5 Untreated ADHD In Female Adults Lessons From The Pros
ADHD in Female Adults Symptoms
ADHD is a condition that affects both men & women. However, the expectations of society & gender roles make it difficult for women to be diagnosed. Women can also mask their symptoms more effectively, which could lead them to be incorrectly diagnosed or delayed in treatment.
Internalized symptoms, referral bias persisting stereotypes, and comorbidities could all be obstacles to a proper diagnosis. Here are some of the most frequently reported untreated adhd females.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Women and those who were assigned females at birth are often not diagnosed with ADHD. This is in part because women's symptoms are more often inattentive than those of the hyperactive/impulsive type, which make them less likely to get referred for assessment and treatment.
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD include having trouble staying organized or on track, ignoring important appointments or things, and easily being distracted by work or social occasions. It can also be hard for women suffering from this disorder to sit down and concentrate on their homework or other assignments at work or school. Women with ADHD are often unable to fall asleep or staying asleep due to depression, anxiety, or medical problems.
People who have inattention ADHD tend to hide their symptoms and attempt to make up for them. Their behavior could be misinterpreted by others, leading to misunderstandings, frustration and conflict in their relationships. This can result in missed career opportunities and challenges in the workplace.
Untreated ADHD can have devastating consequences on female adults. Women may find themselves struggling to cope with their difficulties at home and at work and this can make it difficult for them to stay afloat as they take on many responsibilities and strive to reach the goals they have set for themselves.
Alongside having issues in focusing, many women with ADHD struggle to find emotional support from their families and friends. They can become isolated or develop unhealthy habits that are self-defeating like drinking.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may also develop internalizing symptoms, like low self-esteem and feelings of shame, guilt or worthlessness. This can lead them to be more vulnerable to physical illness, stress and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. In turn, they are more likely to turn to self-injury or suicide than those who don't suffer from the condition. Being diagnosed can help women feel more empowered to take steps to alter her life for the better. To be diagnosed one must first consult a qualified healthcare professional for an assessment and effective treatment.
2. Time Management Problems
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage, particularly in the workplace. Women with undiagnosed ADHD have a difficult time managing their day-to-day schedule and completing work tasks. They may lose important paperwork or appointments or rely on productivity apps to stay on track. These apps can be useful, but they cannot replace the need for good organizational skills.
treat adhd without medication adults can also increase the severity of ADHD symptoms in women. Society expects women to be the caretakers of their family and home and require an amount of coordination that people suffering from ADHD struggle to maintain. This pressure from society could make women with ADHD to feel embarrassed and blame themselves for not being able to fulfill these expectations.
Time management issues can cause frustration in relationships both professional and personal. ADHD symptoms can cause you underestimating the time it takes to complete a task, causing you to be late to meetings or other commitments. If you're frequently late for events, consider using a planner or checklists to keep the track of deadlines. Take frequent breaks to relax your mind and get moving.
You can also practice mindfulness techniques to help you stay on task and reduce distractions. For example, instead of listening to music or podcasts while working, you can listen to a news story on your smartphone. If you are having trouble concentrating when driving, you can switch to a manual transmission vehicle. You could also consider driving with your cellphone switched off to avoid distracted texting and calling.
A mental health professional can help determine the most effective treatment and coping strategies for ADHD. Treatment options can include medications, like stimulants, and psychotherapy. Your doctor will suggest an approach based on your symptoms and the present situation in your life. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you come to accept your thoughts and feelings while changing your negative patterns of behavior for healthier ones. You can also receive couples counseling or family therapy to improve communication between you and your family members.
3. Anxiety Disorders and Depression
Females who suffer from ADHD are more prone to depression and anxiety than men. They can struggle to cope with these issues, which can lead to a range of unhealthy behaviours. As a way to cope with their symptoms, they may resort to using substances or adopt unhealthy eating habits. These behaviors can make symptoms worse. Furthermore women are more prone to be misdiagnosed for these issues. In the end, they are treated incorrectly which can further aggravate their mood and lead to other issues.
It's important that you know that stress, certain physical ailments and illnesses can trigger symptoms similar to those associated with ADHD. It's important to consult a mental health professional or health care provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Researchers suspect that this disparity in the frequency of ADHD diagnosis among males and women is due to a mix of biological and socially constructed gender roles. Women are expected to perform more household and parenting tasks than men. This pressure can cause feelings of low self-esteem and cause dysfunctional beliefs that can lead to the emergence of symptoms of ADHD.
Women may also be less likely than men to speak with a doctor about their symptoms, believing that they can handle them themselves. Women with ADHD might also be more likely to blame their symptoms on other factors, such as a lack of sleep or stress. This can lead to many women with ADHD not being diagnosed until adulthood.
Research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic is particularly challenging for young adults. They tend to have higher rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms than adults in their mid-life. The peak in these levels coincided with a spike in COVID-19 case numbers and occurred during a time of protests against racial injustice, mass shootings, decades of high inflation, Russian invasion of Ukraine and recurring climate catastrophes and rising unemployment. Chronic and recent stress exposure is an important risk factor for anxiety and depression and this combination of factors may help explain why these levels have been so persistently elevated.
4. Trouble Making Friends
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may have difficulty making and maintaining friends particularly as they age. Social isolation can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure or chronic stress. It can be beneficial to have close family and friends who can provide assistance, but many adults struggle to maintain or form new relationships.
The social norms surrounding gender and sex can influence whether women with ADHD receive the treatment and diagnosis they require. In one study, parents and teachers were less likely to refer girls suffering from ADHD to treatment than boys. This is thought to be partly due to the different types of symptoms that manifest in girls and boys: boys and men typically display hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms, while girls and women typically show primarily inattentive-type symptoms.
These expectations from society for women and girls can be a contributing factor to ADHD symptoms. Girls and women are often held to a higher standard than boys and men for the behaviors, attitudes, and traits they exhibit--particularly in relation to their empathy and ability to relate to others. Women and girls are more likely to experience punishment for symptoms of ADHD like inattention and disorganization. They could be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety and their ADHD symptoms might not be treated appropriately.
Additionally, hormonal changes can further increase ADHD symptoms in females. Estrogen levels are lower at the end of their menstrual cycle as well as during ovulation. This can cause women's and girls' symptoms appear worse. When combined with hormonal changes during the adolescent stage, this could cause confusion about their symptoms, making it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
While it is true that a number of the same treatment options are effective for women suffering from ADHD as they do for men However, a mental health professional will still be required to assess each person's specific needs and symptoms. The kind of treatment a patient receives will depend on their ADHD symptoms, as in addition to other factors that could be contributing to their difficulties. For example trauma, a history of depression or trauma. Some typical treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where people learn to alter their negative thoughts and swap them for healthier ones. Couples counseling can help individuals improve their communication skills and solve problems in relationships.