Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD suffer from low self-esteem. They struggle to meet social expectations, and often internalize their discontent.
They may also experience emotional distress, including feelings of rejection. They are more likely to engage dangerous behaviors.
ADHD symptoms may also change in response to hormonal changes, such as menstruation or pregnancy. This makes it more difficult to determine the cause of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
Women may struggle to identify their ADHD symptoms because they often mask them. This can lead an incorrect diagnosis, and the wrong treatment could cause more issues. Many women report having difficulty getting diagnosed as well particularly when they are adults. This could be due to the fact that diagnostic criteria are based on research conducted in males. Some experts are working on improving the criteria.
add and adhd in women in women are often very similar to the symptoms of males. For instance, many people who suffer from ADHD struggle with concentration or listening. They might forget important information or lose items. They can spend hours organizing their home or office space, but fail to keep up. They are easily distracted by sounds or other activities. People with ADHD might have trouble relaxing and worry excessively about their own or others.
If women and girls experience symptoms that are not diagnosed as ADHD it can impact the entirety 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, so they may use unhealthy strategies to cope like alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD can result in frustration and miscommunications in relationships between family, friends and coworkers. Teachers and coaches might criticize them or they may be unfairly treated at work. Having ADHD can make it harder to concentrate on tasks and meet deadlines.
Over the years, many people with undiagnosed ADHD have developed strategies to cope. They may be up late at night to stay ahead of their work schedule or hide their issues from family members. It's like a lightbulb when they realize that their problems are due to ADHD. They can then use their strengths to overcome their problems (such as creativity and high levels of energy).
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect a person’s career, relationships, and life. It can lead to social isolation, financial instability as well as depression. Certain people with ADHD who aren't diagnosed have an addiction to stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines. This can cause serious health issues, such as heart disease and stroke.
Diagnosis
Many women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because the symptoms are harder to recognize in women than they are in males. This could be due to the fact that women are less likely to disclose to health professionals about their struggles and more likely to resort coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could involve changing behavior, such as working additional hours at work or school to compensate for their inability on the subject or relying on productivity tools to keep them organized and on the right track with their projects. These coping methods might be effective in the short term however they are usually draining and unsustainable.
Additionally, due to gender stereotypes about what women should be like, many people don't realize that the woman they know may be suffering from ADHD. Some symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstruation, pregnancy or menopausal. This can result in women being viewed as moody and overly emotional. This can further increase the angst of these women.
The most commonly undiagnosed signs of ADHD among women are inattention, forgetfulness, impulsivity and the tendency to move from one task to another and having difficulty maintaining relationships. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD are also more likely to experience coexisting conditions, such as depression and anxiety. These symptoms can be confused with those of ADHD and could result in incorrect diagnosis and treatment.
The overlapping symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to identify the condition. The symptoms of anxiety are 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 with undiagnosed ADHD, receiving a professional diagnosis can be a game changer. Women in several studies have reported that their symptoms have decreased after receiving the diagnosis. They stopped blaming themselves for their own problems and began to look at their problems as something they could control.
It can take time to diagnose ADHD however it is worth the long wait. Treatment of ADHD with medication and therapy can improve relationships, set women up for success at work and at school and help them gain greater insight into themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls often have different symptoms of ADHD than males, which makes it harder to obtain a diagnosis and treatment. They are also more adept at masking their symptoms and making it more difficult to get help or support. It can be difficult to remember appointments, complete tasks at work or school and also have issues in relationships. They could be more prone to be pushed into unintentional sexual behavior or become victims of abuse by intimate partners because they are unable to acknowledge and react to their own emotions.
The good news is that early diagnosis and effective treatment can have a positive impact on these women. A study from 2020 showed that a missed diagnosis or a late diagnosis can have long-lasting negative impact on the emotional and social health of a woman as well as her ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. It can also affect the way she feels about her life and self-esteem. Many women in these studies reported feeling a sense of relief and self-confidence boosting after receiving a diagnosis and treatment for their ADHD.
It is important to note 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 attention, impulsivity and organizational issues on social or personal factors instead of their ADHD.
Aside from medication, there are many treatment options for adults with ADHD. The most popular include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT helps identify and change negative thoughts, whereas DBT is a method of teaching mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive Psychotherapy that combines elements of these therapies with training in strategies to improve concentration and focus is a different option. This treatment can be found in either individual or group sessions, and is developed for adults suffering from ADHD. *Note: In this article, the word "women" is used to describe people who were assigned female at birth regardless of their gender identity. It also refers to those assigned male at birth as "men" to be inclusive of all gender identities.
Support
Many people suffering from ADHD experience a sense shame or confusion about their symptoms. Women are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed because of the way ADHD manifests in women. This is due to societal pressures and hormonal changes as well as other factors. This can lead to inadequate or ineffective treatment, and a higher risk of developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In contrast to men, who might suffer from impulsive and hyperactive symptoms more often, females tend to be more adept at masked their symptoms at work or at school. They may become adept at working late into the night, and rely on productivity apps to mask their inattention. The problem is, these coping mechanisms can take a toll on self-esteem and ultimately impact the quality of life.
The diagnostic process for women suffering from ADHD can be complicated and frustrating. The standard ADHD criteria were created for men and may not accurately reflect all the symptoms that women suffer from. Many women who suffer from undiagnosed ADHD have been misdiagnosed with other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Clara was not an exception. 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 confidence in herself was shattered as a result of an undiagnosed ADHD.
It was a moment of revelation when she was diagnosed as having adult ADHD. Clara realized that her issues were not a result of personal failures. She could stop looking at them as laziness-related signs, and begin to consider her ADHD thread as a thread that can be woven in to a meaningful personal and professional life.
As awareness of the differences in how ADHD manifests in women increases, the need to promote inclusion in treatments and research will become increasingly crucial. This is especially relevant to sexually-specific treatment, as the latest research focuses on understanding how gender affects the disorder and identifying a medication that works well for women. This will hopefully result in better diagnosis and treatment of women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD.