Learn what ADHD looks like in women, and why it’s often misdiagnosed.
Michela Buttignol for Verywell Mind / Stocksy
Women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often live undiagnosed.
This article discusses how ADHD symptoms may differ in women and why these symptoms are often overlooked.
Michela Buttignol for Verywell Mind / Stocksy
It also covers the ways that these symptoms might impact daily life.
How Does ADHD Look Different in Women?
ADHD comes in three presentations: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, or a combination of the two.
Gender bias may also play a pivotal role in the misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of ADHD in women and girls.
During adolescence, girls tend to have fewer coping strategies and worseself-efficacythan boys.
Girls and women also have fewerexternalizing symptomssuch as aggression than men, but higher levels of depression and anxiety.
For example, a girl might be described as spacey,forgetful, or chatty.
Women with ADHDface the same feelings of being overwhelmed and exhausted as men with ADHD commonly feel.
Psychological distress, feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and chronic stress are common.
Our culture commonly expects women to fill the caretaker role.
This societal pressure also may greatly increase a woman’s feelings of inadequacy.
What Does Untreated ADHD Look Like in Women?
What Are the Signs of ADHD in Women?
You may notice signs of ADHD in many different areas of your life.
You may find that you spend a lot of time and effort to appear “normal.”
As an adult, friendships can be difficult to navigate because social rules seem complicated.
People may say that you talk more than anyone else they know.
Work
Being at the office feels difficult.
The noise and people make it hard to get work done.
Your desk at work is piled high with papers.
You may feel crushing sadness and frustration that you haven’t met your potential.
Other daily struggles may include:
Relaxing is often difficult for people with ADHD.
Little things can push you over the top and you may become emotional.
Other conditions can also be present along with ADHD.
When you have more than one condition, they are called comorbid or coexisting conditions.
This, in turn, can makediagnosing ADHDmore complex.
However, an experienced clinician will be aware of this challenge.
Treatment for ADHD in Women
Effective treatment for ADHD in women often involves several different approaches.
Recommended treatments depend on various factors, including the nature,severity, and impact of ADHD symptoms.
It is essential to start by getting an accurate diagnosis to find the appropriate treatment.
Find out which option is the best for you.
If you think you might have ADHD, it’s important to be diagnosed by a healthcare professional.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Reviewed November 16, 2020.
Rucklidge JJ.Gender differences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Psychiatr Clin North Am.
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