Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often experience low self-esteem. They struggle to meet social expectations and then internalize their frustration.
They also may suffer from emotional distress, such as rejection sensitivity. This makes them more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
ADHD symptoms can also change during hormonal changes such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal changes. This makes it more difficult to diagnose.
Signs and symptoms
Women may have difficulty identifying their ADHD symptoms, since they are often masked. This can lead to a wrong diagnosis and a treatment that is not appropriate can cause further problems. Women often report difficulties in getting diagnosed particularly when they are adults. This is due to the diagnostic criteria are based upon research conducted on males. Some experts are working to improve these criteria.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women are typically similar to those of men. For instance, many women with ADHD have trouble concentrating or listening. They may forget important tasks or lose things. They can spend hours organizing their home or work space, but they aren't able to keep up. They are often distracted by the noise or activities that are happening around them. People who suffer from ADHD may have difficulty relaxing, and they may worry too much about their health or the safety of others.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect women and girls in all aspects of their lives. They may experience difficulties at school or work and may also experience difficulties with their relationships with friends and romantic relationships. They can have low self-esteem and anxiety, which is why they might use unhealthy strategies to cope like alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD could cause confusion and frustration in relationships between family members, friends and coworkers. They can be criticized by coaches and teachers, or feel they are being treated unfairly at work. Being diagnosed with ADHD can make it difficult to focus on tasks and meet deadlines.
Many people with undiagnosed ADHD come up with strategies for coping over time. They may work until the early morning hours to complete their work, or hide from their family members their struggles. It's like turning on a lightbulb when they realize that their issues are due to ADHD. They can then learn how to overcome their obstacles and leverage their strengths (like creativity and high levels of energy) to their advantage.
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a lasting impact on the life of a person, their career and relationships. It can cause social isolation, financial instability as well as depression. Certain people with ADHD who aren't diagnosed have an addiction to stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines. This can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and stroke.
Diagnosis
Many women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because symptoms are more difficult to spot in women than they are in men. This could be due to the fact that women are less likely to tell health care professionals what they're going through and more likely to use coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies could require changing behaviors for example, like putting in extra hours at work or at school to make up for their lack on the subject or using productivity tools to keep them organized and on track with tasks. These strategies for coping can be effective in a short time, but they are exhausting and are not sustainable.
In addition, due to gender stereotypes regarding what women should look like, many people don't think that the woman they know could have ADHD. Some symptoms can be worsened by hormonal changes such as those that occur during menstruation, pregnancy or menopausal. This can lead to women being dismissed or viewed as moody and emotionally tense. This can further increase the angst of these women.
previous for women include forgetfulness, difficulties in concentrating and an impulsive nature. They also tend to jump between different things and have trouble maintaining relationships. Undiagnosed ADHD is more common in women. They are also more likely than others to suffer from co-existing disorders like depression or anxiety. These conditions may manifest symptoms that are similar to ADHD and can cause the wrong diagnosis and treatment.
The common symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to diagnose the condition. Anxiety symptoms include restlessness, trouble concentration, and a constant sense that something is wrong. Anxiety disorders do not exhibit the impulsivity or inattention of ADHD.
A diagnosis from a professional of undiagnosed ADHD can be life-changing for women. In several studies, patients reported that their symptoms reduced when they received an official diagnosis. They stopped blaming their own struggles and began to see their challenges as something that they could manage.
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is not easy however the reward is amazing. Treating ADHD by utilizing therapy and medication can improve relationships, set women up for success at work and in school and give them a better understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls typically 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 more difficult to get help or support. This could include forgetting appointments, being unable to complete work or school, and having trouble in relationships. They could be more prone to be pressured into unwanted sexual conduct or to be victims of intimate partner abuse because they're unable to acknowledge and react to their own emotions.
Early diagnosis and a successful treatment can make a huge difference for these women. A study from 2020 found that the absence of a diagnosis or a late diagnosis could have long-lasting negative effects on the social-emotional health of a woman, as well as her ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. It can also affect her self-worth and feeling of control. A majority of women in these studies felt a sense of relief and self-confidence boosting after receiving a diagnosis and treatment for their ADHD.
It is important to remember that research has revealed that women who are not diagnosed with ADHD are less confident and less likely to seek assistance than their male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their difficulties with attention, impulsivity and organization on personal or societal factors instead of on their ADHD.
In addition to medication, there are many treatment options for adults with ADHD. The most commonly used are cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. CBT helps people identify and change negative attitudes and behaviors, whereas DBT provides skills to improve mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which blends elements of these therapies along with instruction in strategies to improve concentration and focus, is another alternative. This treatment is available in either individual or group sessions and is specifically designed for adults with ADHD. *Note: This article uses the term "women" to refer to women who are assigned female at birth, regardless of their affirmed gender identity. It also refers people assigned male at birth as "men" and includes all gender identities.
Support
Many people with ADHD are afflicted with a sense of shame or confusion about their symptoms. Because societal pressures and hormonal changes profoundly influence how ADHD is perceived by women, it's not uncommon for women to be overlooked or not diagnosed. This can result in inappropriate or ineffective treatment and an increased risk of developing mood-related disorders like anxiety and depression.
Women are more adept at concealing their symptoms than men who tend to be more impulsive or hyperactive. They may learn to work late into the night, and make use of productivity apps to disguise their lack of attention. The problem is that these coping mechanisms take a impact on self-esteem, and ultimately affect the quality of life.
The diagnostic process for women with ADHD can be confusing and frustrating. The traditional ADHD criteria were created for males and may not capture all the symptoms women suffer from. Many women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have been misdiagnosed as having other disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
Clara was the same. Clara was intelligent and hardworking, as well as committed to her work. She struggled to meet her deadlines and felt overwhelmed with the demands of her work. She believed that her mistakes were her fault and that she was not good enough. Her self-confidence shattering was the result of an undiagnosed ADHD.
It was a revelation when she was diagnosed having adult ADHD. Clara understood that her challenges were not a result of personal failures. She could stop seeing them as laziness-related signs, and begin to consider her ADHD thread as a thread that can be woven into a meaningful personal and professional life.
As awareness of the various differences in the ways ADHD manifests in women grows and the need to encourage inclusion within research and treatment programs will become increasingly crucial. This is particularly true in the areas of sexually-specific treatments, since new research is geared towards understanding the impact of gender on the disorder and developing medications that work well for women. This will hopefully result in better diagnosis and treatment of women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD.