Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD typically have low self-esteem. They struggle to meet societal expectations, and often feel their discontent.
They can also suffer emotional distress, including the sensitivity to rejection. undiagnosed adhd in women are more likely to engage in dangerous behaviours.
ADHD symptoms can also change with hormonal changes like the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal changes. This can make it harder to identify.
Symptoms
Women may be unable to recognize their ADHD symptoms, as they can be disguised. This can lead an incorrect diagnosis and a treatment that is not appropriate may cause even more problems. Many women have difficulty diagnosing themselves, particularly when they reach adulthood. This is due to the diagnostic criteria are based upon research conducted in males. Some experts are working on improving the criteria.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women are usually similar to the symptoms of men. Many people with ADHD have difficulty concentrating and listening. They might forget important tasks or misplace things. They may spend many hours organizing their office or home space but fail to keep up with it. They are often distracted by noise or activities in the vicinity. People who suffer from ADHD can have trouble relaxing and may be worried too much about their health or the safety of others.
If women and girls experience symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD it can impact the entirety of their lives. They may experience difficulties at school or at work, and have problems with their friendships and romantic relationships. They may be depressed and anxiety, and they might resort to unhealthy strategies for coping such as alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD may cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships between family, friends and coworkers. Teachers and coaches might criticize them or they may feel unfairly treated at work. ADHD can cause problems in focusing and meet deadlines.
Many people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD come up with strategies for coping over time. They may be up late at night to stay ahead of their tasks or conceal their struggles from loved ones. When they realize that their problems are a result of ADHD it's like an epiphany. They can then learn how to overcome their difficulties and utilize their strengths (like creativity and high energy levels) to their advantage.
Undiagnosed ADHD may cause negative effects on a person’s work, relationships, and life. It can lead to social isolation, financial instability as well as depression. Certain people with ADHD who aren't diagnosed are prone to developing an addiction to stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines. This can cause serious health issues, including stroke and heart disease.
Diagnosis
Many women with ADHD go undiagnosed because symptoms are more difficult to spot in women than in men. This could be because women are less inclined to tell health care professionals about their struggles and more likely to use coping mechanisms to mask their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could require changing behaviors, such as working additional hours at school or work to make up for their lack on the subject or using productivity tools to keep them focused and on the right to schedule with their projects. These coping methods may work in the short-term, but are often exhausting and not sustainable.
In addition, due to gender stereotypes regarding what women should look like, many people don't think that the woman they know may be suffering from ADHD. Certain symptoms can be worsened due to hormonal changes such as those that occur during menstruation or during pregnancy. This could cause women to be viewed as a moody or emotional, which further exacerbates their angst.
Undiagnosed ADHD symptoms for women include forgetfulness, difficulties in concentrating and impulsivity. They also tend to jump from one thing to the next and have trouble maintaining relationships. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from coexisting conditions, such as anxiety and depression. The symptoms of these conditions may be confused with those of ADHD and can lead to wrong diagnosis and treatment.
It can be difficult to diagnose anxiety and ADHD because they share many symptoms. The signs of anxiety include agitation, trouble concentration and a constant feeling that something isn't right. The impulsivity and lack of attention of ADHD are not present in anxiety disorders.
A diagnosis by a doctor of undiagnosed ADHD can have a profound impact on women. In several studies, patients reported that their symptoms diminished when they received an expert diagnosis. Finding an external reason for their struggles allowed them to stop blaming themselves and start viewing their own challenges as something they could control.
It takes time to diagnose ADHD, but it is worth the long wait. Treatment of ADHD by utilizing therapy and medication can improve relationships, prepare women for success at work and at school and help them gain a better understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Women and girls often have different symptoms of ADHD than males, which makes it harder to obtain a diagnosis and treatment. It is also possible that they are more adept at hiding their symptoms, making it more difficult to get assistance or support. It is often difficult to remember appointments or complete work at school or work, and have problems in relationships. They are more likely to be pushed into inappropriate sexual behaviour or become victims of intimate partner abuse because they aren't able to acknowledge and react to their own emotions.
The good news is that early diagnosis and effective treatments can be beneficial for these women. A study from 2020 found that a missed diagnosis or a late diagnosis can have lasting negative impact on the emotional and social health of a woman as well as her ability to form and keep healthy relationships. It can also affect her confidence in her life and self-worth. Many women in these studies felt a sense of relief and increased self-acceptance after receiving the diagnosis and treatment they needed for their ADHD.
This is especially 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 peers. They are more likely to blame their attention, impulsivity and organizational issues on social or personal factors than on their ADHD.
There are a myriad of options for treating adults suffering from ADHD in addition to medication. The most popular are cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. CBT helps identify and change negative thoughts, whereas DBT helps to teach mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which blends elements of these therapies along with instruction in strategies to increase concentration and focus is a different alternative. This treatment is offered in individual or group sessions, and is designed for adults suffering from ADHD. *Note: This article uses the term "women" to refer to women who are assigned female at birth, regardless of affirmed gender identity. Also, it refers to people born male as "men" to include people of all gender identities.
Support
Many people with ADHD are afflicted with a sense of shame or confusion about 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 as well as hormonal changes and other factors. This can lead to ineffective or ineffective treatment as well as a greater likelihood of mood-related disorders like anxiety and depression.
Women are better at hiding their symptoms than men who are hyperactive or impulsive more often. They can learn to work late into the night and utilize productivity apps to mask their lack of attention. The problem is that these coping mechanisms take their impact on self-esteem, and ultimately affect the quality of life.
The process of diagnosing women suffering from ADHD can be difficult and confusing. The traditional ADHD criteria were created for males and may not accurately reflect all the symptoms that women suffer from. In the end, many women who have undiagnosed ADHD are mistakenly diagnosed with other conditions like depression and anxiety.
Clara was not an exception. Clara was smart and hardworking, as well as committed to her work. She was unable to meet her deadlines and felt overwhelmed with the demands of her work. She viewed her failures as her own fault and felt like she was not sufficient. Her confidence in herself was shattered as a result of undiagnosed ADHD.
It was a revelation when she was diagnosed as having adult ADHD. Clara realized that her struggles were not the result of her own faults. She could stop viewing them as evidence of laziness and begin to see her ADHD as an opportunity to be used to create an authentic personal and professional life.
As awareness of the various differences in the ways ADHD manifests in women increases as well, the need to ensure inclusion within treatments and research will become increasingly important. This is especially true when it comes to sex-specific treatments, as new research is geared toward understanding how gender influences the disorder and developing medications that are suitable for women. This should lead to better diagnosis and treatment for women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD.