7 Things You Didn't Know About ADHD Symptoms For Women

ADHD Symptoms For Women Women with ADHD have reported emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They may also experience insomnia or poor quality sleep, which can cause symptoms to get worse. Girls and women are generally better at masking their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to meet societal expectations and norms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and delays in treatment. 1. Difficulty Focusing Focusing is the biggest challenge for many women with ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder could make it hard to stay on task at school, during meetings at work, or even when listening to others ' conversations. It can also be challenging to manage daily tasks, like keeping track of appointments or making sure to take 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, women with the inattentive type of the disorder may have difficulty organizing their home and their desks. They may also find it hard to prioritize their tasks. These issues could cause them to skip appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the right time or fail to keep up on their tasks. They can also cause them to feel embarrassed and blame themselves for their problems believing they are incompetent or forgetful. Inattentive ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work and can also lead to the accumulation of debt. According to CHADD they are often triggered by stress or other mental conditions like anxiety and depression. Teachers and parents may be biased against boys and men, causing 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. For women who are adults who suffer from ADHD, symptoms can also be caused by hormonal changes. They can be more evident during menstrual cycles or perimenopausal periods which is the period leading up to menopausal symptoms which is when estrogen levels decrease and can cause emotional issues like mood swings or irritation. Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from stimulant medication to improve their concentration however, it cannot solve the problem. Other strategies, including lifestyle changes, mindfulness training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also aid in organizing and focus. Some schools and workplaces have accommodations that can help with these issues, as well. 2. Forgetting Things Inattention can make juggling daily tasks and responsibilities difficult. It can be difficult to remember important information about events or people particularly when they occur in a noisy or busy environment. You might also find that you often forget appointments or run late for school or work. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women suffering from ADHD, which can create financial stress and make you feel stressed. You might have trouble working in a noisy or busy office, and you may be unable to concentrate during conversations. This can make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood. Many girls and women who have ADHD also struggle to keep friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into sexually inappropriate behavior or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. They are more likely than other people to be overwhelmed because they struggle to control their emotions. They might also have trouble with self-esteem, and may be more likely to view their issues as “personal flaws” instead of recognizing the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms. Females and females who suffer from ADHD are also underdiagnosed because of gender bias as their symptoms are less evident than those of boys and men. They may be more likely to conceal their symptoms with mood or anxiety issues, which can result in being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. ADHD symptoms can vary depending on hormone fluctuations. This is particularly true during puberty, when hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels rise. This can lead to a greater variation in symptoms from day to day which can make it more difficult to recognize and manage ADHD effectively. If you are diagnosed and treated, you can learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, for example, eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that might cause symptoms to worsen. It is also possible to practice mindfulness techniques and meditation to relax your mind, reduce impulsiveness and restlessness, and improve emotional regulation. Talking with a mental health professional could be beneficial, as they can discuss possible accommodations at work or at school that can help you manage your ADHD symptoms better. 3. Disruptive Behavior In most cases, females with ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. It could be because the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of men and boys or it could be to do with the amount of activity is happening in the parts of the brain responsible for managing disruptive and impulsive behavior. It can be difficult for doctors to diagnose ADHD in women. Many women develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, however others are not sustainable and could result in other health issues. Some women, for example use excessive alcohol and drugs to cope. They might also develop depression or other mental health issues like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies may make it difficult for people to recognize they have a problem and can delay an accurate diagnosis. Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom in women that can impact school or work performance and relationships. They can be a problem when they are incapable of staying focused on a specific task, or forgetting important events or tasks and being easily distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They may fidget, tap their hands or feet or shake their hands. They may also speak out loud or yell, and they could be disruptive. Women who have the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty in concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and managing daily tasks. They may be unorganized and messy and find it difficult to keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like eyeglasses, wallets, and keys. Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of disorder can cause issues at work, at home, as well as at school, and it can cause feelings of restlessness or boredom. They are not able to wait for their turn whether at school, at work, or home. They are also known to interrupt others frequently. They are prone to act recklessly and are not able to control their behavior. 4. Anxiety Women and girls with ADHD can have a harder to manage their symptoms than males and females. This is due to the expectations of society, which demand that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and their household. When a woman struggles to meet her responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This, in turn, can make it harder to seek out treatment for her ADHD. Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed because their symptoms aren't as pronounced as the men and boys. 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. Furthermore, they are more likely to develop strategies for coping that cover up their ADHD symptoms, like excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness that could be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders. The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the course of the woman's life. Women can be afflicted with ADHD symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can cause her to be misunderstood, or dismissed as being overly emotional. The information in this article is based on research into how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology: chromosomal make-up hormones, hormones, and anatomical structure, while gender is a subjective sense of what you're like as a man, a woman, or if you're non-binary, an individual. This distinction is important because it allows for better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests can vary between genders. In adhd in young women , we will refer to males and people who were assigned male at birth as boys and men. We also refer to females and people who were assigned female at conception as women and girls. This is in line with how numerous research studies employ this terminology. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide on gender and sexuality.