or perceived negative reactions from others. As female adhd symptoms , they may avoid social situations and become more isolated.
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
In many instances hyperactivity and impulsivity are the first signs of ADHD for women and girls. They may procrastinate more, misplace things or have difficulty concentrating. They may also become overwhelmed by the demands of their surroundings. They might also have difficulty relaxing or falling asleep, and they may be more prone to mood fluctuations and anxiety. Symptoms like these can cause problems in school, at home and in their relationships.
Since the symptoms of ADHD are more prevalent for both genders, women and girls may be omitted from a diagnosis. Healthcare providers and teachers often do not recommend ADHD assessments for female students or colleagues as often as they do for male ones. This can lead both to an incorrect diagnosis and delays in treatment.
This, along with the tendency to hide their issues, can make it clear that people with ADHD suffer more than is normally reported. For instance, they might not have trouble focusing at work or being overwhelmed by household chores. They might struggle to make decisions when shopping or find it hard to relax or sleep.
This could have a negative impact on their self-esteem. Instead of addressing the underlying problem, they may adopt unhealthy ways of coping. This may include substance abuse and unhealthy eating habits. This could make the problem worse over time, and prevent the woman from receiving the assistance she needs.
It is also possible because ADHD-linked behaviors are more popular with males and females and women, they are repressed or hid by women and girls who are worried about being judged. For instance, girls with ADHD might exhibit excessive and impulsive behavior to avoid being criticized because they don't fit in with the norms of their school or in the community.
These factors can ultimately create a cycle of frustration and confusion for women suffering from ADHD. It's important for family members, friends, and teachers to notice these struggles in women and girls because they could be an indication of a disorder that has not been diagnosed and must be treated through therapy and medication management.
Emotional Troubles
Women suffering from ADHD tend to struggle more than men to manage their emotions. Their moods are more likely to fluctuate throughout the day because of hormonal changes. This can cause symptoms such as irritability and a feeling of being inadequate. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to experience anxiety and depression. These emotional issues could have a significant impact on careers and relationships.
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be a challenge for parents as well as children however, it is particularly challenging for women. Women can be embarrassed about ADHD and might not seek help due to this. They may also try to mask their symptoms by implementing strategies for coping, such as excessive alcohol or substance use, which can make the situation worse. Masking can make it harder for employers and teachers to recognize ADHD symptoms in women, and it could lead to delays in diagnosis.
A woman with ADHD may be able manage to hide her symptoms throughout the adolescent years and in her youth however it becomes more difficult when she's an adult. The stress of everyday life, along with the societal expectations to excel at work and in relationships, can increase ADHD symptoms. These challenges can result in women suffering from ADHD feeling like failures, low self-esteem, and ongoing stress. For some, receiving an diagnosis of ADHD can be like an epiphany, helping them to understand the root cause of their challenges and giving them the chance to accept themselves more fully.
Many women with ADHD struggle to find help at work or school. They may be embarrassed telling a professor or supervisor or teacher about their condition, and they might worry that the accommodation they need will be perceived as a sign of weakness or incompetence. However, most supervisors and instructors are willing to make small adjustments to enable people with ADHD to succeed in their jobs.
Women suffering from ADHD who are seeking friendly peers can also gain by joining online support groups. These groups can provide the opportunity to share personal stories and discuss the particular difficulties of being a woman with ADHD as a woman.
Co-occurring Conditions
As girls and women mature they can develop strategies to deal with their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult for others to spot. For example, a girl might make an effort to dress and act like her peers to ward off the attention of bullies or social rejection. Or, she may try to redress her impulsive and chaotic behavior by putting more effort into school or at work, or relying on productivity apps to get her tasks accomplished. These and other strategies for coping can mask the presence ADHD in a female and delay the diagnosis for her in adulthood.
Girls and women with ADHD are often diagnosed with depression or anxiety before receiving an official diagnosis. These other conditions could obscure the symptoms and presence of ADHD. They can cause complications in treatment.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are also at a higher chance of having low self-esteem and are more likely to be afflicted by co-existing mood disorders than males or boys. They can be misunderstood and dismissed as being temperamental or excessively emotional, which increases their angst.
In addition many women experience difficulties in their relationships due to ADHD symptoms. They are more likely than men to miss birthdays and miss small details. This can lead to miscommunication and conflict. Additionally, they might struggle to manage household chores as well as personal finances and daily obligations. These issues can cause them to feel overwhelmed and exhausted which can lead to an internal landscape of dysfunctional beliefs about their worth and capabilities.
Gender bias in clinical settings also influences the rate that women and girls are referred to an ADHD evaluation. In one study Ohan and Visser (2009) asked parents and teachers in a class to read vignettes describing children suffering from ADHD symptoms, and rate how likely they were to recommend or seek services for the child portrayed. They found that the participants were more likely to recommend services to boys than girls.
As with other types of disorders, ADHD can vary in intensity for individuals and may worsen at various times. For instance, symptoms may be more severe during the menstrual cycle or during menopausal pregnancy. These changes can lead to problems with social functioning, relationships, and academic performance. They can also lead to feelings of frustration and failure.