Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, have difficulty with peer relationships and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They are also better at developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat them.
Signs and symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects both men and boys more frequently than women and girls but the gap between genders narrows as people age. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or forgotten.
As girls and women grow into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their troubles.
ADHD is a chronic illness unlike other mental disorders. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope that can backfire, but they often do. In addition, hormone changes during menstrual cycles as well as menopausal and pregnancy can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD can include the inability to remember things or being oblivious or having trouble paying attention in class, and having difficulties with daily routines like meal planning, scheduling, or laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is crucial that healthcare professionals are aware of the many ways girls and women be diagnosed with ADHD and also consider whether depression or anxiety can be a contributing factor to these issues.
It is essential that those suffering from ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can evaluate their symptoms, medical history and rule out other conditions. Some people with ADHD also have mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and issues in social interactions and relationships. It's also common for adults with ADHD to suffer from other health issues that are co-occurring such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls with ADHD do not receive a diagnosis because they're not taken seriously by family members, teachers or friends. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. Or they may think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are diagnosed with ADHD or don't receive a diagnosis until they're in their 40s or 50s and are having major difficulties with daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood and can have issues 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 develop coping strategies that disguise their symptoms and make them less visible. This means that their problems with organization, concentration and impulsivity can be ignored for a long time.
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. For example, they can find it hard to control their moods, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopausal.
Many of these conditions can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It is often difficult for people with these conditions to talk about their problems and seek assistance. This could lead to delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and engaging with other people. They may miss social events, fail to turn on time for appointments, and fail to discern body language or read the non-verbal signals of others. They may also be inclined to go off on tangents while talking, making it more difficult for others to keep up with them.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and take action as quickly as possible. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that can give them an external explanation of their problems and help them accept their own uniqueness. It can also help women focus on their strength and make changes to improve their life management abilities. This could be beneficial to their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
As girls and women grow into adults and adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance. They can lead to frustration and low confidence. They can also make it harder to cope with the demands of adult life 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. Recommended Browsing can result in gender stereotypes about the disorder. Females and females might then conceal or minimize their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatments available for ADHD both in girls and women. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant drugs are the first choice, but non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain people. In addition, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your physician to treat related disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Alongside medication lifestyle changes can aid in managing 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, such as group fitness classes or team sports are particularly helpful.
Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also helpful in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
We employ the terms "girls", "women", and "womens" to refer to the gender assigned at birth, and not to the person's gender identity. To make our content more uniform and clear, and to avoid confusion among readers we employ this term. However, this article also applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary individuals. Recommended Browsing recognize that gender and sex are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and people who were assigned females at birth (AFAB) and suffer from ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed. It's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms which makes it more difficult for doctors to determine. They also might have symptoms that aren't obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization, rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is especially important for women, who typically create coping mechanisms to help them feel normal and conform to social norms. These strategies of coping can include healthy actions such as keeping daily schedules or setting phone reminders. They can also be unhealthy like binge eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and they could suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women with ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss depression, anxiety or physical complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings can result in avoiding school, work or social activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents for help with daily tasks. That can create a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's hard to break.
As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD are at a higher risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This could be due to the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or inability to utilize contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into unwanted sexual activity, and they can be more vulnerable to domestic violence and exploitation.
Women suffering from ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek out therapy, either individually or with an individual or with a partner. This can help them learn to identify their struggles and create more positive internal dialogues. This will also help improve their relationships.
Support services can also include specialized programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD as well as coaching to teach them parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, manage their home responsibilities and care for their children.