ADHD in Girls and Women Goes Undiagnosed More Often Than in Boys
ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in girls and women than in boys. Many female patients develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms and suffer the consequences of shame alongside their impairment.
Some of these include low self-esteem and a tendency to engage in risky behaviours. Some have what is called "high-functioning" ADHD, meaning their symptoms aren't a hindrance to their daily routines.
1. Forgetfulness
ADHD can make daily tasks seem overwhelming, whether you forget your medication, miss doctor appointments, or skip important social events. In the end you may fall into a cycle of self-blame and negative self-talk. You could even feel that you're a failure at school or work. These emotions can lead to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), such as cutting, burning or scratching.
People who aren't diagnosed with ADHD often feel that they aren't enough. They can get into trouble at school or work, and struggle to keep up with their responsibilities. They feel not able to manage their emotions or maintain healthy interpersonal relationships. Over time, many people with ADHD suffer from anxiety and depression.
Women with ADHD are more adept at hiding their symptoms than men, which may make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis and treatment. A diagnosis is an essential step to improving your life. ADHD treatment, including therapy and medication, can improve your relationships, set you up for success at work and school, and help you to understand yourself better.
Forgetfulness is a common symptom of adult adhd in women. You might also forget important information such as dates, names or locations. You might also forget to keep appointments or become easily distracted in a bustling or noisy space. You might have difficulty focusing and lose focus during conversations, making others feel ignored. You might also not follow up on important emails or messages and unintentionally blurt out remarks that can hurt others.
In addition to forgetting things, people with ADHD are more likely to lose or misplace things. This can be frustrating for you and the people who are around you. You may have difficulty focusing on a single task at a given time and may tend to switch from project to project. You may also be struggling with executive functioning that is the ability to plan and organize.
You can reduce your risk of forgetfulness by ensuring an established sleep schedule, eating healthy and avoiding screens before going to going to bed. You can also try meditation or listening to soothing audiobooks or music. You can also try a weighted blanket to aid in calming and sleeping peacefully.
2. Excessive Talking
People with ADHD are unable to pay attention and remaining quiet. They often talk excessively and loudly, take over conversations, and disregard verbal and nonverbal cues to stop talking. This can lead them to miss appointments, lose papers or forget important deadlines and events.
Women who suffer from ADHD are also more adept at concealing their symptoms. This is especially true if they are diagnosed with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD. This kind of ADHD is characterised by impulsive, unpredictable behavior that is difficult to manage. It can cause issues at school, at work and at home.
Forgetfulness and difficulties with time management are often seen as negative traits of women and girls suffering from ADHD that can lead to low self-esteem and negative internal messages like "I'm foolish and irresponsible." If these signs are not addressed and diagnosed, they can impact every aspect of our lives, from work performance and financial health to family dynamics and relationships.
It can be difficult to deal with issues such as forgetfulness or inability to stick to a routine. A lot of jobs require continuous interruptions, like emails, phone conversations or meetings with coworkers. Keeping track of these tasks as well as the more simple ones such as laundry or cleaning can be overwhelming. People with ADHD are likely to get bored by mundane tasks or repetitive tasks. treatment for adhd in women might have a difficult working through routine tasks like cleaning out the trash or sweeping the floor, and will put off these tasks until the very last minute.
It's also normal for those with ADHD to have a difficult time maintaining a consistent sleep schedule or establishing regular meals. People with ADHD are more prone to "time blindness", a problem that causes them to be unable to manage their daily routine. It's easy for people with ADHD to forget their appointments or get so absorbed in a task they lose the time. This can lead to an early bedtime or even no meals.
It can take time to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. Once you've been diagnosed and a treatment plan, you can tackle your issues. It's important to remember that certain physical and mental disorders can have similar symptoms as ADHD. Therefore it's crucial to be assessed by a mental health professional or a health care professional.
3. Unintentional Blurring
Unintentional blurting occurs when you speak things out loud without thinking about or intending to. This can be a result of speaking before thinking, saying inappropriate or offensive things, and interrupting others. Blurring is usually triggered by stress or fatigue. If you experience this often, it could be a sign of a mental illness such as ADHD or a different disorder that affects your mood.
You might not even realize it that your inadvertent blurting is causing other people frustration or embarrassment. Your colleagues or friends may think you're a bully, or rude. Your spouse might be angry at you for not being able to follow basic social rules or feel that you aren't paying attention to them. It's important that you take responsibility for your actions and correct them.
Many women suffering from ADHD have problems in their relationships. They are constantly battling with the demands of keeping up with the latest fashions, meeting societal expectations, and balancing family needs. They might avoid or form superficial friendships due to this. They might have issues with self-esteem, especially when they feel embarrassed by their excessive activity and inattention.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD tend to hide their symptoms which can cause incorrect diagnosis. They are less likely to attract the attention of parents or teachers who may refer them for treatment. They're also more likely to be diagnosed with the inattentive type of ADHD because hyperactive/impulsive symptoms are more common in boys and men.
Researchers have discovered that healthcare professionals frequently fail to detect girls and women who suffer from ADHD. The gender bias, the inability to recognize the symptoms of girls and women and inconsistent clinical practices may be some of the reasons.
Undiagnosed ADHD can have lasting consequences in the way that girls and women perform, how they establish and maintain relationships, as well as their overall wellbeing. Early diagnosis and effective treatment can enhance the lives of women.
Consult your physician or a mental health professional if you suspect that you may have ADHD. They can evaluate your symptoms, and recommend treatment options that may include medication, lifestyle modifications or therapy.
4. Anxiety
Women suffering from ADHD are more likely to experience anxiety as a part of their condition than men. It isn't easy to deal with symptoms of ADHD because they are more evident. It is possible that they feel that they are not doing enough in their daily activities at work, or in school. They may also experience low self-esteem, guilt and frustration over their struggles.
Women may be able to mask their ADHD symptoms more effectively than males. This can make it more difficult to identify and treat. It is also common for women to suffer from depression, which can increase the negative effects of ADHD.
Anxiety is a typical issue for people suffering from ADHD. It can impact their daily functioning. It can manifest in various symptoms, including difficulty breathing or chest pain sweating, dizziness, shaking or trembling; inability or inability to concentrate or think clearly; feeling choked; or feeling anxious or afraid. These feelings can be overwhelming, and they can cause you to withdraw from social activities.
The symptoms of ADHD can affect women's career as well as their relationships at school and at home, or their ability to concentrate in classes. They may also have difficulty keeping track of medical appointments, forgetting to take their medication or missing deadlines at work. They may also have issues with managing their money, and tend to spend more than they need to or without taking into account the consequences.
There are many ways to assist women with ADHD. A therapist can assist them to develop strategies for coping with stress and ways to manage their emotions. Women suffering from ADHD can also benefit by working with a coach or life coach who can provide them with strategies for organization and assist in achieving their goals.
While sex is based in biology (chromosomal makeup hormones, anatomy), gender is a person's internal sense, whether a person identifies as woman, man, or non-binary. It also relates to the way in which society and culture assign roles and expectations.