How ADHD In Women Became The Hottest Trend In 2024

Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls

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

They also do better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat them.

Symptoms

The gender gap in ADHD is decreasing as people get older. It's crucial that those with ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or forgotten.

As girls and women mature into adulthood and become adults, they struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may have difficulty managing their finances, keeping their homes clean or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health as they blame themselves for their problems.

Unlike some other psychiatric disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Girls and women tend to mask their symptoms with coping strategies however, these strategies often fail. Furthermore, hormonal changes that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.

Inattentive-type ADHD can be characterized by inattention or forgetfulness, having trouble paying attention at work or in class, and having difficulty with daily routines, such as meal planning, scheduling or doing laundry. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways that girls and women present with ADHD and to think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is the cause of their struggles.

It is also essential that those who suffer from ADHD be assessed by a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional who can assess their symptoms and medical background to rule out other conditions. For instance, some people with ADHD suffer from additional mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem and difficulty with relationships and social interactions. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health issues like tics or chronic stress.

Many girls and women who have ADHD are not diagnosed because their teachers, families or friends don't consider them serious. They may not think their symptoms are serious enough to warrant seeking help. They may also believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of poor parenting or a lack of self-esteem. Certain women and girls are diagnosed with ADHD only after their children receive treatment for ADHD. Others are not diagnosed until they are in their 40s or their 50s, and are experiencing difficulties with their daily activities.

Diagnosis

Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and may be faced with challenges when it does occur. 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 can also develop coping strategies that mask their symptoms, which can result in them not being noticed as often. This means that their issues with organisation, concentration and impulsivity could be ignored for a long time.

Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it harder to detect the symptoms. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, including anxiety and depression. For example, they can have trouble controlling their moods, which can be exacerbated by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal.

A lot of these issues could cause low self-esteem or relationships problems. This means it can be difficult for them to open up about their struggles and seek help. This could delay the diagnosis and treatment.

It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or interact with others. They might miss social gatherings, or not show up for appointments, and have difficulty reading body language. They might even go off on tangents while talking which makes it difficult for others to follow them.

For these reasons, it's important to get a proper diagnosis and take action as soon as possible. For women, this may be a "lightbulb moment" that gives them an external explanation for their difficulties and help them accept themselves more fully. It also allows them to focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This could be beneficial to their family, work and personal lives. Huma Sheikh MD has read the article.

Treatment

As girls and women develop into adults, untreated ADHD can have a devastating effect on their professional and personal lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to frustration and low self-esteem. They may also make it harder to handle the demands of adulthood like managing finances, keeping a home clean and in good 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 can result in gender-based stereotypes about the disorder, which could lead to women and girls suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society.

There are effective treatments for ADHD in women and girls. The medications regulate brain activity and control symptoms, and can be prescribed by a certified healthcare professional. The first option is stimulant medications, however nonstimulants may also be effective for certain people. Your doctor may suggest a combination treatment to treat related disorders such as depression or anxiety disorders.

Lifestyle adjustments, in addition to medication management, can help control ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters which boost concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports are particularly helpful.

Treatment also includes therapy. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients identify and modify negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms.  This Webpage  is also beneficial in improving communication and resolving conflict in relationships.

At Verywell Health, we use the terms "girls" and "women" to refer to gender at birth (AFAB) rather than an individual's affirmation of gender identity. To ensure that our content is uniform and clear, and to avoid confusion among our readers we employ this term. This article applies to all those who were assigned male at birth, which includes transgender people and those who are nonbinary. We acknowledge that sex and gender are not mutually exclusive, and we are happy to welcome all readers to our website.

Support

Women and people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB), with ADHD, are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have signs that seem less obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization, rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.

This is crucial for women who often develop coping strategies to be normal and meet social expectations. These coping strategies could include healthy things like setting reminders for phone calls or keeping a daily calendar. They can also be harmful like binge-eating or drug abuse. Women who are not treated for ADHD might feel anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and suffer from relationship issues and chronic stress.

Women and girls with ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem and other symptoms like anxiety, depression or abdominal pain. These issues can lead to the avoidance of school or work activities. They may also be more dependent on their parents to help with daily tasks. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that's difficult to break.

As they grow older, girls and women with ADHD are at a higher risk for sexual activity with non-consensual partners. This can be due to impulsivity, poor planning, or a lack of ability to use contraception. They are also more likely to be pushed into unintentional sexual activity and they can be more vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual exploitation.

As adults, women with ADHD are often able to benefit from coping strategies and medication to manage their symptoms. They can also get therapy either on their own or in partnership. They can begin to understand themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This can also aid in improving their relationships.

Support services can include programs specifically designed for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD, as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to work and manage their home responsibilities and take care of children.