ADHD is a very common mental illness that affects millions of people. An estimated 5% of all children are on medication for this condition, but it affects a surprising number of adults as well.
There are many different symptoms of ADHD. You may be surprised to find out that women and men are affected differently.
Procrastination, forgetfulness, irritability, and anxiety are all normal parts of human life. For people with ADHD, however, these are some of the more common challenges they face every day. Women especially have trouble getting diagnosed and treated for ADHD, in large part due to social expectations and outdated medical guidelines.
ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a chronic mental condition that affects various processes within the brain. It was long believed to be a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder sufferers grew out of, or a problem found only hyperactive children, usually boys.
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New research shows that, while the challenges of childhood ADHD can diminish over time, symptoms can persist into adulthood for both sexes. Symptoms of ADHD are found in women nearly as often as they are found in men at all stages of life. They just look slightly different.
ADHD is a genetic condition. Many women who are diagnosed as adults recognize their own symptoms only after discovering ADHD in their children.
ADHD is heavily stigmatized and people who suffer from this condition are often simply seen as lazy. In fact, neurological research has shown that there are structural differences in the brains of people with ADHD. Certain areas develop differently than in neurotypical people, and the functioning of neurotransmitters responsible for memory and motivation, especially dopamine and noradrenaline, is dysregulated. In some cases, people with ADHD may suffer from being hyperfocused.
It is very important for women with ADHD to know and observe their menstrual cycle. They are more related than you may think. Often the symptoms of ADHD overlap with premenstrual syndrome or increase during periods of monthly hormonal fluctuations. Women with ADHD would track the menstrual cycle in period apps or use a safe online calculator to feel confident.
For people with ADHD, poor habits can create a cycle of distress. Living in a messy home, eating unhealthy meals, and feeling the stress of missing deadlines can all intensify the symptoms of ADHD, and having ADHD in the first place makes taking positive action to change things extremely challenging.
Girls more commonly present with the inattentive type of ADHD with symptoms such as being forgetful and disorganized, while boys often present with the hyperactive type of ADHD with symptoms such as being fidgety and disruptive. But this is not always the case. Environmental factors can play a large role. Women are socialized to put their needs in second place. Little girls are reprimanded much more harshly than boys for loud and disruptive behavior, so they become better at maskingtheir emotions and their struggles. Women’s negative emotions are also often deemed insignificant.
Insisting on “good behavior” only encourages sufferers to hide their problems; it doesn’t solve them. A person cannot be “taught” to overcome ADHD.
The good news is that help is available and there are lots of tools and tricks people with ADHD can use to adapt and even thrive.