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Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls Untreated ADHD symptoms can cause a variety of problems for girls and women. women and adhd may feel unsatisfied at work, struggle with peer relationships, and suffer from anxiety or depression. They also do better at developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult to identify and treat them. Signs and symptoms The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people age. This is why it's vital that people with ADHD sufferers don't feel neglected or ostracized when they reach adulthood. As girls and women develop into adults, they often remain troubled by their ADHD symptoms. They may have trouble managing their finances or keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also take a toll on their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their troubles. ADHD is a chronic condition unlike other mental disorders. Women and girls tend to mask symptoms with methods of coping, but these often backfire. Additionally, hormonal changes during the menstrual period, pregnancy, and menopause can make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms. Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically include being impulsive or forgetful in the sense of losing track of time, difficulty paying attention during class or work and trouble with daily routines such as laundry, meal planning or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It is essential for healthcare providers to be aware of the many ways women and girls present with ADHD and to consider whether anxiety or depression are the cause of their struggles. It's also crucial that people with ADHD be assessed by a physician or other qualified healthcare provider who can evaluate their symptoms and medical background to rule out other medical conditions. For instance, some individuals with ADHD have additional mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, low self-esteem and difficulty with social interactions and relationships. It's also common for people with ADHD to suffer from co-occurring physical health issues such as tics, chronic stress and fibromyalgia. Many girls and women with ADHD don't receive a diagnosis because they aren't taken seriously by family members, teachers or friends. They may not think that their problems are serious enough issue to seek help, or they may believe that their ADHD symptoms are a result of a poor parenting style or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD or they are not diagnosed until they reach their 40s or 50s and have significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities. Diagnosis Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until later in life and can have issues 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 can develop coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms and make them less well-known. This means that their problems with concentration, organisation and impulsivity could remain unnoticed for a long time. Women are more likely to suffer from high-functioning ADHD. This makes it difficult to recognize the symptoms. They can also have co-occurring disorders that impact their ability to manage their lives, like anxiety and depression. For instance, they may find it hard to control their emotions, which can be worsened by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal. A variety of these issues can cause low self-esteem or relationship problems. As a result, it can be difficult for them to open up about their challenges and seek assistance. This could delay diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, it's normal for people with ADHD to have trouble making friends and communicating with others. They might not attend social events and fail to show on time for appointments, and fail to detect body language or pick up on other people's nonverbal signals. They could even go off on tangents while talking and make it difficult for others to follow them. In these circumstances, it's essential to obtain a correct diagnosis and act as soon as you can. This can be a “lightbulb” moment for women. It can help them recognize their difficulties and make them feel more comfortable with themselves. It also allows them to focus on their strengths and take steps to improve their life management skills. This can be beneficial to their professional, personal and family lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD. Treatment As women and girls develop into adults, untreated ADHD can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. Symptoms can interfere with relationships and work performance, leading to feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They can make it difficult to deal with adult demands like managing finances, maintaining a clean home, or 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 could create gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can lead to girls and women suppressing or denying their own symptoms to avoid being branded as a victim by society. There are effective treatments for ADHD for both genders. Medicines control brain activity and to manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. The most popular choice is stimulant medication, but nonstimulants may also be effective for some people. Your doctor may recommend a combination treatment to treat related conditions, such as anxiety or depressive disorders. Lifestyle changes, along with medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus, as well as reduce anxiety, stress and other mood disorders that are which are common in people suffering from ADHD. Physical activities that can be enjoyed in groups, such as group fitness classes or team sports, are especially beneficial. Therapy also is part of the treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people recognize and alter negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling can be beneficial to improve communication and resolve conflicts in relationships. We use the words “girls”, “women”, and “womens” to refer to the gender that was assigned at birth, not to the person's gender identity. This is to facilitate clearer and more consistent terminology across our content and to avoid confusion for readers. This article applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender people and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually-exclusive, and we welcome all of our readers. Support Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed or have a misdiagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to hide their symptoms, which makes them more difficult for doctors to identify. They may also have signs that seem less obvious to others, such as inattention or disorganization, rather than excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This masking is essential for women who frequently develop strategies for coping to feel normal and meet social expectations. These coping strategies may include healthy actions like keeping daily schedules or setting reminders on phones. They can also be unhealthy such as binge-eating or substance abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may feel anxious or depressed, and overwhelmed and may be suffering from issues with relationships and chronic stress. The challenges girls and women who suffer from ADHD confront can result in feelings of self-esteem loss and depression, anxiety, or somatic complaints like abdominal pain or headaches. These feelings can lead to avoiding school or work, as well as social activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents for help with everyday tasks. That can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that is difficult to break. Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexual activities with non-consensual partners in adolescence. This could be due to impulsivity, poor planning, or an inability 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. As adults, women with ADHD typically benefit from coping strategies and medications to manage their symptoms. They can also seek therapy, either individually or with a partner. This can help them learn to recognize their issues and develop more positive internal dialogs. It can also help them improve their relationships. Support services could include coaching to teach parenting skills and specialized programs for women with ADHD who are expecting or parenting. These programs will make it easier for women with ADHD to work and manage their home responsibilities and take care of children.