Undiagnosed ADHD in Women
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often experience low self-esteem. They struggle to meet social expectations, and often internalize their frustration with life.
They also may suffer from emotional stress including sensitivity to rejection. They are more likely to engage in risky behaviours.
ADHD symptoms can also vary 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, since they are often hidden. This can lead an incorrect diagnosis and the wrong treatment could cause more issues. Many women have difficulty getting diagnosed, especially in adulthood. This could be because diagnostic criteria were developed based on research done with males. Certain experts are trying to improve the criteria.
Symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD for women may be similar to those in men. For instance, many women suffering from ADHD have trouble concentrating or listening. They might lose track of important tasks or lose things. They can spend hours organizing their work or home space, but not keep up. They are often distracted by the noise or activities in the vicinity. People with ADHD may have difficulty relaxing and may be worried excessively about their health or the safety of others.
Undiagnosed ADHD can affect women and girls in all aspects of their life. They may experience difficulties at school or at work as well as having issues with their relationships with their partners and friends. They might be afflicted with low self-esteem and anxiety, which is why they might use unhealthy strategies to cope like alcohol or drugs.
Undiagnosed ADHD can increase frustration and miscommunications in relationships with family members, friends and colleagues. Teachers and coaches might be critical of them or be unfairly treated at work. ADHD can make it difficult to focus and meet deadlines.
Many people with undiagnosed ADHD develop strategies to cope with their problems over the years. They may work late into the night to keep up with their work or hide their struggles from loved ones. It's like a lightbulb moment when they realize that their issues are due to ADHD. They can then learn how to overcome their difficulties and use their strengths (like creativity and high levels of energy) to their advantage.
Undiagnosed ADHD can have a long-lasting impact on a person's life, career and relationships. It can lead to financial instability, social exclusion, and even depression. Certain people who suffer from ADHD, who are not diagnosed have an addiction to stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine. This can lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease and stroke.
Diagnosis
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed than men because the symptoms are more difficult to recognize. This could be due the fact that women are more hesitant communicating with health professionals about their struggles, and are more likely to employ coping strategies to mask their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could include changing their behavior, such as working longer hours at school or at work to help compensate for their lack of focus or employing productivity tools to keep themselves organized and on top of tasks. These coping methods might work in the short term however they are usually exhausting and not sustainable.
Many people are unaware that a woman they know could be suffering from ADHD because of gender stereotypes. Certain symptoms can be worsened due to hormonal changes such as those that occur during menstruation or during pregnancy. This can result in women being misunderstood or dismissed as moody and emotionally tense. This further exacerbates the angst of these women.
Some of the most common undiagnosed signs of ADHD for women include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, 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 co-existing conditions, such as anxiety and depression. These conditions can have symptoms that are similar to ADHD and can lead to the wrong diagnosis and treatment.
It isn't easy to distinguish between anxiety and ADHD because they share a variety of symptoms. The signs of anxiety include feeling of agitation, trouble concentrating and a constant feeling that something is not right. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD are not present in anxiety disorders.
For women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD, receiving a professional diagnosis can be a game-changer. Women in a variety of studies have reported that their symptoms have decreased after they received a diagnosis. Finding an external reason for their struggles let them stop blaming themselves, and instead viewing their own challenges as something they can control.
It takes time to diagnose ADHD and it can be a long time, but it's worth the wait. Treatment of ADHD with medication and psychotherapy can improve relationships, help women succeed in school and work, and give them an improved understanding of themselves.
Treatment
Girls and women have different ADHD symptoms as do males. This can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat. They may also be better in masked symptoms and making it more difficult to seek help or assistance. This could include not remembering appointments, not being able to complete tasks at school or at work, or having trouble in relationships. They may also be more at chance of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or being the victim of intimate partner violence, because they aren't able to recognize and resolving their own emotions.
The good news is that early diagnosis and effective treatments can make a difference for these women. A study from 2020 showed that a missed 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 build and maintain healthy relationships. It can also impact her confidence in her life and self-esteem. A majority of women in these studies reported feeling a sense relief and increased self-acceptance after receiving an assessment and treatment for their ADHD.
It is important to remember that research has shown that women with undiagnosed ADHD are less confident and less likely to seek assistance than their male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their problems with attention, impulsivity, and organization on societal or personal factors, rather than their ADHD.
There are a variety of options for treating adults suffering from ADHD in addition to medication. The most commonly used are cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. CBT helps you identify and change negative thoughts, whereas DBT helps to teach mindfulness and self acceptance. Neurocognitive Psychotherapy that combines elements of these therapies with training in strategies to increase concentration and focus, is another option. This treatment is offered in either individual or group sessions and is designed for adults suffering from ADHD. *Note: This article uses the term "women" to refer to people assigned female at birth, regardless of affirmed gender identity. It also refers to people born male as "men" to be inclusive of all gender identities.
Support
Many people who suffer from ADHD are afflicted with a sense of shame or confusion about their symptoms. Women are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed as a result of the way ADHD manifests in women. This is due to pressures from society, hormonal changes, and other factors. This can lead to ineffective or inappropriate treatment, and a higher likelihood of mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
Contrary to men, who can have hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more frequently, women are often better at masking their symptoms in the workplace or school. They can learn to work late into the evening, and use productivity apps to mask their inattention. The problem is, these coping mechanisms take their toll on self-esteem and ultimately affect the quality of life.
The process of diagnosing women suffering from ADHD can be complicated and frustrating. The traditional ADHD criteria were designed for males and may not be able to capture all the symptoms women experience. In high functioning adhd in women , many women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD are misdiagnosed with other disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Clara was not different. She was a smart, hardworking, and dedicated to her profession. However she was unable to meet deadlines and was overwhelmed by the demands of her job. She believed that her failures were 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 having adult ADHD. Clara realized that her struggles weren't her own personal failings. She was able to stop viewing them as a sign of laziness and begin to consider her ADHD thread as a thread which can be tied into a meaningful personal and professional life.
As women's ADHD becomes more widely known and recognized, it will become more important to include them in treatment and research. This is especially true in the area of specific treatment for sex, as new research is focused on understanding how gender affects the disorder and developing medication that works well for women. This could result in better diagnosis and treatment for women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD.