Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD frequently have low self-esteem. They struggle to live up to society's expectations, and often internalize their discontent with life.
They may also experience emotional distress, including feelings of rejection. They are more likely to engage dangerous behaviors.
ADHD symptoms can also change with hormonal changes like the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopausal. This makes it harder to determine.
Symptoms
Women may have difficulty identifying their ADHD symptoms since they tend to cover them up. This can lead to a wrong diagnosis, and the wrong treatment could cause more issues. Many women report having difficulties in getting diagnosed especially as adults. This is due to the diagnostic criteria are based on studies conducted by males. Some experts are working on improving these criteria.
Symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD for women may be similar to those for men. Many people suffering from ADHD have trouble concentrating and listening. They might forget important information or misplace things. They may spend hours organizing their home or office space, but fail to keep up. They are often distracted by noise or activities in the vicinity. People who suffer from ADHD can have trouble relaxing, and they may worry over their health and the safety of others.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect women and girls in all aspects of their lives. They may be struggling at school or work as well as having issues with their relationships with friends and romantic relationships. They might be struggling with self-esteem or anxiety and resort to unhealthy ways of coping like alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD can cause confusion and frustration in relationships between family members, friends and coworkers. They can be criticized by teachers and coaches, or feel they are treated unfairly at work. ADHD can cause problems in focusing and meet deadlines.
Over time many people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have developed coping strategies. They may work until the early morning hours to keep up with their work, or hide from their family members their struggles. When they find out that their challenges are because of ADHD it's like an epiphany. They can then use their strengths to overcome problems (such as creativity and high levels of energy).
Undiagnosed ADHD could cause negative effects on an individual's work, relationships, and life. It can cause financial instability, social exclusion as well as depression. People who are not diagnosed with ADHD develop an addiction to stimulants, like cocaine and amphetamines. This can lead to serious health issues, like heart disease and stroke.
Diagnosis
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed than males because the symptoms are harder to spot. 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 resort to strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could involve changing behavior for example, like putting in additional hours at work or at school to compensate for their inability of focus, or relying on productivity tools to keep them focused and on the right to schedule with their tasks. These strategies for coping might work for short periods of time, but they are exhausting and not sustainable.
In addition, because of gender stereotypes about what women should be like, many people don't think that the woman they know could have ADHD. Some symptoms may be more severe due to hormonal changes like menstrual or pregnancy. This could cause women to be viewed as a moody or emotional, which may increase their frustration.
Some of the most common undiagnosed symptoms of ADHD for women include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, impulsivity and an ability to switch from one task to another and having difficulty maintaining relationships. Undiagnosed ADHD is more prevalent in women. They are also more likely than other people to have coexisting conditions such as anxiety or depression. The symptoms of these conditions could be confused with symptoms of ADHD and may result in an incorrect diagnosis and treatment.
The common symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to determine the condition. The signs of anxiety include feeling of anxiety, irritability, trouble in concentrating, and a constant sense that something is wrong. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD are not present in the anxiety disorders.
For women who are not diagnosed with ADHD, receiving an official diagnosis could be a game changer. In a number of studies, women reported that their symptoms reduced after receiving an official diagnosis. The fact that they had an external reason for their struggles allowed them to stop blaming themselves, and instead considering their own issues as something they could control.
Finding a diagnosis of ADHD is a long process however the reward is amazing. Treatment of ADHD with medication and psychotherapy can improve relationships, help women succeed at school and work and provide them with a better understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls often have different symptoms of ADHD than men, which can make it more difficult to get an assessment and treatment. It is also possible that girls are more adept in hiding their symptoms, making it harder to seek assistance or support. This could be due to having trouble remembering appointments, failing to complete tasks at school or at work, and having trouble in relationships. They are more likely to be pressured into unwanted sexual behaviour or become victims of abuse from intimate partners because they are unable to acknowledge and react to their own emotions.
Early diagnosis and effective treatment can make a huge difference for these women. A study in 2020 found that a missed or late diagnosis can have long-lasting negative effects on women's emotional and social well-being and ability to establish and keep relationships. It can also affect her self-worth and feeling of control. Studies have found that many women reported feeling happier and more confident in themselves after receiving a diagnosis of ADHD and receiving treatment.
It is important to know that research has proven that women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD are less confident and less likely to seek help than their male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their attention, impulsivity and organizational issues on social or personal factors rather than their ADHD.
Aside from medication, there are a variety of treatment options available for adults suffering from ADHD. The most popular include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT helps identify and change negative thoughts, while DBT teaches mindfulness and self acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy that combines elements of these therapies with training in strategies to increase concentration and focus is a different alternative. This treatment is available in either individual or group sessions and is specifically designed for adults suffering from ADHD. Note in this article, the word "women" is used to mean those who were assigned a female at birth, regardless of their gender identity. Also, it refers to people assigned male at birth as "men" to include people of all gender identities.
Support
Many people suffering from ADHD are in a state of confusion or fearful of their symptoms. Because societal pressures and hormonal changes dramatically influence how ADHD manifests in women, it's not uncommon for women to be overlooked or not diagnosed. This can result in inappropriate or ineffective treatment and the increased likelihood of developing mood-related disorders like depression and anxiety.
In high functioning adhd in women to men, who might experience hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more often, women tend to be more adept at masked their symptoms in the workplace or at school. They can learn to work late into the evening, and make use of productivity apps to disguise their inattention. These coping mechanisms can have a negative effect on self-esteem and ultimately the quality of your life.
Even when women with ADHD seek help, the diagnostic process can be confusing and frustrating. Traditional ADHD criteria were developed in men, so they may not be able to capture the full range of symptoms that women experience. Many women with undiagnosed ADHD have been misdiagnosed with other conditions, like depression or anxiety.
Clara was not an exception. Clara was smart, hardworking and dedicated to her profession. Yet she struggled to meet deadlines and was overwhelmed by the demands of her job. She felt that her failures were her fault, and that she was not adequate enough. Her confidence shattered was a knock-on effect of a nebulous ADHD.
It was a moment of revelation when she was diagnosed as having adult ADHD. Clara realized that her struggles weren't her own personal failings. She could stop seeing them as signs laziness, and begin to look at her ADHD thread as a thread that can be woven into a meaningful personal and professional life.
As the understanding of the different ways in the way ADHD manifests in women increases and the need to encourage inclusion within research and treatment programs will become increasingly crucial. This is particularly important when it comes to sexually-specific treatments, since new research is focused on understanding how gender affects the disorder and identifying medications that are suitable for women. This could help in the diagnosis and treatment for women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD.