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Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls Untreated ADHD symptoms can lead to various issues for women and girls. They may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with relationships with peers and suffer from anxiety or depression. They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to recognize and treat them. Symptoms While research confirms ADHD affects boys and men at a higher rate than girls and women, the gender gap narrows as people age. This is why it's critical that people with ADHD symptoms not feel forgotten or unloved when they reach the age of adulthood. As girls and women grow into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing finances and keeping their home clean, or maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their confidence in themselves and mental health, as they blame themselves for their troubles. Unlike some other mental disorders, ADHD is a chronic condition. Girls and women tend to cover up their symptoms using strategies for coping that can backfire, but they often do. Additionally, hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, menopausal cycle, and pregnancy can make it more difficult for women to manage their ADHD symptoms. Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being forgetful or absentminded, losing the track of time, having trouble paying attention in class or work and trouble with daily routines such as meal planning, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. weblink is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to think about whether the presence of anxiety or depression is contributing to their difficulties. It is crucial that those with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at their symptoms as well as their medical history and rule out any other medical conditions. Some people with ADHD have mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, low self-esteem, and problems with social interactions and relationships. It's also common for adults with ADHD to have co-occurring physical health issues, such as chronic stress, tics and fibromyalgia. Many women and girls who suffer from ADHD aren't diagnosed because their families, teachers 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 the result of a poor parenting style or a lack of self-esteem. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are diagnosed with ADHD, or they are not diagnosed until they're in their 40s or 50s and are experiencing major difficulties with daily activities. Diagnosis Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and can be faced with challenges when it does happen. 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 may develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms which allows them to be less noticed. This means that their problems with concentration, organisation and impulsivity can remain unnoticed for a long time. Women are also more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD which makes their symptoms more difficult to pick up on. They may also suffer from co-occurring disorders that affect their ability to manage their lives, such as anxiety and depression. They may have difficulty to manage their emotions. This is often because of hormonal changes during the menstrual period or pregnancy, as well as menopausal. Many of these conditions can contribute to a lack of self-esteem and difficulties in relationships. This means it isn't easy to talk about their struggles and seek assistance. This can delay the diagnosis and treatment. It's also typical for those with ADHD not to be able to make friends or communicate with others. They might not attend social events, fail to turn up for appointments and can't discern body language or read other people's nonverbal signals. They could even wander off on tangents during conversations which makes it difficult for others to follow their lead. It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and act as swiftly as possible. It could be an “lightbulb” moment for women. It can help them recognize their struggles and accept themselves better. It also allows them focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management abilities. This can have a positive impact on their work, family and personal lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD. Treatment As girls and women develop into adults, untreated ADHD can take a toll on their personal and professional lives. These symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. They can also make it difficult to manage adult demands like managing finances and keeping a home in order and maintaining healthy 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 regarding the disorder. This can result in women and girls avoiding or hiding their own symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by society. There are effective treatments for ADHD in women and girls. A licensed healthcare professional is able to prescribe medications that regulate brain activity and control symptoms. The first choice is stimulant medication, but non-stimulants can also be beneficial for certain individuals. Additionally, a combination of treatments may be recommended by your doctor to address related conditions such as depression or anxiety. Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can help manage ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, and also reduce anxiety and stress. Group activities, like group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be particularly beneficial. Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists people identify and change negative thinking patterns that cause ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial in improving communication and resolve conflicts in relationships. We employ the words “girls”, “women”, and “womens” to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, rather than to the person's gender identity. This is to ensure clearer and more consistent terminology across our content and to reduce confusion for readers. This article applies to those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB) as well as to transgender people and nonbinary individuals. We acknowledge that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive, and welcome all our readers. Support Females and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. It's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, making it harder for doctors to identify. They also might have symptoms that seem less obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization instead of hyperactivity or impulsivity. This is particularly important for women, who typically develop coping strategies that help them feel normal and meet societal expectations. These strategies of coping can include healthy activities, such as maintaining a daily schedule or setting phone reminders. However, they could also be harmful, such as excessive eating or abuse of substances. Women with untreated ADHD might be overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. They may also suffer from relationship problems and chronic stress. Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem and other symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoidance of school, work, or social activities. They could also become dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. This can lead to a cycle of dependency and reliance on others that is difficult to break. In adolescence, girls and women with ADHD might be at a greater chance of engaging in sexual activities with non-consensual partners. This could be due to an impulsive nature, inadequate planning, or a lack of ability to make use of contraception. They are more likely to be pulled into sexual activities that are not desired, and are at a greater risk of domestic violence and exploitation. Women suffering from ADHD who are adults can benefit from medications to treat symptoms and coping techniques. They can also get therapy, individually or in partnership. They can gain a better understanding of themselves and develop a more positive internal dialogue. This will also help improve their relationships. Support services can also include special programs for pregnant and parenting women with ADHD and coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD to keep their jobs, handle their home responsibilities and care for their children.