![]() ![]() In a classroom setting, symptoms like inattentiveness or impulsivity are more likely to get you labeled as “spacey” or “chatty” by teachers. For women living with ADHD, gender norms and stereotypes affect how you interpret your symptoms and how others label the way you cope. The pressure to conform to gender roles has a huge impact on how we develop and view ourselves in the world around us. You may have your symptoms dismissed as “hormonal” or “that time of the month.” As women approach menopause, the lower levels of estrogen can lead to further impairments in sleep, memory, and concentration, which are often also mislabeled. The natural fluctuations that occur in women can make ADHD presentations appear or feel unstable. This is a result of dropping hormone levels during your cycle. You might have already noticed you experience a worsening of your ADHD symptoms along with other premenstrual symptoms. Monthly fluctuations in levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, can have a major impact on severity and presentation. Hormonal influencesĪs young girls develop and hit puberty, hormones play a significant role in the symptoms of ADHD. Instead of reaching out for support, you beat yourself up internally as you do your best to choreograph an existence that feels like a constant struggle. Without an understanding of the differences in how your brain functions, you’ll begin to feel inadequate and exhausted from constant self-monitoring and perceived failures. ![]() As an adult with ADHD, you may be plagued by a constant sense that you are falling short or never quite fitting in. This secret inner struggle can mold the internal landscape of young girls, often leading to low self-esteem and a higher incidence of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. As it turns out, the daydreamer in the back of the classroom with the messy locker may be struggling just as much they are just less likely to be noticed.Īs opposed to boys with ADHD who act out or externalize their symptoms, young girls and teens with ADHD tend to internalize their symptoms–leading to a presentation of symptoms that are more subtle and often misinterpreted. Most people have an image of ADHD in their minds–a loud, boisterous kid wreaking havoc in classrooms, constantly being asked to take a seat. The key differences in ADHD presentation between men and women appear to be due to other factors–including coping mechanisms, hormones, and societal sex norms. In spite of this, there is plenty of overlap in the actual symptoms of ADHD across genders, although women tend to be more likely to experience inattentive type. In fact, the criteria for diagnosing ADHD was originally based on hyperactive boys. You may or may not be surprised to learn that until recent years, most research on ADHD has primarily focused on boys. This has led many adult women to seek a diagnosis and find treatment plans that allow them to regain control of their lives and lean into the strengths of their unique wiring. As a result of this gap, many girls find themselves growing up without access to treatment and carrying symptoms that impact their self-esteem, relationships, and ability to pursue their goals into adulthood.įortunately, in recent years, there has been a shift to shed light on the gender differences with ADHD and how we can better identify this condition in all affected groups. Does ADHD occur equally among genders?Īlthough ADHD is believed to occur nearly equally among genders, it is diagnosed three times more frequently in boys. Because they have fewer DSM-5 symptoms, females are less likely to get diagnosed but experience the same level of impairment as males with ADHD. Women are also more likely to internalize their symptoms, becoming anxious, depressed, and struggling with emotional regulation. Masking (coping strategies that hide underachievement and performance issues) Research shows that the following characteristics of ADHD are unique to women: As such, many of the symptoms that women and girls commonly experience aren’t even used to diagnose the disorder. The core symptoms used to diagnose ADHD in the DSM-5 have been built on a history of research in males. Women and girls with ADHD have several unique symptoms ![]()
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