ADHD in Women and Girls

Women and girls with ADHD have different social expectations than males, and those expectations can result in shame and self-blame. Treatment must take into account gender constructs, hormonal fluctuations and the severity of symptoms.

Medication, lifestyle adjustments and therapy can help improve relationships, school and work performance, and self-esteem.

Signs and symptoms

Women who suffer from ADHD may experience symptoms such as difficulty staying organized, forgetting details and having difficulty working in noisy or crowded areas. They may also struggle with emotional dysregulation and feel overwhelmed. These feelings can be exacerbated by the expectations women have to meet in their families and societal roles.

Women who suffer from ADHD might have a difficult time getting diagnosed and treated due to these challenges. https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/adult-adhd-in-women/ with ADHD have been misdiagnosed because they do not meet the requirements. The symptoms must have been present since childhood and must last at least six months to be considered as ADHD. It is important to be aware that stress and certain medications may cause symptoms similar to ADHD.

Women suffering from ADHD tend to cover up their symptoms and this is one of the primary reasons they are not diagnosed. They may resort to coping strategies to disguise their symptoms, like trying to pretend they aren't overwhelmed or over-compensating for symptoms that are easier to see in males and females. Moreover they are more likely to have mental health issues that affects their mood or emotions, like depression or anxiety, which is often ignored as an ADHD symptoms.

A bias against ADHD in the medical community could be another reason for why women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on ratings scales and interviews and these tools tend to favor male behaviors and symptoms. Many women with ADHD suffer from internalized stigma, low self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment or an evaluation for their symptoms.

Some women suffering from ADHD have the inattentive type, and this type of ADHD can be difficult to recognize due to its more internal naturelike wandering off or not being focused on their tasks. But, with the growing awareness of ADHD in women fueled by influential women and celebrities, such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano many women are seeking assessment and seeking out the needed assistance.

Women with ADHD are more likely to develop rejection sensitivity, a strong and often uncontrollable reactivity to rejection, whether real or perceived more than women with ADHD. This can cause problems with interpersonal relationships and can lead to an absence of support networks and a failure to seek help.

Diagnosis

Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood. This could be due to their ability to hide their symptoms and gender bias. Gender bias is a set of beliefs and practices that are prevalent in clinical settings that can negatively impact how doctors identify girls and women with ADHD. This can take form in the form of rating scales that tend to be biased towards male behavior or internalized emotions that lead to misdiagnosis. Girls and women who suffer from inattentive ADHD often have difficulty with attending to college lectures or business meetings, and they may struggle to stay on track at home or in their personal relationships. They may have messy homes or forget their appointments and not pay their bills on time. They may be easily distracted by social interactions and struggle to manage their emotions, particularly when facing rejection or failure.

The symptoms can also change during different stages of life. For example, they may worsen during a woman's menstrual cycle or in the run-up to menopausal as hormonal changes can cause increased irritability and mood swings. Women with ADHD may also have issues in their relationships due to of their impulsivity and lack of planning, or they may struggle to maintain friendships because of social rejection sensitivity. They are more likely to be pressured into sexual activity or to have unplanned pregnancy in the event that they are unable insist that their partners use contraception.

A precise diagnosis is essential to managing ADHD symptoms. The use of medication, for example stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, can help reduce symptoms. Non-stimulants, like atomoxetine, can be helpful too. When choosing a treatment, your doctor will consider any other health conditions and the history of medications you've had. You might also require counseling or changes to your lifestyle. You can aid your doctor by keeping track of your symptoms and inform them about any changes you notice. You can discuss any issues you have with your family members and friends members, as they might be able to detect things that you might miss. A diagnosis can be an effective step towards building confidence in yourself and feeling more confident in taking control of your life.

Treatment

Women with ADHD who are not treated may have difficulty managing their household or maintaining healthy relationships or performing well at work. The symptoms can also trigger feelings of self-esteem issues or guilt, particularly since women are typically expected to be caregivers. In addition, because of their insanity, women and girls who suffer from untreated ADHD are more prone for engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners than those who don't suffer from the disorder.

The most commonly used medications are treatment for ADHD in adults. Stimulant medications, like amphetamines and methylphenidate assist in controlling brain activity and reduce symptoms. If these drugs aren't efficient or appropriate healthcare professionals can prescribe nonstimulant medication, such as atomoxetine and guanfacine. A healthcare professional will analyze a woman's symptoms, needs and medical history to determine the best treatment plan is.

While women are diagnosed with ADHD at the same rate as males, they are consistently under-diagnosed due to the ways they hide their symptoms or mask them with other illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, rating scales and interview techniques for ADHD tend to focus on male behavior symptoms, so certain female symptoms are not recognized or understood.

Being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood can be an important moment of recognition for a lot of women. It can provide an external explanation for their difficulties and help them feel more confident about their self-worth. Additionally, knowing that they can improve their condition and develop life skills that will help them well into old age can boost a woman's confidence.



For many women, the best way to learn how to manage their ADHD is through a combination of behavioral strategies and mental health treatments. Therapy can assist women in developing strategies to cope and establish realistic goals for all aspects of their lives. This can be achieved with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to aid her in identifying and alter negative attitudes and behaviors, as well as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to increase mindfulness and the ability to establish and maintain personal boundaries. Some women might also benefit from joining an ADHD support group in order to meet women who are also affected by the disorder.

Self-help

Women who suffer from ADHD are often misdiagnosed since their symptoms do not look like those of males. They can disguise their ADHD traits by developing ways of coping that permit them to appear "normal" and meet societal norms. These strategies of coping are both healthy and unhealthy, but they could stop women from seeking treatment.

It's important as well as self-help methods to seek medical attention from a doctor who is specialized in treating ADHD among females. They can diagnose and treat this disorder, as well as help women and girls better understand its effects.

Females with ADHD tend to develop depression and anxiety as well as struggle to maintain close relationships. These issues can be further complicated by their tendency to be sexually active at a younger age, which puts them at risk for unwanted sexual encounters or intimate partner violence. Women who suffer from ADHD are also prone to mood swings, which can make it hard for their loved ones accept them or to support them.

The most commonly used treatments for ADHD are antidepressants and psychostimulants. Psychostimulants improve concentration and focus by speeding up the signals sent to your brain. Antidepressants alter the way the brain uses certain chemicals, like neurotransmitters, to regulate emotions and moods. They can be adjusted by a healthcare provider to ensure optimal effectiveness throughout the woman's lifetime.

Women and girls with ADHD can benefit from a variety self-help strategies, such as regular exercise and keeping a daily calendar or reminders, and practicing mindfulness. They can also inquire about accommodations that could help ease their symptoms at work or school.

It is important that girls and women suffering from ADHD find a doctor or therapist with experience in the condition. They can assist with other issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem and difficulties finding or maintaining relationships. They can also teach coping techniques that include breathing techniques and relaxation, to help reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is biology, including hormones and chromosomes. It also recognizes that gender can be determined by behaviour and appearance.