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Undiagnosed ADHD in Women Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD typically have low self-esteem. They struggle to meet social expectations, and often feel their discontent. They may also experience emotional distress, including rejection sensitivity. They are more likely to engage in risky behaviours. ADHD symptoms can also vary during hormonal changes such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. This makes them more difficult to diagnose. Signs and symptoms Women may struggle to identify their ADHD symptoms since they tend to cover them up. This could lead to an incorrect diagnosis, and incorrect treatment could cause more issues than they solve. Many women also report difficulty diagnosing themselves, particularly in adulthood. This could be because the criteria for diagnosing were formulated on the basis of studies conducted on males. Some experts are working to improve these criteria. Signs of undiagnosed ADHD in women can be quite similar to symptoms for men. For instance, many women with ADHD have trouble concentrating or listening. They might lose track of important tasks or get lost items. They may spend many hours organizing their office or home space but do not manage to keep up with it. They are easily distracted by sounds or other activities. People suffering from ADHD might have trouble relaxing and may worry a lot about themselves or others. Undiagnosed ADHD can affect girls and women in all aspects of their life. They may experience difficulties at work or school, and also have difficulties with their romantic relationships and friendships. They can have low self-esteem and anxiety, and they might turn to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol or drugs. Undiagnosed ADHD can increase frustration and miscommunications in relationships with friends, family and colleagues. Teachers and coaches could be critical of them or feel unfairly treated at work. ADHD can make it difficult to focus and complete tasks on time. Many people who are not diagnosed with ADHD develop strategies to cope with their problems throughout their lives. They may work into the early hours of the morning to stay on top of their workload or conceal from their loved ones the struggles they face. When they discover that their challenges are because of ADHD, it is like an epiphany. They can then learn how to overcome their challenges and leverage their strengths (like creativity and high energy levels) to their advantage. Undiagnosed ADHD could have a negative impact on the person's professional, social, and personal life. It can lead to financial instability, social isolation and even depression. Some people with undiagnosed ADHD develop a dependency to stimulants, like cocaine and amphetamines. This can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. Diagnosis Women suffering from ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed than men because the symptoms are more difficult to spot. This could be due to the fact that women have more trouble telling health care professionals about their struggles, and are more likely to employ strategies to disguise their ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies could include changing behavior and habits, for example, putting in more hours at school or work to make up for their lack in focus, or using productivity tools to keep them organized and on to schedule with their tasks. These coping methods might work in the short term but they can be exhausting and unsustainable. Many people are unaware of the fact that women they know may have ADHD due to gender stereotypes. Some symptoms may also be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, menstruation or menopausal. This can result in women being misunderstood or dismissed as moody and emotionally tense. This adds to the anger of these women. Some of the most common undiagnosed signs of ADHD in women are inattention, forgetfulness, impulsivity, an ability to switch from one task to another and having difficulty maintaining relationships. Undiagnosed ADHD is more prevalent in women. They are also more likely than others to suffer from co-existing disorders like depression or anxiety. Symptoms of these conditions could be confused with symptoms of ADHD and can lead to an incorrect diagnosis and treatment. The overlapping symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can make it difficult to determine the condition. Anxiety symptoms include restlessness difficulty in concentration, and a constant sense that something is wrong. The impulsivity and inattention of ADHD are not present in the anxiety disorders. For women who are not diagnosed with ADHD, receiving a professional diagnosis can be a game changer. undiagnosed adhd in women in several studies have reported that their symptoms diminished after they received the diagnosis. They stopped blaming themselves for their own problems and began to look at their struggles as something they could control. It takes time to diagnose ADHD and it can be a long time, but it's worth the wait. Treatment of ADHD by psychotherapy and medication can improve relationships, aid women achieve in school and work, and give them an improved understanding of themselves. Treatment Women and girls often suffer from different symptoms of ADHD than men, which can make it more difficult to get a diagnosis and treatment. They may also be better in masked symptoms which makes it difficult to seek help or assistance. This could include not remembering appointments, not being able to complete tasks at school or at work, and having issues with relationships. They may also be at a higher risk of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or being the victim of violence from their intimate partners due to their difficulty recognizing and resolving to their own emotions. The good news is that early diagnosis and effective treatments can have a positive impact on these women. A study from 2020 showed that a delayed or missed diagnosis can have lasting negative effects on a woman's emotional well-being and ability to form and maintain relationships. It can also impact her confidence in her life and self-esteem. Many women in these studies felt a sense of relief and increased self-acceptance after receiving an assessment and treatment for their ADHD. This is particularly important, because research shows that women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have lower self-esteem levels and are less likely to seek treatment than male counterparts. They are more likely to blame their attention, impulsivity and organization problems on their social or personal circumstances than on their ADHD. In addition to medication, there are various treatment options available for adults with ADHD. The most popular include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT helps identify and change negative thoughts, whereas DBT is a method of teaching mindfulness and self-acceptance. Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which blends aspects of these therapies with instruction in strategies to increase focus and concentration, is another alternative. This treatment can be found in individual or group sessions, and is designed for adults suffering from ADHD. *Note: In this article, the word “women”, is used to refer to those who were assigned female at birth, regardless of their gender identity. It also refers to people who were assigned male at the time of birth as “men” which includes all gender identities. Support undiagnosed adhd in women suffering from ADHD are confused or ashamed of their symptoms. Because social pressures and hormonal changes profoundly affect how ADHD is perceived by women, it's typical for females to be underdetected, misunderstood, or incorrectly diagnosed. This can lead to inappropriate or ineffective treatment as well as a greater likelihood of mood-related disorders like depression and anxiety. Contrary to men, who can have hyperactive and impulsive symptoms more often, females tend to be better at hiding their symptoms in the workplace or school. They can be taught to work late into the evening, and utilize productivity apps to hide their lack of attention. These strategies for coping can have a negative effect on self-esteem and ultimately the quality of your life. Even when women suffering from ADHD seek assistance, the process of diagnosing can be frustrating and confusing. The traditional ADHD criteria were developed for men, so they may not always capture the full spectrum of symptoms that women experience. Many women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD have been misdiagnosed as having other disorders, such as anxiety or depression. Clara was not an exception. Clara was smart, hardworking and dedicated to her job. She was unable to meet her deadlines and felt overwhelmed with the demands of her job. She viewed her failures as her own fault and believed that she wasn't sufficient. Her shattered self-confidence was the result of undiagnosed ADHD. When she was diagnosed with adult ADHD it was a shock. Clara realized that her issues were not her own personal shortcomings. She could stop seeing them as laziness-related signs, and start to consider her ADHD thread as a thread that could be woven into an effective professional and personal life. As women's ADHD becomes more widely known and recognized, it will become more important to include them in research and treatment initiatives. This is particularly true in the area of specific treatment for sex, as new research focuses on understanding how gender affects the disorder and creating medications that are suitable for women. This should help in the diagnosis and treatment of women with undiagnosed ADHD.