Female Symptoms of ADHD
Women and adolescents who suffer from ADHD tend to show inattention symptoms, as opposed to the hyperactivity and impulsivity that are more prevalent for both genders. adult adhd signs are more likely to be overlooked and misdiagnosed.
Gender stereotypes can contribute to this, as caregivers may assume that girls who are quiet or dreamy are simply "being girls." ADHD symptoms can also be caused by hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and perimenopausal.
1. Hyperactivity
Many people think of ADHD when they see a hyperactive boy who flies off the walls of the school. This is a form of ADHD that affects women and girls. ADHD symptoms in women and girls are more difficult to detect than in boys, so the condition is often misdiagnosed or untreated.
In certain instances women with ADHD display impulsive behaviors that make it difficult to think about their actions before acting. They may not be able listen well when others are speaking, and could have difficulty following instructions or working through tasks. These difficulties can lead to frustration and confusion in relationships with family members, romantic partners, friends, and coworkers.
Many women with ADHD experience rejection sensitivity, which is an intense emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection. This can make it difficult for a woman with ADHD to cope, especially when she is self-conscious or difficulty in peer relationships.
ADHD symptoms in women can manifest at different times, such as during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. These hormonal fluctuations can trigger irritability and mood swings, as well as difficulty with concentration.
Some women and girls who suffer from ADHD are able to control their symptoms with diet, exercise and sleep habits. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters which boost attention and concentration. It also helps to ease anxiety and stress, which are common among women with ADHD. Getting enough sleep and taking breaks from your activities can also help with ADHD symptoms. Many people who suffer from ADHD can benefit from using tools like checklists, planners, and post-it notes to keep track of their tasks. In some instances, a health care provider may prescribe medication to manage symptoms.
2. Attention!
Girls and women who have inattention ADHD often don't get diagnosed, even if the symptoms are severe. They have a difficult time keeping up at school, their homes may be messy, and they experience trouble with relationships and work performance. They may attempt to compensate for their issues by denying them or claiming that they're not affected.
Gender bias can also be a factor in misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses. For instance, when boys exhibit hyperactive or impulsive symptoms and signs, they are more likely to be referred for diagnosis and treatment. Girls who exhibit inattention are often dismissed as ditzy, dreamy or space cases.
Inattention can manifest in many ways. You might forget appointments, not keep promises or find it difficult to stay focused during meetings or classroom lectures. You can't wait your turn and keep interrupting others when you're talking. Your memory is weak and you easily lose things or forget where you put them. You have difficulty following simple instructions and you tend to avoid tasks requiring concentration like homework or chores.
The symptoms of inattention ADHD can also worsen when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycles, pregnancy or perimenopause (the period leading up to menopausal). This can make it more difficult to focus at work or at home, and it makes it harder to maintain friendships or achieve goals in life.
Exercise can help you manage your symptoms. It releases brain chemicals, including dopamine, which can improve your mood and focus. Plus, regular exercise helps you burn off extra energy and ease anxiety or depression symptoms that are common among women with ADHD.
3. Anxiety
Women and adolescents with ADHD tend to have more anxiety symptoms and mood symptoms than hyperactivity or impulsivity. Girls are often reluctant to acknowledge that they have issues due to gender-based expectations. They tend to hide ADHD symptoms by hiding other behaviors. This could lead to misdiagnosis and under-reporting among women and girls. They may also be more likely to have inattentive ADHD symptoms, which don't show up as obvious as the impulsive/hyperactive ones that boys and men display.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress and danger. It can be overwhelming and debilitating but it's a great thing. It keeps you aware of danger and helps you react quickly when you notice something not right. In reality, anxiety can trigger a variety of physical symptoms, such as sweating and jitteriness. It may also trigger rapid heartbeats, or palpitations. People who experience frequent severe, chronic, or even disabling anxiety could be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. This is a type of panic disorder in which you are prone to frequent, unexpected panic attacks; phobias that are characterized by a fear of particular objects or situations; obsessive compulsive disorder where irrational thinking and repetitive behaviors dominate your life and separation anxiety disorder, where you are afraid of being away from your home or your family.
Many women who suffer from ADHD struggle with a concept known as "time blindness." They might miss important dates or appointments, show up at the wrong place at the wrong time, or become too distracted by their work that they are unable to participate in social interactions. This can make them seem distant, uncaring or unfocused to other people. Good sleeping habits can help prevent time blindness, so try to stick to a set bedtime and do something that is relaxing before you go to sleep, such as reading, listening to music or meditating.
4. Disorganization
Women suffering from ADHD are often struggling to stay organized. They may find it difficult to keep track of their appointments, schedules, and belongings. Their car, home and office might be cluttered, and their purses filled with receipts, 17 chapsticks, and a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert in 2008. Their lack of organization and forgetfulness could make it difficult for them to maintain relationships at work and in their private lives.
Women can also have difficulty communicating what they mean in social situations. Their impulsiveness and impatience can make them interrupt others or blurt out things without considering the implications. These struggles with filtering their thoughts can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
The symptoms of ADHD can vary throughout the day due to hormonal fluctuations. For instance estrogen levels are lower around ovulation and during the menstrual cycle which can increase ADHD symptoms. These symptom variations may be the reason why many women with ADHD are not diagnosed correctly.
There is a bias against diagnosing females with ADHD in addition to the differences in biology between males and women in regards to the brain's structure and chemical. This bias is linked to the fact that ADHD research and educational programs primarily focus on boys and men/people AMAB, so it's more likely that healthcare providers and educators will see hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms in those groups and overlook symptoms of inattentive ADHD in women.
If women are given a clear diagnosis of ADHD and are able to learn to manage their symptoms using medications and other treatment strategies. They can find success at work, school and in their private lives with the right support. The use of medication can improve concentration and assist with everyday challenges. The use of behavioral therapy and smartphone applications can also help.
5. Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD have a tendency to be unable to control their impulses. This is because the brain part that makes decisions and weighs consequences doesn't work as well. This could lead to the tendency of people to make decisions or speak words without considering the possible consequences, which could result in negative effects. Instinctive behavior can cause relationships that are damaged. It might also lead to dangerous sexual behavior.
A person with ADHD might develop a variety of coping strategies to help them manage their difficulties with controlling their impulses. They could resort to self-medicating using alcohol or drugs, or eating food as a method to relax. A poor diet or lack of sleep can also lead to issues.
Girls and women with ADHD might have difficulty recognizing the signs of a problem with their behavior. They may be unable to communicate their problems to their parents or teachers, so they try to hide their struggles. This makes it more difficult for people to recognize their issues and can delay the diagnosis.
Additionally, girls and women who suffer from ADHD tend to display their symptoms in a different way than males or females. They may be more numb and have a higher rate of co-existing anxiety or mood disorders, like depression. These factors can be the reason for girls and women with ADHD are misdiagnosed more frequently than males or females.
Although awareness of ADHD has increased, it's still a disorder that affects millions of people. It is more common in the early years of adulthood and adolescence when people are juggling work or school. Parents and educators should be aware that their daughter or granddaughter may be suffering from ADHD in order to get her the help she requires.