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 be diagnosed. Women are also better at masking their symptoms, which could cause misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
Internalized symptoms, referral biases persisting stereotypes, and comorbidities can all be obstacles to a clear diagnosis. Here are some female adults' symptoms that aren't being treated for adhd.
1. Trouble focusing
Women and people who were assigned females at birth are often not diagnosed 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.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms include forgetting important appointments or things that are important, and getting easily distracted by social or work occasions. It can also be hard for women with this disorder to sit and concentrate on their homework or other work at work or school. In some cases, people with ADHD might have difficulty falling or staying asleep due to depression, anxiety or a medical problem.
People with inattentive ADHD tend to hide their symptoms and try to make up for them. Others might not understand their behavior, leading to confusion, anger and conflict in relationships. This can result in difficulties in their careers and a lack of opportunities at work.
As a result, the consequences of untreated ADHD in female adults can be devastating. Women may have a difficult time to deal with their problems at home as well as in the workplace. This can make it difficult to stay afloat while they take on multiple responsibilities and attempt to achieve goals they set for them.
Many women suffering from ADHD have difficulty focusing and are unable to receive emotional support from their family and friends. They may become lonely or develop unhealthy habits that are self-defeating, such as drinking.
Women with untreated ADHD might also experience internalizing symptoms like low self-esteem or feelings of guilt shame or worthlessness. This can make them more prone to physical illness, stress as well as mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. They are more likely than people who do not suffer from the condition to commit suicide or self-harm. A diagnosis can help women feel more confident in taking steps to change her life to the best of her abilities. However, obtaining diagnosed requires that she first see an expert in healthcare for a thorough assessment and effective treatment.
2. Problems with Time Management
ADHD symptoms are difficult to manage in the workplace, particularly. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often have a harder working through work assignments and coordinating their schedule. They may forget appointments, lose important documents or depend on productivity apps to help them stay on task. These apps can be helpful, but cannot replace good organizational skills.
The expectations for gender roles of women can also exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD. Society expects women to take care of their home and family and require some degree of coordination that people suffering from ADHD struggle to maintain. The pressures from society can make women with ADHD to feel ashamed and blame themselves for not being able to meet these demands.
Time management issues can cause frustration both in personal and professional relationships. The signs of ADHD can make you underestimate how you will take to finish a task, causing you to be late for meetings or other commitments. Use a checklist or a planner to track deadlines if you are often late for meetings or other events. Make sure to take frequent breaks to move around and calm your mind. Also, use a timer when working.
You can also try mindfulness techniques to help you focus on your focus and eliminate distractions. For instance, instead listening to music or podcasts while working, play an article on your smartphone. If you have trouble being able to concentrate while driving, think about changing to a vehicle with a manual transmission. You might also want to consider driving without your cellphone in order to avoid being distracted by texting or calling.
Once you are diagnosed with ADHD, the mental health professional can suggest treatments and strategies for coping. Treatment options include medication, such as stimulants, and psychotherapy. Your doctor will recommend a therapy according to your health issues and the current situation in your life. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you 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 and Depression
Females suffering from ADHD report higher levels depression and anxiety than males. They may be struggling to deal with the symptoms, and this can lead to a variety of unhealthy behavior. For instance, they may turn to substance use or develop unhealthy eating habits as a means of dealing with their symptoms. These actions can worsen symptoms. Women are also more likely to get these problems misdiagnosed. They could receive the wrong treatment, which could increase their mood or trigger other problems.
It's important to note that many factors can cause similar symptoms to those of ADHD like stress and certain physical ailments and illnesses. It is essential to consult an expert in mental health or health care provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Researchers suspect that this disparity in the rate of ADHD diagnosis for males and women is due to a combination of social and biological gender roles. Women are generally expected to take on the majority of parenting and household chores than their male counterparts. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt and lead to dysfunctional beliefs that can lead to the emergence of symptoms of ADHD.
In addition, women may be less likely to disclose their symptoms to a medical professional because they think they should be able to manage them on their own. Women with ADHD also may be more likely to blame their symptoms on other factors, such as a lack of sleep or stress. This could be a contributing factor to the fact that many women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed until later in life.
Research indicates that the COVID-19 epidemic has been particularly difficult for young adults. They have higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than adults in their mid-life. These peaks coincided with cases of COVID-19 and were occurring at a time when protests against racism were on the rise and mass shootings, years of high inflation, Russian invasions of Ukraine and other countries, frequent catastrophes and increasing unemployment. Stress exposure either in the form of chronic or recent, is known to increase anxiety and depression. This combination of factors could be the reason why these levels are constant high.
4. Problems in Making Friends
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may have trouble forming and maintaining friendships, especially in their later years. Social isolation can be associated with a range of health issues, including high blood pressure and chronic stress. Being close to family and friends members who offer assistance can be beneficial, but many adults find that they can't form new acquaintances or maintain existing relationships.
The social norms surrounding gender and sex may impact the likelihood that women with ADHD receive the treatment and diagnosis they require. In one study, parents and teachers were less likely to refer girls with ADHD to services than boys. 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 expectations from society for women and girls could be a contributing factor to 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. Girls and women are more likely to be the victims of punishment for symptoms of ADHD like inattention and disorganization. They may be misdiagnosed with mood disorders or anxiety, and their ADHD symptoms might not be treated properly.
In addition, hormonal fluctuations can amplify ADHD in females. Estrogen levels decrease at the end of menstrual cycles and during ovulation, and this can cause girls' and women's symptoms get worse. Combined with hormonal changes in adolescence, this can result in confusion regarding their symptoms, making it difficult to get a correct diagnosis and adequate treatment.
While it is true that many of the same therapies are effective for women suffering from ADHD like they do for males, a mental health professional will still need to evaluate each individual's specific needs and symptoms. adhd treatment for adults near me of treatment a person receives depends on the severity of their ADHD symptoms as along with other factors that may be contributing to their difficulties. For example, a history trauma or depression. Some common treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, where people learn to change their negative thoughts and replace them with healthier ones, and couples counseling that can help people improve their communication and solve issues in their relationships.