ADHD in Female Adults Symptoms
ADHD is a condition that affects both women and men. However, social expectations and gender roles make it difficult for women to recognize. Women are also able to mask their symptoms more effectively, which could cause them to be incorrectly diagnosed or delayed in treatment.
Lingering stereotypes, referral biases internalized symptoms and comorbidities can all create roadblocks to a proper diagnosis and effective treatment. Here are some of female adult symptoms that aren't being treated for adhd.
1. Problems with Focusing
While hyperactive and impulsive symptoms of ADHD are more prevalent for both genders but women and those who are who are assigned a female at birth (AFAB) are still underdiagnosed for the condition. This is in part because women's symptoms are more often inattentive than those of the hyperactive/impulsive type, which make them less likely to get referred for assessment and treatment.
Inattention ADHD symptoms include being unable to remember important appointments or items, and being easily distracted by work or social occasions. It can also be hard for a woman with this disorder to sit down and concentrate on their homework or other work at work or school. Women with ADHD are often unable to fall asleep or staying asleep because of anxiety, depression or medical issues.
People with inattentive ADHD tend to conceal their symptoms and try to cover them up. Their behavior could be misinterpreted by others, resulting in misunderstandings, frustration and conflict in their relationships. In the workplace, it could lead to missed opportunities and career challenges.
Untreated ADHD can have devastating effects on females. Women can be having to deal with their problems at home as well as at work, which can make it difficult to keep afloat when they juggle multiple responsibilities and try to reach the goals they have set for themselves.
Many women with ADHD struggle to focus and also are unable to receive emotional support from family members and close friends. In the end they may become lonely or develop self-defeating habits that are unhealthy, such as alcohol abuse.
Women with untreated ADHD may also develop internalizing symptoms, like low self-esteem and feelings of guilt, shame or deprivation. This makes them more vulnerable to stress, physical illnesses and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. As a result, they are more likely to suicide or self-injury as compared to those who do not suffer from the condition. Being diagnosed can make a woman feel more empowered to take steps to alter her life to the best of her abilities. However, getting diagnosed is a prerequisite for seeing an experienced healthcare professional for a thorough assessment and effective treatment.
2. Problems with Time Management
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage, particularly at work. Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD often have a harder time following through on tasks at work and managing their schedule. They may forget appointments, lose important paperwork, or use productivity apps to help them keep track of their tasks. These apps can be helpful but they cannot replace good organizational skills.
The gender roles expectations can increase the severity of ADHD symptoms for women. Women are expected to take care of their home and family and require a certain level of coordination that people with ADHD struggle to maintain. This pressure from society could make women with ADHD to feel embarrassed and blame themselves for trying to meet these demands.
Time management issues can lead to frustration both in professional and personal relationships. The signs of ADHD can cause you to underestimate the long it takes to complete a task, leading you to be late for meetings or other commitments. Consider using a checklist or a planner to the track of deadlines if you're often late for events. Make frequent breaks to clear your mind and get moving.
You can also use mindfulness techniques to stay focused and cut down on distractions. Listening to news stories on your phone instead of listening to music or podcasts can be an excellent alternative to listening to music while working. If you find it difficult to concentrate while driving, you might consider switching to a car that has a manual transmission. You could also consider driving with your cellphone switched off to prevent distractions with texting and calls.
Once you are diagnosed with ADHD, the mental health professional can recommend treatment and strategies for coping. Treatment options include medication, such as stimulants, and psychotherapy. The type of therapy your doctor recommends will be based on your specific symptoms and what's going on in your life. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to learn to accept your thoughts and feelings, while swapping out negative patterns of behavior for healthier ones. You can also get couples or family therapy to improve communication within your relationships.
3. Anxiety Disorders and Depression
Females suffering from ADHD tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression than their male counterparts. They may have difficulty coping with these symptoms, leading to a range of unhealthy behavior. For instance, they may resort to using substances or develop unhealthy eating patterns as a way of dealing with their symptoms. These actions can make symptoms worse. In addition women are more prone to be misdiagnosed for these conditions. They may be given the wrong treatment that could increase their mood or trigger other issues.
It's important to recognize that a myriad of factors can cause similar symptoms as those experienced by ADHD like stress and certain physical conditions and illnesses. It is important to speak with an expert in mental health or health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis.
Researchers suspect that this difference in the prevalence of ADHD diagnosis for males and women is due to a combination of biological and socially constructed gender roles. Women are generally expected to assume the majority of parenting and household duties than their male counterparts. This can cause feelings of low self-esteem and distorted beliefs, which can worsen ADHD symptoms.
In addition, women may be less likely to report their symptoms to a healthcare professional because they believe they can manage them on their own. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to blame their symptoms on other factors such as lack of sleep or excessive stress. This could lead to a lot of women who suffer from ADHD not being diagnosed until later in life.
Research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic timeframe has been particularly difficult for young adults, who are more likely to suffer from more constant high levels of depression and anxiety than middle-aged adults. The peaks in these levels coincided with a spike in the number of cases of COVID-19 and were triggered by a period of protests against racial injustice, mass shootings, decades-high inflation, Russian invasion of Ukraine and recurring climate catastrophes and a rise in unemployment. Recent and frequent stress exposure is known to be a risk cause for depression and anxiety, so this combination of factors may help explain why these levels have been persistently increased.
4. Difficulty Making Friends
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may have trouble forming and maintaining friendships, particularly in adulthood. Social isolation is linked to a variety of health issues, including high blood pressure and chronic stress. The presence of close family and friends members who offer assistance can be beneficial however, many adults discover that they are unable to make new acquaintances or maintain existing relationships.
The social norms relating to gender and sexuality can have an impact on whether women with ADHD receive the treatment and diagnosis they require. In adult adhd diagnostic assessment and treatment , teachers or parents were less likely than boys to refer girls to treatment for ADHD. This is thought to be partly due to the different types of symptoms that manifest in girls and boys: boys and men typically display hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms, while girls and women typically show primarily inattentive-type symptoms.
These societal expectations for girls and women can also exacerbate their ADHD symptoms. Girls and women are often held to a higher standard than boys and men for the behaviors, attitudes, and traits they exhibit--particularly in relation to their empathy and ability to relate to others. This means that women and girls are more prone to being punished for exhibiting ADHD-related symptoms like disorganization and inattention. In the end, they could be misdiagnosed as having anxiety or a mood disorder or a mood disorder, and their ADHD symptoms might not be treated appropriately.
Moreover, hormone fluctuations can also amplify ADHD symptoms in females. Estrogen levels are lower towards the end of menstrual cycles and during ovulation, and this can make women's and girls' symptoms appear worse. This can cause confusion among adolescents, particularly when it is combined with hormonal changes. It is difficult to diagnose and treat them appropriately.
Although many of the same treatment options are available to women suffering from ADHD A mental health professional will still need evaluate each person's individual needs and symptoms. The type of therapy a person receives will be based on their ADHD symptoms and other factors that might be contributing to their difficulties, such as the history of depression or trauma. The most common treatment options are cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people learn to change their negative thoughts and replace them with healthier ones, and couples counseling, which can help individuals improve their communication and solve issues in their relationships.