How To Tell If You're Set To Go After Untreated ADHD In Female Adults
ADHD in adult adhd diagnostic assessment and treatment
ADHD affects both men as well as women, but societal expectations and gender roles often make it more difficult for them to get diagnosed. Women may also hide their symptoms better, which could cause them to be incorrectly diagnosed or delayed in treatment.
Internalized symptoms, referral biases, lingering stereotypes and comorbidities could all be obstacles to a correct diagnosis. Here are a few of the most frequent untreated adhd females.
1. Trouble focusing
Women and those who were deemed female 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.
Inattention ADHD symptoms include not remembering important appointments or things that are important, and getting easily distracted by work or social occasions. It can be a challenge for women with this disorder to sit and concentrate on their homework or other tasks at work or school. Women with ADHD may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because of anxiety, depression, or medical problems.
People with inattention ADHD tend to conceal their symptoms. Their behavior could be misinterpreted by others, resulting in conflicts, frustrations and miscommunication in their relationships. It can lead to missed career opportunities and challenges in the workplace.
As a result, the consequences of untreated ADHD in females who are adults can be devastating. Women may find it difficult to deal with their problems both at home and in the workplace. This can make it difficult to maintain a steady pace while they take on multiple obligations and try to reach the goals they set for them.
In addition to having difficulty in focusing, many women with ADHD struggle to find emotional support from their families and friends. In the end, they can become isolated or develop self-defeating habits that are unhealthy like alcohol abuse.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD can also experience internalizing symptoms, such as low self-esteem, feelings of guilt, shame or feelings of inadequacy. This can lead them to be more vulnerable to physical illness, stress and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. In turn, they are more likely to suicide or self-injury as compared to those without the condition. A diagnosis can help a woman feel more confident in taking steps to alter her life for the better. To be diagnosed, a woman must first consult a qualified healthcare provider for an evaluation and effective treatment.
2. Time Management Problems
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage at work, particularly. Women with no diagnosis of ADHD have trouble managing their daily schedule and completing their work. They might forget appointments, lose important paperwork or use productivity apps to help keep track of their tasks. These apps are useful but they are not a substitute for good organizational skills.
The expectations for gender roles of women can also exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD. Women are required to look after their families and homes, which requires a level of coordination that ADHD sufferers struggle to maintain. This pressure from society could cause women suffering from ADHD to feel ashamed and blame themselves for not being able to meet these demands.
Time management issues can lead to frustration both in professional and personal relationships. ADHD symptoms can cause you underestimate the time it takes to complete your tasks, which can cause you to be late to meetings or other commitments. If you're frequently late for events, consider using a planner or checklist to keep track of deadlines. Take frequent breaks to relax your mind and get moving.
You can also try mindfulness techniques to help you focus on your task and reduce distractions. For example, instead of listening to podcasts or music while working, play an article on your phone. If you have trouble concentrating when driving, you can switch to a manual transmission car. You could also consider driving with your cell phone turned off to avoid distracted texting and phone calls.
If you're diagnosed with ADHD, an expert in mental health can recommend treatments and strategies for coping. Treatment options include medications, like stimulants, as well as psychotherapy. The kind of therapy that your doctor recommends will be based on your specific needs and what's going on in your life. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to learn to accept your thoughts and feelings, while changing your negative patterns of behavior to healthier ones. You can also get family or couples therapy to improve communication within your relationships.
3. Anxiety and Depression
Females with ADHD typically have higher levels of depression and anxiety than their male counterparts. They may have difficulty coping with these issues, leading to a variety of unhealthy behaviours. For example, they might turn to substance use or develop unhealthy eating habits as a means of dealing with their symptoms. These behaviors can make the symptoms worse. In addition, women are more likely to be misdiagnosed for these issues. They may be given the wrong treatment that could make them feel worse or cause other issues.
It's important that you know that stress, certain physical conditions, and illnesses can cause symptoms that are similar to those of ADHD. It is important to speak with an expert in mental health or health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis.
Researchers suspect that this difference in the prevalence of ADHD diagnosis among males and women is due to a combination of biological and socially constructed gender roles. Women are expected to perform more household chores and parenting than men. This can result in feelings of self-esteem loss and distorted beliefs, which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms.
In addition, women may be less likely to report their symptoms to a medical professional due to the belief that they can handle the symptoms on their own. Women who suffer from ADHD might also be more likely than other people to blame their symptoms, for example, sleep deprivation or stress. This can contribute to the fact that many women suffering from ADHD are undiagnosed in adulthood.
Research suggests that the COVID-19 timeframe has been particularly difficult for young adults, who are more likely to have more persistently high levels of depression and anxiety than middle-aged adults. The peak in these levels coincided with a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases and occurred during a time of protests against racial injustice, mass shooting events, decades-high inflation, Russian invasion of Ukraine and recurring climate catastrophes and rising unemployment. Recent and frequent stress exposure is an important risk factor for depression and anxiety, so this combination of factors could help explain why these levels have been constantly increased.
4. Difficulty Making Friends
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD might have trouble forming and maintaining friendships, especially when they reach adulthood. Social isolation can cause health issues such as high blood pressure or chronic stress. It is beneficial to have close family members and friends who are able to provide support, but many adults struggle to keep or form new relationships.
The social norms relating to gender and sexuality can have an influence whether women with ADHD receive the treatment and diagnosis they require. In one study, teachers or parents were less likely than boys to refer girls to treatment for ADHD. 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.
The social expectations for women and girls may increase the severity of 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. This makes girls and women more likely to be punished for exhibiting ADHD-related symptoms like inattention and disorganization. This means that they may be mistakenly diagnosed as having depression or anxiety, and their ADHD symptoms may not be treated appropriately.
Moreover, hormone changes can further increase ADHD symptoms in females. Estrogen levels are lower at the end of their menstrual cycle and during ovulation, which can cause women's and girls' symptoms appear worse. This can cause confusion in adolescents, especially when combined with hormonal changes. It is difficult to diagnose and treat them properly.
Although it is true that many of the same treatments are effective for women suffering from ADHD like they do for males However, a mental health professional will have to take a look at each individual's specific needs and symptoms. The kind of treatment a person receives is based on the severity of their ADHD symptoms as well as other factors contributing to their difficulties. For example the history of depression or trauma. The most common treatment options are cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps individuals are taught to change their negative thoughts and swap them out for healthier ones, and couples counseling, which can help individuals improve communication and resolve problems in their relationships.