ADHD in Female Adults Symptoms
ADHD affects both men as well as women, but societal expectations and gender roles can make it harder for them to be diagnosed. Women are also better in hiding their symptoms, which can cause misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
Obscuring stereotypes, referral biases internalized symptoms and comorbidities can all create obstacles to a proper diagnosis and effective treatment. Here are a few female adults' symptoms that aren't treated for adhd.
1. Problems with Focusing
Women and people who were assigned female at birth are still underdiagnosed with ADHD. 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.
The symptoms of inattention ADHD include difficulty staying organized or on task, losing important appointments or things, and easily being distracted by work or social occasions. Women suffering from this disorder may also find it difficult to focus on schoolwork or other tasks. In some instances, women with ADHD might have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep due to anxiety, depression or a medical condition.
People with inattentive ADHD tend to conceal their symptoms and try to make up for them. Their behavior may be misinterpreted by others, resulting in confusion, anger and conflict in their relationships. This can result in problems in the workplace and missed career opportunities. at work.
Untreated ADHD can have devastating consequences on females. Women can find themselves having to deal with their challenges at home and at work which can make it difficult for them to keep afloat when they take on many responsibilities and strive to meet the goals they set for themselves.
Alongside having inattentive adhd treatment adults focusing, many women with ADHD struggle to find emotional support from their family and friends. As a result they may become lonely or develop unhealthy patterns of self-defeating behaviors like alcohol abuse.
Women with untreated ADHD may also develop internalizing symptoms such as low self-esteem or feelings of guilt shame or feelings of inadequacy. This can lead them to be more vulnerable to stress, physical illness and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. This means they are more likely to turn to self-injury or suicide than those who do not suffer from the condition. Receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel more empowered to take steps to transform her life to the best of her abilities. To receive a diagnosis the woman should first consult a licensed healthcare professional for an assessment and effective treatment.
2. Problems with Time Management
ADHD symptoms are difficult to manage in the workplace, particularly. Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD have trouble managing their daily schedule and completing work tasks. They might forget appointments, lose important paperwork, or depend on productivity apps to help stay on task. These apps can be helpful however they aren't able to replace the need for solid organizational skills.
The gender-based expectations of women can also exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD. Women are expected to take care of their families and homes, which requires a level of coordination that ADHD sufferers struggle to maintain. This pressure from society could make women with ADHD to feel shame and blame themselves for failing to meet these demands.
Troubles with time management could cause frustration in relationships, both personal and professional. ADHD symptoms can cause you underestimating the time it takes to complete a task, causing you to be late for meetings or other commitments. If you're frequently late for events, consider using a planner or checklists to keep the track of deadlines. Use frequent breaks to calm your mind and get moving.
You can also use mindfulness techniques to help you focus on your task and reduce distractions. Listening to news stories on your smartphone instead of listening to music or podcasts could be a good alternative to listening to music while working. If you find it difficult to concentrate while driving, consider changing to a vehicle with a manual transmission. You could also consider driving with your cellphone switched off to avoid distracted texting and phone calls.
A mental health professional can assist you to determine the best treatment and coping strategy for ADHD. Treatment options can include medication, such as stimulants, as well as psychotherapy. Your doctor will suggest an approach depending on your symptoms and the current situation in your life. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to learn to accept your thoughts and feelings while changing your negative behaviors for healthier ones. You can also get couples or family therapy to improve communication within your relationships.
3. Depression and Anxiety
Females suffering from ADHD report higher levels anxiety and depression than males. They can struggle to cope with these issues, leading to a variety of unhealthy behavior. To cope with their symptoms, they may turn to substances or unhealthy eating habits. These behaviors can exacerbate symptoms. Furthermore, women are more likely to be misdiagnosed for these problems. They may receive the wrong treatment that could worsen their mood or cause other issues.
It's crucial to know that stress, physical ailments, and illnesses can cause symptoms that are similar to those of ADHD. This is why it's crucial to consult a health care practitioner or mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis.
Researchers believe that the differences in ADHD diagnoses between women and men is due to a combination socially and biologically constructed roles. Women are expected to take on more household and parenting tasks than men. This can cause feelings of low self esteem and untrue beliefs that can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
Additionally, women are less likely to admit their symptoms to a medical professional because they believe they should be able to handle them on their own. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely than others to blame their problems on external factors, for example, sleep deprivation or stress. This could contribute to the fact that a lot of women with ADHD are not diagnosed until adulthood.
Research suggests that the COVID-19 epidemic has been particularly difficult for young adults. They have greater levels of depression and anxiety than adults in their middle years. These peak levels coincided with COVID-19 cases and were occurring at a time when there were racial injustice protests, mass shootings, decades of high inflation, Russian invasions of Ukraine, recurrent catastrophes and rising unemployment. Stress exposure either in the form of chronic or recent, has been proven to increase anxiety and depression. This combination of factors may explain why these levels are so consistently high.
4. Problems in Making Friends
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD are more likely to have difficulty making and maintaining friends particularly as they age. Social isolation can be linked to a variety of health issues, including high blood pressure and chronic stress. It can be beneficial to have close family members and friends who are able to provide support, however many adults have difficulty maintaining or make new relationships.
Social norms regarding gender and sexuality can affect whether or not women suffering from ADHD receive the diagnosis and treatment they need. In one study, teachers or parents were less likely than men to refer girls to services 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.
The social expectations for women and girls can increase the severity of 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 likely to be penalized for showing symptoms of ADHD such as disorganization and inattention. They could be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety and their ADHD symptoms might not be properly treated.
Moreover, hormone changes can further increase ADHD symptoms in females. Estrogen levels decrease at the end of menstrual cycles and during ovulation. This can make girls' and women's symptoms appear worse. When combined with hormonal changes during the adolescent years, this can result in confusion regarding their symptoms, making it harder for them to receive a correct diagnosis and adequate treatment.
While it is true that a number of the same therapies are effective for women suffering from ADHD as they do for males, a mental health professional will still have to take a look at each individual's specific needs and symptoms. The type of therapy a patient receives will depend on both their ADHD symptoms and any other factors that might be contributing to their problems, such as the history of depression or trauma. Some common treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, where individuals are taught to change their negative thoughts and switch them to healthier ones, as well as couples counseling that can help people improve their communication and solve issues in their relationships.