Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often experience low self-esteem. They struggle to live up to the expectations of society and repress their anger.
They can also suffer from emotional stress, such as rejection sensitivity. This can cause them to be more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
ADHD symptoms can also change in response to hormonal changes, such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. This can make it difficult to diagnose.
Symptoms
Women may struggle to identify their ADHD symptoms because they often conceal them. This can lead an incorrect diagnosis and the wrong treatment may cause even more problems. Many women also report difficulty getting diagnosed, especially in their later years. This could be because the criteria for diagnosing were formulated based on research conducted with males. Some experts are working to improve these criteria.
Signs of undiagnosed ADHD for women may be very similar to those for men. For instance, many women who suffer from ADHD have trouble concentrating or listening. They might forget important tasks or get lost items. They could spend long hours organizing their home or work space, but are unable to keep track of it. They are often distracted by the noise or activities around them. People suffering from ADHD might have trouble relaxing and worry excessively about themselves or other people.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect girls and women in all aspects of their life. They may experience difficulties at the workplace or at school and struggle with relationships with their friends and romantic partners. They might suffer from low self-esteem or anxiety and use unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD may cause confusion and frustration in relationships between friends, family and coworkers. They can be criticized by coaches and teachers, or feel they are being treated unfairly at work. Having ADHD can make it difficult to focus on tasks and meet deadlines.
Many people who are not diagnosed with ADHD develop coping strategies over the years. They might work late into the night to keep up with their work schedule or hide their problems from family members. When they discover that their struggles are the result of ADHD it's like an epiphany. They can then understand how to overcome their difficulties and utilize their strengths (like creativity and high levels of energy) to their advantage.
Undiagnosed ADHD could cause negative effects on an individual's work, relationships, and life. It can lead to financial instability, social isolation and even depression. Certain people with ADHD, who are not diagnosed are prone to developing an dependence on stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamines. This can lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease and stroke.
Diagnosis
Women suffering from ADHD are more likely to be undiagnosed than males because the symptoms are more difficult to recognize. This could be due to the fact that women have a harder time talking to health professionals about their issues and are more likely to use strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies may include changing their behavior, such as working extra hours at work or school to compensate for their inability to focus or employing productivity tools to keep themselves organized and on track with their tasks. These strategies for coping may work in the short run but they can be draining and unsustainable.
In addition, due to gender stereotypes about what women should be like, many people don't realize that the woman they know might be suffering from ADHD. Some symptoms can be worsened by hormonal changes like those that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause. This can lead to women being misunderstood or dismissed as being moody and emotional. This adds to the angst of these women.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms in women include forgetfulness, difficulties in concentrating and an impulsive nature. They also tend to jump between different things and have difficulty maintaining relationships. Women with undiagnosed ADHD are also more likely to experience co-existing disorders, like anxiety and depression. These conditions may have symptoms similar to ADHD, which may result in the wrong diagnosis and treatment.
It isn't easy to distinguish between anxiety and ADHD because they share many symptoms. Anxiety symptoms include restlessness difficulties in concentration and a constant feeling that something is not right. Anxiety disorders do not have the impulsivity or lack of attention that is characteristic of ADHD.
A diagnosis from a professional of undiagnosed ADHD can be life-changing for women. Women in a variety of studies have reported that their symptoms have decreased after receiving the diagnosis. They stopped blaming their own struggles and began to see their challenges as something that they could take control of.
It takes time to diagnose ADHD and it can be a long time, but it's worth the long wait. Treating ADHD with therapy and medication can improve relationships, set women up for success at work and school and give them greater insight into themselves.
Treatment
Girls and women often suffer from different symptoms of ADHD than men, making it harder to obtain diagnosis and treatment. It is also possible that girls are better in hiding their symptoms, which makes it harder to seek assistance or help. This could include forgetting appointments, being unable to complete school or at work, or experiencing difficulties in relationships. They may also be more at risk of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or being the victim of intimate partner violence because they aren't able to recognize and responding to their own emotions.
The good news is that early diagnosis and effective treatments can be beneficial for these women. A study conducted in 2020 revealed that an undiagnosed or late diagnosis can have long-lasting negative impacts on the emotional and social health of a woman, as well as her ability to build and keep healthy relationships. It can also affect her self-worth and feeling of control. These studies found that many women reported feeling relieved and more comfortable with themselves after being diagnosed with ADHD and receiving treatment.
This is especially crucial, because research shows that women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have lower self-esteem levels and are less likely to seek treatment than male peers. They are more likely to blame their impulsivity, attention and organization problems on personal or social factors instead of their ADHD.
There are a myriad of treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD, aside from medication. The most well-known are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT assists people in identifying and alter negative behavior and thoughts, whereas DBT teaches skills to increase mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive Psychotherapy that combines elements of these therapies and training in strategies to increase focus and concentration is another option. This treatment can be found in individual or group sessions and is developed for adults suffering from ADHD. Note: This article employs the term "women" to refer to women who are assigned female at birth, regardless of their affirmed gender identity. adult adhd in women refers people assigned male at the time of birth as "men" which includes all gender identities.
Support
Many people suffering from ADHD are afflicted with a sense of anxiety or a lack of understanding about their symptoms. Women are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed because of the ways ADHD manifests in women. This is due to societal pressures and hormonal changes as well as other factors. This can lead to a lack of effectiveness or improper treatment, and an increased chance of developing mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Contrary to men, who can experience hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more frequently, women are often better at masking their symptoms in the workplace or school. They can be taught to work late into the night and utilize productivity apps to mask their lack of attention. The problem is that these coping mechanisms take their impact on self-esteem, and ultimately impact the quality of life.
The diagnostic process for women with ADHD can be confusing and frustrating. The standard ADHD criteria were developed for men and may not capture all the symptoms women experience. Many women with undiagnosed ADHD have been misdiagnosed with other conditions, like anxiety or depression.
Clara was not an exception. Clara was intelligent committed, hardworking and dedicated to her job. But she struggled to meet deadlines and was overwhelmed by the demands of her job. She believed that her mistakes were her fault and she wasn't sufficient enough. Her shattered confidence was a knock-on effect of undetected ADHD.
When she was diagnosed with adult ADHD it was a moment of revelation. Clara finally understood that her issues were not her own personal flaws. She was able to stop viewing them as laziness-related signs, and begin to look at her ADHD thread as a thread which can be tied into an effective professional and personal life.
As women's ADHD becomes more well-known, it will become increasingly important to include women in treatment and research. This is particularly relevant in the field of specific treatment for sex, as new research is focused on determining how gender influences the disorder and identifying a medication that works well for women. This should help in the diagnosis and treatment for women with undiagnosed ADHD.