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Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

Girls and women often face a variety of issues when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their lives. They may feel incompetent at work, have difficulty with peer relationships or experience depression and anxiety.

They also do better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat them.

Signs and symptoms

The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people get older. It's important that adults with ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or ignored.

As girls and women grow into adults, they typically remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances and keeping their home clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can affect their mental health and self-esteem over time, as they might blame themselves for their problems.

In contrast to other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a lifelong condition. Women and girls are prone to hide their symptoms by using strategies for coping however, these strategies often fail. In addition, changes in hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.

Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms usually include being impulsive or forgetful, losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during class or work and trouble with daily routines, such as food preparation, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential that healthcare professionals are aware of the various ways that girls and women present with ADHD and think about whether depression or anxiety contributes to the difficulties.

It is crucial that those with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. They can assess their symptoms and medical history, and rule out any other medical conditions. For example, some individuals with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues like depression or anxiety, low self-esteem and difficulty with relationships and social interactions. It's also common for adults with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia.

Many girls and women with ADHD aren't diagnosed because they're not considered serious by family members, teachers or friends. They may not believe that their problems are serious enough problem to seek assistance, or they may believe their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. Some girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children are treated for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s, and are experiencing difficulty with daily living activities.

Diagnosis

Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. They may also have issues if recognized. 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 and symptoms of adhd in women in male children. Girls may develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms and make them less visible. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity might be unnoticed for a period of time.

women adhd checklist (imoodle.win) are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. There are also co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, such as depression and anxiety. They may be unable to manage their emotions. This is often due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as menopausal.

Many of these issues cause a loss of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. It is often difficult for these people to talk about their problems and ask for assistance. This can result in a delay in the diagnosis and treatment.

It's also typical for those with adhd assessment for adult women not to be able to make friends or communicate with others. They might miss social events, not show up for appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They could even go off on tangents when talking which makes it difficult for others to follow their lead.

For these reasons, it's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and act as soon as possible. For women, this could be an "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their difficulties and help them accept themselves more fully. It can also aid women to recognize their strengths and adopt steps to improve their life management skills. This could positively impact their family, work and personal lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.

Treatment

Untreated ADHD can affect the professional and personal lives of women and girls as they grow into adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance and cause frustration and low confidence. They can also make it difficult to cope with the demands of adulthood including managing finances, keeping the home organized and maintaining healthy relationships.

Women and girls are less likely to receive a diagnosis of adhd assessment for adult women than boys and men, partly because hyperactive/impulsive symptoms tend to be more commonly associated with males. This, in turn, can result in gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder, which can result in women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being branded as a victim by society.

There are a variety of effective treatment options for ADHD both in girls and women. Medicines regulate brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a certified healthcare professional. The first option is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants are also effective for some people. Your doctor may recommend a combination treatment to treat related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.

In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, as well as reduce anxiety, stress 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 essential component of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists people recognize and alter negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.

At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender determined at birth (AFAB) instead of the person's gender-specific identity. To ensure that our content is more uniform and clear, and to avoid confusion among readers we use this term. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our site.

Support

Women and those who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or never diagnosed. This is because women and girls tend to conceal their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to spot. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization, rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.

This masking is important for women who frequently develop strategies for coping to be normal and meet social expectations. These strategies for coping may include healthy actions, such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders on phones. However, they could also be harmful, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and have issues with relationships and chronic stress.

The challenges that girls and women who suffer from ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety or even somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These issues can cause being unable to attend school, work or social activities. They could also become more dependent on their parents for help with daily tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and reliance on others that's difficult to break.

In adolescence, girls as well as women who suffer from ADHD might be at a greater risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This is due to insanity, poor organization, or inability to utilize contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexually inappropriate activities and may be at a higher risk of domestic violence and exploitation.

Women with ADHD who are adults could benefit from medications to treat symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek therapy, individually or in a group. They can learn to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. It will help them improve their relationships.

Support services could also include coaching for parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs can help women suffering from ADHD keep their jobs, handle their home responsibilities and take care of their children.