Female Symptoms of ADHD
Women and adolescents with ADHD tend to show inattention signs, not the hyperactivity and impulsivity that are more common for both genders. This makes them more susceptible to being misdiagnosed and overlooked.
Stereotypes about gender can contribute to this, as caregivers may assume that quiet or dreamy girls are just “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 about ADHD the first impression many people have is the hyperactive boy bouncing off the walls in class. This is a form of ADHD that affects women and girls. ADHD symptoms for women and young girls are more difficult to detect than boys, and as a result, the condition is often misdiagnosed or untreated.
In certain instances, women with ADHD exhibit impulsive behavior that make it difficult to stop and consider their actions before acting. They might not be attentive when others are talking, and they may have trouble adhering to instructions or completing tasks. These issues can lead to frustration and confusion with family friends, romantic partners and friends, as well as coworkers.
Many women suffering from ADHD suffer from sensitivity to rejection. This is a strong emotional reaction to actual or perceived rejection. This can make it difficult for a woman who suffers from adhd ocd symptoms to manage, particularly when she is self-conscious or difficulty in peer relationships.
ADHD symptoms in women can manifest at different times, such as during pregnancy, menstruation and menopause. These hormonal fluctuations can cause mood swings and irritability and also difficulty in concentrating.
Diet, exercise and sleeping habits can help women and girls with ADHD control their symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that boost attention and concentration. It can also calm stress and anxiety that are common among women suffering from ADHD. A good night’s sleep and taking breaks from work can also help with ADHD symptoms. Utilizing tools such as planners, checklists and post-it notes to keep track of tasks can be beneficial for many people suffering from ADHD. In certain cases, a health care provider can prescribe medication to help manage symptoms.
2. Inattention
Girls and women who have inattention ADHD often don’t get diagnosed, even when symptoms are extreme. They struggle to keep up at school, their homes can be messy, and they have difficulties with relationships and performance. They might try to make up for their issues by denying them or claiming that they’re not affected.
Gender bias can be a factor in missed or misdiagnoses. For instance, when males exhibit hyperactive or impulsive symptoms and signs, they are more likely to get referred for diagnosis and treatment. In contrast girls who exhibit inattention symptoms could be dismissed as dreamy, space cases or uninteresting.
The symptoms of inattention that are associated with adhd can manifest in a variety of ways: You forget appointments, fail to adhere to 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. Your memory is shaky and you easily lose things or forget where you put them. You struggle to follow simple instructions and tend to avoid tasks that require focus, such as homework or chores.
The symptoms of inattention ADHD can also become more severe due to hormonal changes that occur, like during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopausal perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). It can be difficult to pay attention to at home or at work and can make it difficult to maintain relationships or reach your goals in life.
Getting plenty of exercise can help control your symptoms. It releases brain chemicals such as dopamine that can boost your mood and improve your focus. Additionally, regular exercise can help to burn off excess energy and ease anxiety or depression — symptoms that are common in women with ADHD.
3. Anxiety
Adolescent and female girls with ADHD often experience more mood and anxiety symptoms than impulsivity and hyperactivity. Female gender roles make it difficult for girls to acknowledge that they’re struggling, so they tend to disguise ADHD symptoms with other behavior. This can lead girls and women to be misdiagnosed and unable to report their symptoms of ADHD. They may also be more likely to have inattentive adhd symptoms (read this post here), 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 debilitating and overwhelming but it’s a good thing. It keeps you alert to danger and allows you to react quickly if something is wrong. Unfortunately anxiety can trigger a myriad of physical symptoms, including jitteriness and sweating. It can also cause an increase in heart rate, or palpitations. People who experience frequent, severe, or disabling anxiety could be diagnosed with anxiety disorders. This includes panic disorder, in which you are prone to frequent, unexpected panic attacks; phobias, which involve an intense fear of certain objects or situations; obsessive-compulsive disorder in which irrational thoughts and repetitive behavior control your life as well as separation anxiety disorder, where you fear being away from home or your family.
Many women with ADHD struggle with a concept called “time blindness.” They can forget important dates or appointments, arrive at the wrong place at the incorrect time, or be so lost in tasks that they are unable to participate in social interactions. This can make them appear aloof, unfocused or inconsiderate of other people. Good sleep habits will ensure that you don’t suffer from time blindness. Therefore try to maintain your bedtime routine and do something relaxing like reading, listening music, or meditating before you go to sleep.
4. Disorganization
Women with ADHD are often struggling to stay organized. They may struggle to keep on top of their appointments, schedules and other belongings. Their home, car, and office may be messy and their bags filled with receipts, 17 chapsticks, and a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert in 2008. Their inability to remember and lack of organization can make it challenging to establish and maintain work and personal relationships.
Women may also struggle to express themselves in social settings. Their impatience and impulsiveness could make them interrupt others or blurt out things before thinking through the implications. This struggle to control their thoughts could lead to hurt feelings and miscommunications.
The symptoms of minor adhd symptoms are able to change daily due to hormonal fluctuations. Estrogen levels are lowest around ovulation, and during menstruation which can cause ADHD. These symptoms could be the reason why a lot of women suffering from adhd adult male symptoms go undiagnosed and mistreated.
In addition to the biological differences in the brain’s structure and the chemicals that are associated with ADHD in females and males, there is also a bias against diagnosing women suffering from the disorder. 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 symptoms ADHD in women.
When women have a clear diagnosis of ADHD, they can learn to manage their symptoms using medication and other strategies for treatment. They can find success at work, school as well as in their personal lives with the right help. Medical treatment can aid in improving concentration and assist with everyday challenges. Behavioral therapy and specialized applications for smartphones can help.
5. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD typically have issues with controlling their impulses. This is because the part of their brain that makes decisions and weighs the consequences isn’t as efficient. This results in a tendency to do or say things without thinking about the possible outcome, which can have negative effects. For instance, impulsive behavior could lead to financial issues or damage relationships. It can also lead risky behaviors such as sexual.
Someone suffering from ADHD might develop a range of coping strategies that 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 cause issues.
Girls and women with adult adhd symptoms quiz might have difficulty recognizing an issue in their behavior. They may have difficulty to articulate their issues, so they conceal their issues. This makes it difficult for people to recognize their symptoms and delay diagnosis.
In addition, girls and women with ADHD tend to display their symptoms in a different way than males or females. They might be more distracted and are more likely to be the victim of coexisting anxiety or mood disorders, such as depression. These factors can contribute to the fact that women and girls with ADHD are more likely to be incorrectly diagnosed than males or boys with ADHD.
While awareness of ADHD has improved but it’s still a problem that affects millions of people. It’s most prevalent in the adolescent and early adulthood, when a lot of people are trying to cope with the demands of their careers or school. Parents and teachers should be aware that their daughter or granddaughter might be suffering from ADHD in order to get her the help she needs.