Female Symptoms of ADHD
Girls and women who have ADHD often exhibit inattention symptoms, in contrast to the hyperactivity and impulsivity more often observed in men and boys. This makes them more prone to being misdiagnosed and omitted.
Stereotypes of gender can contribute to this, as caregivers may assume that girls who are quiet or dreamy are simply "being girls." Additionally, hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle as well as perimenopausal symptoms can cause ADHD symptoms to flare up.
1. Hyperactivity
When it is ADHD the first image most people think of is an overactive boy who bounces off the walls of class. While this is one type of ADHD, women and girls also experience the disorder in this type. ADHD symptoms in girls and women are typically more difficult to spot than in boys. This results in the disorder being misdiagnosed or going untreated.
In some instances women with ADHD exhibit impulsive behaviors that make it difficult to stop and consider their actions prior to acting. They may not be able listen well when other people are talking, and they may have difficulty following instructions or working through tasks. These issues can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships with family members, romantic partners, friends, and coworkers.
add symptoms adults who suffer from ADHD suffer from sensitivity to rejection. This is an intense emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection. Combined with low self-esteem and difficulty in peer relationships, this can make it hard for a woman to deal with her ADHD symptoms.
Signs of ADHD in women may flare up at various times during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. These hormonal fluctuations can trigger anxiety, mood swings, and trouble with concentration.
Some women and girls who suffer from ADHD have a better chance to control their symptoms with diet, exercise and sleep habits. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, which are common among women suffering from ADHD. A good night's sleep and taking breaks from activities can also help with ADHD symptoms. Utilizing tools such as planners, checklists and post-it notes to track tasks can be helpful for many people suffering from ADHD. In some cases healthcare professionals can prescribe medication to help manage symptoms.
2. Attention!
Women and girls with inattentive ADHD often don't get diagnosed, even if the symptoms are severe. They aren't able to keep up with classes, their homes are messy and they have trouble with relationships and their work performance. They might try to make up for their problems by avoiding them or convincing themselves that they're not affected.
Gender bias can play a part in missed or incorrect diagnosis. If a boy displays an impulsive or hyperactive behavior and is more likely to be referred for diagnosis and therapy. Girls who exhibit inattention are often dismissed as ditzy, dreamy or space-related.
The inattention symptom of adhd can manifest in a variety of ways: You miss appointments, don't follow through on promises and have trouble staying focused in class or meetings. You have trouble waiting your turn when talking with others and are unable to stop interrupting. You're not able to remember things and are often lost items or forget their location. You are unable to follow simple instructions and tend to avoid tasks that require concentration, such as homework or chores.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also worsen when hormonal changes take place such as during menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for you to pay attention at work or at home, and it can make it more difficult to keep friends or reach goals in life.
Exercise can help you manage your symptoms. It releases brain chemicals, such as dopamine, which can improve your mood and focus. Regular exercise can also help you burn extra energy and reduce depression or anxiety symptoms -which are common among women with ADHD.
3. Anxiety
Adolescent and female girls with ADHD typically experience more anxiety and mood symptoms than impulsivity and hyperactivity. Girls are often reluctant to admit that they struggle because of gender role expectations. They tend to hide ADHD symptoms by concealing other behavior. This can cause girls and women to be misdiagnosed and not declare their symptoms of ADHD. 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 response to danger and stress. It can feel overwhelming and painful, but it's actually a good thing: it helps you stay alert to potential danger and helps you react quickly when something goes suspicious. Unfortunately, anxiety can also cause a variety of physical symptoms like sweating, jitteriness and rapid heartbeat (palpitations). People who suffer from frequent, severe, or disabling anxiety could be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. This includes panic disorder, where you are prone to frequent, unexpected anxiety attacks; phobias which involve an intense fear of certain objects or situations; obsessive compulsive disorder where irrational thinking and repetitive behaviors control your life as well as separation anxiety disorder, where you are afraid of being away from home or your family.
Many women suffering from ADHD struggle with a phenomenon known as "time blindness." They might forget important dates or appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the incorrect time, or be so lost in tasks that they miss social interactions. This can make them appear aloof, unfocused or uncaring to other people. Good sleeping habits can help prevent time blindness so make sure you stick to a regular time for bed and do something relaxing prior to when you go to bed, such as listening to music, reading, or meditation.
4. Disorganization
Women suffering from ADHD often have trouble staying organized. They may have a difficult managing their schedules, appointments, and belongings. Their office, home, and car could be overflowing with clutter and their purses could be full of receipts, 17 chapsticks, or a ticket for the Kings of Leon concert of 2008. Their lack of organization and forgetfulness could make it difficult to maintain and develop relationships at work as well as in their private lives.
Women may also have difficulty saying what they mean in social situations. Their impatience and impulsiveness could cause them to interrupt others or blurt out things without considering the consequences. The struggle to filter their thoughts can result in miscommunications and hurt feelings.
The symptoms of ADHD can vary from day to day due to hormonal fluctuations. For instance estrogen levels are lower at the time of ovulation, and during the menstrual cycle, which can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. These changes in symptom severity could be why many women with ADHD are not diagnosed and treated.
There is a bias against diagnosing females with ADHD as well as the biological differences between males and women in terms of brain 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 manage their symptoms using medication and other strategies for treatment. They can be successful in school, work, and their personal lives with the right help. Medical treatment can aid in improving concentration and assist with everyday difficulties. The use of behavioral therapy and smartphone applications can also help.
5. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD frequently have issues with controlling their impulses. This is because the part of the brain that makes decisions, and weighs the consequences, isn't functioning in the same way. This can result in the tendency of people to make decisions or speak words without thinking about the consequences, which could have negative consequences. Impulsive behavior can result in relationships that are damaged. It could also result in sexually risky behaviors.
Someone suffering from ADHD might develop a variety of coping mechanisms to help them overcome their inability to control their impulses. These might include self-medicating with alcohol or drugs or eating food as a method to comfort themselves. A poor diet or sleeping less than you have to can cause problems.
Women and girls with ADHD may also struggle to recognize they are struggling with their behavior. They may find it difficult to explain their problems and therefore, they may cover up their problems. This could make it difficult for people to understand their issues and delay a diagnosis.
Girls and women with ADHD typically have different symptoms than men or boys. They may be more numb and have a higher rate of co-existing anxiety and mood disorders, for example depression. These factors could contribute to the fact women and girls with ADHD are more frequently misdiagnosed than men or boys.
ADHD is still a disorder that affects many millions of people, despite the increased awareness. It's more prevalent during the adolescent years and early adulthood, when people are juggling school and work. Parents and teachers should be aware that their child or granddaughter may be suffering from ADHD to ensure that they get her the help she requires.