ADHD Symptoms For Women

Women suffering from ADHD report emotional volatility and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep which can make symptoms worse.

Women and girls often mask their ADHD symptoms better than males and employ strategies to cope with social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.

1. Difficulty Focusing

Concentration is the most difficult issue for many women with ADHD. The symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to stay on task at school, at work meetings, or even when reading or listening to other people's conversations. It can also be challenging to get through 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. Women who suffer from the inattentive version of the disorder might be struggling to organize their home or their desks and may have difficulty focusing on tasks according to CHADD. These problems can result in them not attending appointments, showing up at the wrong time or location or not completing their tasks. They can cause them to feel ashamed of themselves and blame themselves for their problems and think they are lazy or forgetful.

Attention-deficit ADHD can lead to poor performance at school or at work and can lead to debt accumulation. They are often triggered by stress or other mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.

Some girls and women with inattentive ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of the biases teachers and parents might have towards men and boys. 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.

Hormonal changes can also cause symptoms in adult female adhd symptoms women with ADHD. For instance, they could be more apparent during menstrual cycles or during perimenopause, which is the time before menopause--when estrogen levels dip and can cause emotional issues which include mood swings as well as irritability.

The use of stimulants can help improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't treat the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can also help with focus and organization. Some schools and workplaces offer facilities to assist with these issues.

2. Forgetting Things

Forgetfulness can make managing daily chores and responsibilities difficult. You may find it difficult to remember important information especially when they take place in a noisy environment. You might also find that you often forget appointments or get late for work and school. Inability to pay bills or reply to emails is common among women suffering from ADHD and can cause financial stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might have trouble working in a crowded or noisy workplace and frequently get lost in conversations, leaving the other person feeling unimportant or misunderstood.

Many women and girls with ADHD also have difficulty maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or becoming victims of intimate partner violence. They are more likely than others to feel overwhelmed because they have difficulty regulating their emotions. They might also have trouble with self-esteem and could be more likely to interpret their problems as "personal imperfections" instead of acknowledging that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.

Women and girls with ADHD are also not diagnosed due to gender bias, since their symptoms are more noticeable than those of boys and men. They can disguise symptoms as anxiety and mood disorders, which can result in a misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.

ADHD symptoms can be different based on hormone fluctuations. This is particularly true during puberty, when hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels increase. This can result in a wider range of symptoms, which makes it harder to identify and treat ADHD.

Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you develop life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also alter your lifestyle by eating an appropriate diet and avoiding stimulants like sugar, caffeine and sugary drinks which can aggravate symptoms. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help relax your mind and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. They also aid in improving emotional regulation. Talking to a mental health professional can also be helpful, as they can discuss possible accommodations at work or school that can assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.

3. Disruptive Behavior

Women who suffer from ADHD are more sluggish than hyperactive or the symptoms of impulsivity. This could be because women and girls have different brains than men and boys. Or it could be due to the amount of brain activity areas that regulate impulsive behavior.

As a result, it can be harder for a doctor to identify and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and can lead to other health problems. For example, some women turn to alcohol or other drugs to deal with their symptoms. They may also be depressed or suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy coping strategies can make it harder for someone to recognize they have a problem and delay a proper diagnosis.

Disruptive behavior is a typical adhd symptom for women that can affect work or school performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, forgetting important events or tasks, and being easily distracted by other things in the environment or in their minds. They might fumble or tap their hands or feet or squirm in their seat. They may also shout or talk loudly, and may interrupt.

Women with the inattentive subtype are prone to having difficulty add in adult women concentrating during lectures or discussions or completing schoolwork writing, reading, or [Redirect Only] reading assignments, following instructions in classes or at work, and managing daily tasks. They can be disorganized, messy, and forgetful and have a difficult time follow through on commitments or tasks. They are more likely to lose or misplace things like glasses, wallets, keys and even wallets.

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 home, at work, and in school, and can trigger feelings of anxiety, boredom, and frustration. They have a tough waiting to be called upon at home, school or in the workplace and are often disruptive to other people. They are not able to control their behavior and tend to be reckless.

4. Anxiety

Girls and women with ADHD are more likely to have a difficult time coping with their symptoms than males and females. This is due in part to the social expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. When a woman struggles to meet her responsibilities this can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek help.

Additionally, successful women with adhd who suffer from undiagnosed adhd in women frequently have a difficult time getting diagnosed because their symptoms are not as evident as those of boys and men. 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. They are also more likely to develop coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. For example, excessive fidgeting or forgetfulness can be misinterpreted as signs of anxiety disorders.

The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the woman's life. women adhd diagnosis may experience adhd for adult women symptoms during hormonal changes such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. This can lead to being dismissed or misinterpreted as a terribly emotional woman and can cause a feeling of anger.

This article is based on research into how ADHD affects different people depending on their gender. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a matter of biology: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones, and anatomical structures, whereas gender is an internal perception of what you're like as a man, a woman, or, if nonbinary, or a person. This distinction is crucial as it enables a better understanding of the ways and the ways ADHD manifests can vary between genders. For this reason, throughout this article, we refer to males and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys and women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as girls and women. This terminology is used in many research studies. To learn more, read Verywell Health's guide to sex and gender.