ADHD In Women's History History Of ADHD In Women
Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls are often faced with a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms affect their lives. They may feel unable at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression.
They also tend to be better in establishing coping mechanisms that conceal their ADHD symptoms, making it more difficult for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as we age. It is crucial that people with ADHD symptoms don't feel isolated or forgotten.
As women and girls grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing finances, keeping the house clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their issues.
Unlike some other mental disorders, ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using strategies to cope, but these often backfire. In addition, hormone changes throughout the menstrual cycle, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being forgetful or absentminded in the sense of losing track of time, difficulties paying attention in class or work and trouble with daily routines such as laundry, meal planning 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 various ways girls and women be diagnosed with ADHD, and consider whether comorbid anxiety or depression contributes to the difficulties.
It is crucial that those with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other illnesses. Certain people with ADHD also have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety as well as low self-esteem and issues in social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health problems such as tics or chronic stress.
Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They might not think their problems are serious enough issue to seek help or may think their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. Women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only when their children are treated for ADHD. Others aren't diagnosed until they are in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They also may be faced with challenges if 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 may develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms and make them less visible. This means that their issues with organization, concentration and impulsivity may be ignored for a long time.
Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to identify their symptoms. They can also have co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, including depression and anxiety. They may be unable to control their emotions. This may be worsened by hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause.
A variety of these issues can cause a loss of self-esteem and problems with relationships. This means it is often difficult to talk about their issues and seek help. This can cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with others. They may miss social gatherings, or not show up for appointments, and have difficulty understanding body language. They could even wander off on tangents during conversations and make it difficult for others to follow their lead.
It is essential to get a proper diagnose and act as fast as possible. This could be an "lightbulb" moment for women. It will help them to understand their struggles and accept themselves better. It can also aid women to focus on their strengths and to take steps to improve life management abilities. This could have a positive effect on their professional, personal and family lives. Huma Sheikh MD has reviewed the article.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the professional and personal lives of girls and women as they enter adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance. They can cause anxiety and a lack of confidence. They can also make it harder to handle the demands of adulthood, such as managing finances, keeping your 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 stereotypes of gender about the disorder. Women and girls might then conceal or minimize their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.
There are a variety of effective treatment options available for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional can prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and manage symptoms. The first choice is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants may also be effective for certain individuals. In addition, a combination of treatments might be recommended by your physician to treat related issues like depression or anxiety.
Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus, and also reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, such as group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial.
Therapy is also an essential part of treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender determined at birth (AFAB) instead of an individual's affirmation of gender identity. To make our content more consistent and clear and to avoid confusion among readers, we use this terminology. This article is applicable to all people who were assigned males at birth, which includes transgender and nonbinary people. We acknowledge that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we welcome all readers to our content.
Support
Women and those with female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or receive a false diagnosis than men. This is because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making it harder for doctors to diagnose. They also might have symptoms that aren't apparent to others, such as inattention or disorganization rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
This masking is important for women who frequently come up with strategies to help them feel normal and to meet social expectations. These strategies for coping may include healthy activities, such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders for phone calls. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed, and may have relationship issues and chronic stress.
Women and girls with ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem and other symptoms like anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoiding school and work, or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents for helping them with their daily tasks. That can create a cycle of dependency and dependence on others that's hard to break.
In adolescence, girls as well as women who suffer from ADHD are at a higher risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This can be caused by impulsivity, poor organization, or the inability to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at a greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation.
Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also receive therapy either on their own or in a partnership. This can help them to understand their challenges and create more positive internal dialogues. It will help them improve their relationships.
Support services can also include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD to keep their jobs, take care of their home responsibilities and care for their children.