Could ADHD In Women Be The Answer To 2024's Resolving?

Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

Women and girls often face many challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their lives. They may feel unprepared at work, struggle in relationships with peers or suffer from anxiety and depression.

They also tend to be better at building coping mechanisms that conceal their ADHD symptoms, making it harder for them to get diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms

While research confirms ADHD affects boys and men more often than girls and women, the gender gap narrows as people get older. It's crucial that those with ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or forgotten.

As girls and women grow into adulthood They continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances and keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Untreated ADHD can impact their self-esteem and mental health over time, as they might blame themselves for their problems.

Contrary to other mental disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Girls and women tend to hide their symptoms by using methods of coping, but these often backfire. In addition, hormone changes during menstrual cycles, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it harder to manage their ADHD symptoms.

Inattentive-type ADHD can be characterized by forgetfulness or being absentminded and having difficulty paying attention in class, and having difficulty in daily routines such as scheduling meals, meal planning or washing. 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 the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their problems.

It is crucial that those with ADHD are evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional. They can evaluate their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out other illnesses. For instance, some people with ADHD are also suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social interactions and relationships. It's also normal for adults with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia.

Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed because their families, teachers or friends don't consider them serious. They may not believe that their symptoms are serious enough to require assistance. Or, they might think that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem. In  adhd in young women , girls and women with ADHD are only diagnosed when their children are treated for ADHD, or they are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s and are having difficulties with their daily activities.

Diagnosis

Women are typically 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 also have strategies to manage their symptoms and lead to them not being noticed as much. It is possible that girls' issues with organization, concentration, and impulsivity may be unnoticed for a period of years.

Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD and this makes their symptoms harder to pick up on. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that hinder their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. They may have difficulty to control their emotions. This may be worsened due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.

A variety of these issues can cause low self-esteem or relationship issues. As a result, it can be difficult for them to speak up about their struggles and seek assistance. This could delay diagnosis and treatment.

In  adhd in young women , it's common for people with ADHD to have difficulty making friends and interacting with other people. They might not attend social events and fail to show up for appointments and can't read body language or read the non-verbal signals of others. They might even wander off on tangents during conversations and make it difficult for others to follow them.

For these reasons, it's essential to obtain a correct diagnosis and get it immediately. For women, this may be an "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their difficulties and allow them to accept their own uniqueness. It can also assist women to recognize their strength and take steps to improve life management skills. This could positively impact their work, family and personal lives. The article has been reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD.

Treatment

Untreated ADHD can impact the personal and professional life of girls and women as they reach adulthood. The symptoms can affect relationships and work performance, leading to frustration and low self-esteem. They may also make it difficult to handle the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping the 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 could lead to gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which can result in women and girls avoiding or hiding their own symptoms to avoid getting stigmatized by society.

There are effective treatment options 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 medications, however nonstimulants are also effective for some people. Your healthcare professional may also suggest a combination treatment to address related conditions like anxiety or depressive disorders.

Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other mood issues which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, like group fitness classes or team sports are particularly helpful.

Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people identify and change negative thoughts that contribute to ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.

We employ the words "girls", "women" and "womens" to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, and not to the person's gender identity. This is to ensure more consistent and clear terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for our readers. This article applies to all individuals who were assigned male at birth, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive and we welcome all of our readers.

Support

Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) who suffer from ADHD, are more likely than males to be misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, making them more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have symptoms that are less obvious to others. For example, inattentiveness and disorganization, instead of excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.

This is crucial for women who often develop coping strategies to be normal and meet social expectations. These coping mechanisms can include healthy activities such as setting phone reminders or keeping a daily calendar. However, they can also be harmful, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD might feel anxious or depressed, and overwhelmed and suffer 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 physical complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings may lead to being unable to attend school, work, or social activities. They may also become dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks.  adhd symptoms in women adults  can create an addiction and reliance that can be difficult to break.

Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with nonconsensual partners during the adolescent years. This can be caused by the impulsiveness, lack of organization, or inability to utilize contraception. They are also more susceptible to being pushed into unwanted sexual activity, and they can be more vulnerable to domestic violence and the exploitation of.

Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and strategies for coping. They can also seek therapy either on their own or in a group. This can help them learn to understand their challenges and develop more positive internal dialogs. This can also aid in improving their relationships.

Support services could also include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are pregnant or parenting. These programs can help women with ADHD to work and household responsibilities and take care of children.