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.

Girls and women are typically better at concealing their ADHD symptoms, using coping mechanisms to comply with social expectations and norms. This can lead both to a misdiagnosis and delays in treatment.

1. Problems with Focusing

For many women suffering from ADHD, focusing is the most difficult thing to do. Symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to remain focused at school, at meetings at work, or when listening to others ‘ conversations. It can be difficult to accomplish daily tasks like keeping track of appointments or taking 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 who suffer from the inattentive type of the condition can have difficulty organizing their home and desk. They might also have difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks. These issues can lead them to miss appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the correct time or not follow through on their job responsibilities. These difficulties can make them feel uneasy about themselves, and they may blame themselves for their troubles.

Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can also make it hard to manage the demands of life, resulting in poor work or school performance and an accumulation of debt. They can be triggered by stress or other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression that are often associated with ADHD in women, according to CHADD.

Teachers and parents could be biased against boys and men, causing some girls and women to be overlooked. 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 adult women who suffer from ADHD symptoms, they may be exacerbated due to hormonal changes. For instance, they could be more apparent during the menstrual cycle or during perimenopausal transition, the period leading up to menopausal, when estrogen levels decrease and cause emotional problems, including mood swings and irritation.

Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications to improve their focus, but it will not treat the condition. Other strategies, like lifestyle modifications, mindfulness-based training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with focus and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have facilities to assist with these issues.

2. Forgetting Things

The habit of forgetting can make managing your daily tasks and responsibilities challenging. It may be difficult to remember important information, especially if they occur in a noisy setting. You might also find that you frequently forget appointments or are late to work or school. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common among women with ADHD and can cause financial stress and make you feel rushed. You might have trouble working in a noisy or busy office, and you might get lost in conversations. This could make someone else feel unimportant or misunderstood.

Many women and girls with ADHD also have trouble maintaining friendships and are at risk of being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners. This is because they have a more difficult managing their emotions and are more likely to feel overwhelmed. They may also struggle with self-esteem and could be more likely to view their issues as “personal flaws” instead of acknowledging the fact that their behavior is correlated to their ADHD symptoms.

Due to gender biases Due to gender bias, girls and women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because their symptoms are less obvious than those of males and boys. They might be more likely to disguise their symptoms by claiming mood or anxiety issues and this can lead to being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.

Symptoms of ADHD differ with the fluctuation of hormones and, particularly during puberty when progesterone drops and estrogen increases. This can result in greater variance in symptoms from day to day, which makes it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD correctly.

If you are diagnosed and treated, you can learn to manage ADHD symptoms. You can also try lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet and limiting sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can help to calm your mind and decrease restlessness and impulsiveness. They can also help improve emotional regulation. A mental health professional may be able to help you by discussing possible accommodations that could assist you in managing ADHD symptoms at work or in school.

3. Disruptive Behavior

In most cases, women with ADHD are more likely to experience inattention than hyperactive or impulsive ones. This could be due to the fact that girls and women have different brains than boys and men. It could also be due to the volume of brain activity areas that control impulsive behavior.

It can be a challenge for doctors to recognize ADHD in women. Many women develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms. Some are healthy, while others aren’t long-lasting and could lead to other health issues. For instance, some women turn to drinking or using drugs to cope with their symptoms. They may also become depressed or suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety. These unhealthy coping methods can make it difficult for people to recognize that they have an issue with their mental health and delay an accurate diagnosis.

Disruptive behavior is a common adhd symptom that affects women and can affect school or work performance and relationships. They usually involve not staying focused on a task, ignoring important dates or events, and being easily distracted by other things in their surroundings or in their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm in their seats. adhd symptoms in women adults may also yell or talk loudly, and may interrupt.

Women who suffer from the primarily inattentive subtype of adhd can have trouble concentrating on their lectures or conversations and juggling reading, writing or schoolwork; following instructions at school or at work; and juggling daily tasks. They can be disorganized and messy and find it difficult to keep track of commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to losing or misplacing items, including keys, wallets, and eyeglasses.

Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This subtype can cause problems at work, home or at school. It can also lead to feelings of irritability, boredom and frustration. They have a difficult waiting to be called upon at home, school or at work and often interrupt other people. They aren’t able to control their behavior and are likely to behave recklessly.

4. Anxiety

Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder time to manage their symptoms. This is due to societal expectations that demand that women and mothers are the primary caregivers of their children and household. If a woman is struggling to fulfill her obligations and obligations, it can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek help.

Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed because their symptoms are not as prominent 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 coping strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms, including excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness, that could be mistaken for symptoms of anxiety disorders.

The symptoms of ADHD can also change throughout a woman’s lifetime. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, a woman could find her ADHD symptoms to become more severe. This could cause her to be misunderstood, or considered being excessively emotional.

The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, hormones, chromosomal makeup and anatomy; while gender refers to the internal feeling of being a woman, man or a nonbinary. This distinction is important because it helps us comprehend the ways and reasons ADHD manifests differently in men and women. This is why throughout this article, we refer to both men and those assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys as well as women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This is in line with the way many research studies use this terminology. For more information, read the Verywell Health guide to gender and sex.