Here's A Little Known Fact About ADHD In Women. ADHD In Women
inattentive add in women of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their daily lives. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle in relationships with peers, or suffer from anxiety and depression.
They also tend to be better in developing coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms, which makes it more difficult for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Signs and symptoms
Although research shows that ADHD affects men and boys more frequently than women and girls but the gap between genders narrows as people get older. This is why it's critical that people with ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or ostracized when they reach adulthood.
As girls and women grow into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing finances or keeping the house clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also affect their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their issues.
Unlike some other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls and women are more likely to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope, but they often result in a negative effect. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can be characterized by inattention or forgetfulness, having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulty in daily routines such as scheduling meals, meal planning or doing laundry. 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 many ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to think about whether anxiety or depression are contributing to their difficulties.
It's important that people with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional. They can look at their symptoms, medical history and rule out any other medical conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD have additional mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and difficulty with social interactions and relationships. It's also common for people with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't take them seriously. They might not think their issues are serious enough issue to seek help or may think that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, among other external factors. In some instances women and girls with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD or do not receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They can also face challenges if it is discovered. 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 also have strategies to manage their symptoms, which can result in them not being noticed as frequently. This means that their issues with concentration, organisation and impulsivity may remain unnoticed for a long time.
Women are also more likely to have high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms harder to detect. Additionally, they may have co-occurring conditions that impact their ability to manage their life including depression and anxiety. For instance, they might find it hard to control their moods, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
Many of these issues cause a loss of self-esteem and problems with relationships. As a result, it isn't easy to talk about their challenges and seek assistance. This can delay diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and communicating with others. They might not attend social events and fail to show up for appointments and can't detect body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal cues. They may even be inclined to go off on tangents while talking, making it difficult for others to keep up with them.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and act as fast as possible. It could be a "lightbulb" moment for women. It can help them recognize their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It can also assist women to recognize their strengths and to take steps to improve life management skills. This could be beneficial to their personal, professional and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.
Treatment
As women and girls develop into adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance and lead to frustration and low confidence. They can also make it more difficult to manage the demands of adulthood including 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-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can lead to women and girls avoiding or denying their own symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. The most popular choice is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants may also be effective for some people. In addition, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your healthcare professional to treat related disorders like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus and reduce stress and anxiety. Group activities, such as group fitness or team sports classes, are particularly beneficial.
Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people recognize and alter negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. This is to facilitate more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to make it easier for readers. This article applies to all individuals who were assigned male at birth, including transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our site.
Support
Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. It's because women and girls tend to hide their symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have signs that seem less obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This is crucial for women who often develop strategies for coping to feel normal and meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy things like setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be harmful like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. They may also be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women who suffer from ADHD face can contribute to feelings of self-esteem loss, anxiety, depression, or somatic complaints like headaches or abdominal pain. These feelings can result in being unable to attend school, work or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. This can lead to a cycle of dependence and reliance that is hard to break.
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with nonconsensual partners during adolescence. This is due to impulsivity, poor organization, or a failure to use contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexually inappropriate activities and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
As adults, women who suffer from ADHD are often able to benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also receive therapy on their own or in a partnership. This can help them to identify their struggles and develop more positive internal dialogues. It can aid them 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 will make it easier for women with ADHD to work, manage responsibilities at home and take care of children.