Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD experience low self-esteem. They struggle to meet social expectations, and often internalize their discontent with life.
They can also suffer from emotional distress including sensitivity to rejection. They are more likely to engage risky behaviours.
inattentive add in women can also change during hormonal changes such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopausal. This can make it difficult to diagnose.
Signs and symptoms
Women may be unable to recognize their ADHD symptoms, as they are often masked. 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 can be because the diagnostic criteria are based on research conducted on males. Some experts are working on improving the criteria.
Symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD for women may be very similar to those for men. Many people with ADHD have trouble concentrating and listening. They might forget important information or misplace things. They could spend a lot of time organizing their office or home space, but they do not manage to keep up with it. They are often distracted by noise or activities in the vicinity. People suffering from ADHD might have trouble relaxing and are often anxious about themselves or others.
When girls and women experience symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD, it can affect the entirety of their lives. They may have difficulty at school or work and may also experience difficulties with their relationships with friends and romantic relationships. They might be afflicted with low self-esteem and anxiety, which is why they might resort to unhealthy strategies for coping like drugs or alcohol.
Undiagnosed ADHD could result in frustration and miscommunications in relationships between friends, family and coworkers. They could be judged by coaches and teachers or feel that they are being treated unfairly at work. Having ADHD can make it harder to focus on work and meet deadlines.
Over time many people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have developed coping strategies. They might be up late at night to keep up with their tasks or conceal their problems from family members. When they discover that their problems are a result of ADHD it's like an epiphany. They can then use their strengths to overcome challenges (such as creativity and high levels of energy).
Having undiagnosed ADHD can have a lasting impact on the person's career, life and relationships. It can lead to financial instability, social exclusion as well as depression. Some people who suffer from ADHD, who are not diagnosed, develop an dependence on stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine. This can lead to serious health issues, including stroke and heart disease.
Diagnosis
Many women with ADHD go undiagnosed because symptoms are harder to recognize in women than they are in men. This could be because women are less inclined to inform health professionals what they're going through and more likely to use coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could involve changing their behavior, such as working longer hours at work or school to make up for their lack of focus, or employing productivity tools to stay organized and on track with their tasks. These strategies for coping can be effective in the short amount of period of time, but they can be exhausting and are not sustainable.
Many people are unaware of the fact that women they know may be suffering from ADHD due to gender stereotypes. Some symptoms may be more severe due to hormonal changes, such as menstrual or pregnancy. This could cause women to be viewed as moody or overly emotional, which further exacerbates their frustration.
The most commonly undiagnosed symptoms of ADHD for women include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating as well as impulsivity, an ability to switch from one task to the next and have difficulty keeping relationships. Women with undiagnosed ADHD are also more likely to suffer from co-existing disorders, like anxiety and depression. These conditions can have symptoms similar to ADHD and can cause an incorrect diagnosis and treatment.
The common symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to identify the condition. The symptoms of anxiety include feelings of restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and a constant sense that something is wrong. Anxiety disorders do not exhibit the impulsivity or inattention that are characteristic of ADHD.
For women who are not diagnosed with ADHD getting a professional diagnosis can be a game-changer. In several studies, patients reported that their symptoms reduced when they received an expert diagnosis. The fact that they had an external reason for their struggles let them stop blaming themselves and start considering their own issues as something they could manage.
Finding a diagnosis of ADHD is a long process however the reward is amazing. Treatment of ADHD by utilizing therapy and medication can improve relationships, set women up for success at work and in school, and provide them with a better understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls typically suffer from different symptoms of ADHD than men, making it more difficult to receive diagnosis and treatment. They also may be better at masking their symptoms and making it more difficult to get help or support. It is often difficult to remember appointments or complete work at school or work and may have issues with relationships. They may be more likely to be pushed into unintentional sexual conduct or to be victims of abuse from intimate partners because they're unable to recognize and respond to their own feelings.
Early diagnosis and effective treatment can make a significant difference for these women. A study conducted in 2020 revealed that an undiagnosed or late diagnosis can have long-lasting negative effects on the social-emotional health of a woman and her ability to establish and keep healthy relationships. It can also affect her self-esteem and feeling of control. These studies found that many women reported feeling happier and more confident in themselves after being diagnosed with ADHD and receiving treatment.
This is particularly important, because research shows that women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have lower levels of self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment than male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their struggles with attention, impulsivity and organization on their own or social factors, rather than their ADHD.
Apart from medication, there are various treatments available to adults with ADHD. The most commonly used are cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. CBT assists people in identifying and change negative attitudes and behaviors, whereas DBT teaches skills to increase mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which combines aspects of these therapies with training in strategies to improve concentration and focus, is another option. This treatment is offered in individual or group sessions and is designed for adults with 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. It also refers to people who were assigned male at birth as "men" which includes all gender identities.
Support
Many people with ADHD are unsure or embarrassed of their symptoms. Women are often misdiagnosed or not properly diagnosed because of the way ADHD manifests in women. This is due to pressures from society, hormonal changes, and other factors. This can lead to a lack of effectiveness or improper treatment, and a higher chance of developing mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
In contrast to men, who might suffer from impulsive and hyperactive symptoms more often, women tend to be more adept at masked their symptoms at work or at school. They can learn to work late into the evening, and utilize productivity apps to disguise their lack of attention. The problem is that these coping mechanisms can take a toll on self-esteem and ultimately affect the quality of life.
Even when women with ADHD seek help, the diagnostic process can be a bit confusing and difficult. The traditional ADHD criteria were created for men and may not be able to capture all the symptoms that women suffer from. Many women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have been misdiagnosed with other conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Clara was no different. She was smart, hardworking and dedicated to her profession. She struggled to meet deadlines and felt overwhelmed by the demands of her job. She felt that her failures were her fault and that she wasn't adequate enough. Her confidence in herself was shattered as a result of an undiagnosed ADHD.
When she was diagnosed with adult ADHD it was a shock. Clara realized that her struggles were not a result of personal failures. She was able to stop viewing them as laziness-related signs, and start to see her ADHD thread as a thread that can be woven in to an effective professional and personal life.
As the understanding of the different ways in how ADHD manifests in women increases and the need to encourage inclusion within research and treatment initiatives will be increasingly crucial. This is especially relevant to sex-specific treatment, as new research is focused on understanding how gender affects the disorder and creating medication that works well for women. It is hoped that this will lead to a better diagnosis and treatment for women with undiagnosed ADHD.