Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms interfere with their daily lives. They may feel inadequate at work, struggle in social relationships or suffer from depression and anxiety.
They also tend to be better in establishing coping mechanisms that conceal their ADHD symptoms, making it harder for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms
Although research has proven that ADHD affects boys and men more frequently than women and girls, the gender gap narrows as people get older. This is why it's critical that people with ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or abandoned when they reach the age of adulthood.
As women and girls develop into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances, keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. add symptoms in adult women can affect their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they may blame themselves for their troubles.
Unlike some other psychiatric disorders ADHD is a lifelong condition. Women and girls are prone to hide their symptoms by using strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. Additionally, hormonal changes during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes may make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually are characterized by being forgetful or numb in the sense of losing track of time, difficulty paying attention in classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines, such as meal planning, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the different ways women and girls present with ADHD and to think about whether anxiety or depression are contributing to their difficulties.
It's also crucial that people with ADHD be evaluated by a physician or other qualified healthcare provider who will examine their symptoms and medical history to rule out any other medical conditions. Some people with ADHD also suffer from mental health issues like anxiety or depression as well as low self-esteem and difficulties with relationships and social interaction. It is also common for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues, such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.
Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD aren't diagnosed because their parents, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They might not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In some instances, girls and women with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD or they do not receive a diagnosis until they reach 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 may 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 coping strategies that mask their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as frequently. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration, and impulsivity may go unnoticed over a period of time.
Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms harder to recognize. Additionally, they may suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. They may find it difficult to control their emotions. This can be exacerbated because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause.
Many of these conditions can result in a low self-esteem and issues with relationships. As a result, it can be difficult for them to open up about their struggles and seek help. This can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment.
It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to form friendships or interact with others. They may skip social gatherings, or not show up for appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They may even wander off on tangents during conversations and make it difficult for others to follow them.
In these circumstances, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as possible. For women, this could be a "lightbulb moment" which can provide them with an external explanation for their difficulties and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also aid women to focus on their strengths and to take steps to improve life management abilities. This could be beneficial to their family, work and personal lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.
Treatment
Untreated ADHD can impact the personal and professional lives of women and girls as they reach adulthood. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance and cause frustration and low confidence. They may also make it difficult to manage the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping a 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 lead to gender stereotypes regarding the disorder. Women and girls may then suppress or hide their symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by the society.
There are effective treatments for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed health professional can prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The first option is a stimulant, however non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. Additionally, a combination of treatments may be recommended by your physician to treat related disorders such as anxiety or depression.
In addition to medications lifestyle changes can also aid in the management of ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost concentration and focus, and reduce stress, anxiety and other issues with mood that are common in people with ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports are particularly helpful.
Therapy is also an important part of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that cause their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.
At Verywell Health, we use the words "girls" and "women" to refer to the gender at birth (AFAB) rather than an individual's affirmation of gender identity. This is to provide clearer and more consistent terminology across our content and to reduce confusion for our readers. However, this article also applies to people assigned male at birth (AMAB), and to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and welcome all our readers.
attention deficit in women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), with ADHD are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to spot. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others. For instance, inattention and disorganization rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
This masking is important for women who typically develop strategies for coping to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms may include healthy actions like making phone reminders or keeping a daily schedule. They can also be harmful such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. They may also be suffering from relationship issues and chronic stress.
The challenges girls and women with ADHD face can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings can result in avoiding school and work, or social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. That can create an environment of dependency and dependence on others that is difficult to break.
In adolescence, girls and women with ADHD are at a higher risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This can be caused by insanity, poor organization, or inability to use contraception. They are more likely to be forced into sexual activities that are not desired, and may be at a higher risk of being victims of domestic violence and abuse.
Women with ADHD who are adults can benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also receive therapy, individually or in a group. This can help them learn to recognize their issues and build more positive internal dialogs. This can also help improve their relationships.
Support services could include programs specifically designed for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD, as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD maintain their jobs, manage their responsibilities at home and care for their children.