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Challenges of ADHD in Women and Girls Women and girls often face a wide range of challenges when untreated ADHD symptoms impact their lives. They may feel incompetent at work, struggle with peer relationships, or suffer from anxiety and depression. They are also better at creating coping mechanisms to hide their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder to recognize and treat them. Symptoms The gender gap in ADHD is shrinking as people get older. It's crucial that those who suffer from ADHD symptoms don't feel abandoned or ignored. As girls and women mature into adulthood, they continue to struggle with ADHD symptoms. They may struggle with managing their finances or keeping the house clean and maintaining healthy relationships. Years of untreated ADHD can also impact their confidence in themselves and mental health, since they blame themselves for their problems. ADHD is a chronic disorder unlike other psychiatric disorders. Women and girls are prone to cover up their symptoms using strategies to cope, but these often backfire. Additionally, add test for women during the menstrual period or pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes could make it harder to manage ADHD symptoms. Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms typically are characterized by being forgetful or numb and losing track of time, difficulties paying attention in classes or at work and difficulty with daily routines such as meal planning, laundry or scheduling. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can include rushing through tasks, jumping from one task to another or making rash decisions. It's important for healthcare providers to be aware of the different ways girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD and to consider whether comorbid depression or anxiety is contributing to their problems. It is crucial that those with ADHD are assessed by a qualified healthcare provider. They can evaluate their symptoms, medical history and rule out other illnesses. Some people with ADHD also have mental health issues like anxiety or depression or low self-esteem, as well as difficulties with social interactions and relationships. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have physical health problems such as chronic stress or tics. Many girls and women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because they aren't taken seriously by family members, teachers or friends. They may not think that their issues are serious enough issue to seek help or they might believe that their ADHD symptoms are the result of poor parenting or low self-esteem, or any other external factors. In some cases women and girls with ADHD are diagnosed only after their children are treated for ADHD, or they do not receive a diagnosis until they reach their 40s or 50s and are experiencing significant difficulty with day-to-day living activities. Diagnosis Women often do not get diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood and can be faced with challenges when it does happen. For one thing, girls may not have the same hyperactive/impulsive symptoms as boys — and this can make them less likely to be recognised by teachers and parents, who are more accustomed to seeing those signs in male children. Girls may also develop strategies to cope with their symptoms, resulting in them not being noticed as frequently. It is possible that girls' issues with concentration, organization and impulsivity might go unnoticed over a period of years. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD, which makes their symptoms more difficult to detect. Furthermore, they could have co-occurring illnesses that affect their ability to manage their life, such as anxiety and depression. They may have difficulty to manage their emotions. This can be exacerbated because of hormonal changes during menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy and menopausal. A variety of these issues can cause low self-esteem or relationship problems. As a result, it is often difficult for them to speak up about their struggles and seek assistance. This can delay diagnosis and treatment. It's also common for people with ADHD not to be able to establish friendships or communicate with others. They might not attend social events and fail to show on time for appointments, and fail to discern body language or pick up on the non-verbal signals of others. They might even be inclined to go off on tangents when they're talking, making it difficult for others to keep up. It's crucial to receive a thorough diagnosis and take action immediately. This can be an “lightbulb” moment for women. It can help them understand their struggles and help them accept themselves more. It can also aid women focus on their strengths and to take steps to improve life management abilities. This can have a positive impact on their work, family and personal lives. The article is reviewed medically by Huma Sheikh, MD. Treatment As girls and women grow into adults untreated ADHD can take a toll on their professional and personal lives. The symptoms can impact relationships and work performance, and result in feelings of anxiety and frustration. They can also make it difficult to cope with the demands of adult life, such as managing finances, keeping the home clean and in good relationships. Women and girls are less likely to receive a diagnosis of ADHD than boys and men, partly because hyperactive/impulsive symptoms tend to be more commonly associated with males. This could result in gender-based stereotypes regarding the disorder. This can lead to girls and women suppressing or hiding their own symptoms in order to avoid being stigmatized by society. There are a variety of effective treatments available for ADHD for girls and women. Medicines control brain activity and manage symptoms. They can be prescribed by a licensed health professional. Stimulant drugs are the first option, but non-stimulants could also be effective for certain people. In addition, a combination of treatments could be suggested by your doctor to treat related issues such as anxiety or depression. Lifestyle changes, in addition to medication management, can aid in managing ADHD symptoms. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters that increase concentration and focus, and reduce anxiety, stress and other issues with mood that are common in people with ADHD. Group activities, like group fitness classes or team sports classes, can be especially beneficial. Therapy is also part of the treatment. Cognitive therapy for behavior can help patients recognize and alter negative habits of thinking that contribute to their ADHD symptoms. Couples counseling is also beneficial for improving communication and resolving conflicts in relationships. At Verywell Health, we use the words “girls” and “women” to refer to the gender determined at birth (AFAB) rather than an individual's affirmation of gender identity. This is to facilitate clearer and more consistent language across our content, and to make it easier for readers. However, this article also applies to males assigned at birth (AMAB) and also to transgender and nonbinary individuals. We recognize that gender and sexuality are not mutually exclusive and welcome all our readers. Support Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis than men. That's because girls and women tend to conceal their symptoms, so they're more difficult for doctors to identify. There are also signs that aren't obvious to others, like inattentiveness or disorganization, rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity. This masking is essential for women who typically develop strategies for coping to feel normal and to meet social expectations. These strategies for coping may include healthy actions like maintaining a daily schedule or setting reminders on phones. However, they can also be unhealthy, such as binge eating or a drug abuse. Women with untreated ADHD may experience anxiety over, depressed, or overwhelmed and have issues with relationships and chronic stress. Women and girls with ADHD are often afflicted with low self-esteem, or other symptoms like depression, anxiety or abdominal pain. These issues can cause avoidance of school or work activities. They may also become more dependent on their parents to help them with daily tasks. That can create an unhealthy cycle of dependence and dependence on others that is difficult to break. As they grow older, girls and women who suffer from ADHD might be at a greater risk of having sexual relations with non-consensual partners. This can be caused by impulsivity, poor organization, or a failure to make use of contraception. They are also more likely to be pressured into unintentional sexual activity and they are more vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual exploitation. Women with ADHD who are adults may benefit from medication to help manage symptoms and coping techniques. They can also get therapy, individually or in partnership. This can help them to recognize their issues and create more positive internal dialogs. It can aid them in improving their relationships. Support services can also include special programs for mothers and pregnant women with ADHD as well as coaching to help them develop parenting skills. These programs can help women with ADHD keep their jobs, take care of their responsibilities at home and look after their children.