5 Must-Know-How-To ADHD Symptoms For Women Methods To 2024 ADHD Symptoms For Women

Women suffering from ADHD experience emotional instability and sensitivity to rejection. They might also experience insomnia and poor quality sleep, which may make symptoms worse.

Women and girls are often more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms and coping mechanisms to conform to social expectations and norms. This could lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.

1. Problems with Focusing

Focusing is the biggest challenge for women suffering from ADHD. This neurodevelopmental disorder makes it difficult to concentrate at school or during work meetings as well as when reading or listening to others' conversations. adhd symptoms in women can be difficult to accomplish daily tasks like keeping track of appointments or taking medications.

Difficulty focusing is one of the most common adhd symptoms for girls and women, regardless of their gender identity or whether they have hyperactive/impulsive or inattentive ADHD. According to CHADD women who suffer from the inattentive form of the disorder may struggle with organizing their homes and their desks. They might be unable to prioritize their tasks. These difficulties can lead them to miss appointments, show up in the wrong place at the correct time or fail to keep up on their work duties. They may cause them to feel bad about themselves and blame themselves for their shortcomings, thinking they are lazy or forgetful.

Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to stay on top of obligations, resulting in poor work or school performance as well as the accumulation of debt. They can be caused by stress or other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which often co-occur with ADHD in women, as per CHADD.

Some girls and women with inattentional ADHD are underdiagnosed or overlooked because of biases that teachers and parents might be prone to towards males and females. They may not be able to express their ADHD symptoms as well, especially the hyperactive/impulsive ones, and may have difficulty finding treatment that works for them.

For women who are adults with ADHD symptoms, they may be worsened due to hormonal changes. For instance, they may be more evident during menstrual cycles or during perimenopause--the run-up to menopausal changes. This is when estrogen levels drop and can cause emotional issues, including mood swings and anger.

Stimulant medication can improve concentration for adults with ADHD However, it can't cure the condition. Other strategies, such as mindfulness training, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can help in focusing and organization. Certain schools and workplaces have accommodations to help with these issues.

2. Forgetting Things

It can be difficult to stay on top of daily tasks or to manage your obligations. You may find it difficult to remember important details particularly when they happen in a noisy setting. You may also find yourself forgetting appointments or running late to school or work. Inability to pay bills or respond to emails is common in women suffering from ADHD that can lead to financial stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might have trouble working in a busy or noisy office, and you might be unable to concentrate during conversations. This can make someone else feel unimportant or confused.

Many girls and women who have ADHD also struggle to maintain friendships. They are also at risk of being pushed into unwanted sexual behavior or becoming intimate partner violence victims. This is due to the fact that they have a more difficult time regulating their emotions and are more likely to be overwhelmed. They could also be struggling with self-esteem, and may view their issues as a "personal flaw" instead of realizing that their behavior is related to their ADHD symptoms.

Girl and women with ADHD are also underdiagnosed due to gender bias because their symptoms are less noticeable than those of males and females. They may be more likely to disguise their symptoms with mood disorders or anxiety, which can result in being misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.

ADHD symptoms can vary depending on hormone fluctuations. This is especially true during puberty, when hormone levels decrease and progesterone levels increase. This can cause greater variation in symptoms from day to day, which can make it harder to recognize and manage ADHD properly.

Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment can help you learn life skills to manage your ADHD symptoms. You can also consider lifestyle changes, for example, eating a well-balanced diet and limiting caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that may cause symptoms to worsen. Meditation and mindfulness techniques can relax your mind and reduce the impulsiveness and restlessness. They can also help improve the regulation of emotions. Talking to a mental health professional can also be helpful, as they can discuss possible accommodations at work or school to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms better.

3. Disruptive Behavior

Women who suffer from ADHD tend to experience more sluggish than hyperactive or hyperactive symptoms. This could be due to the fact that the brains of women and girls differ from the brains of boys and men or it could be to do with the amount of activity is occurring in the parts of the brain responsible for managing disruptive and impulsive behavior.

This means it can be harder for a doctor to recognize and diagnose ADHD in women. Many women devise strategies to mask their symptoms. Some of these are healthy, while others aren't sustainable and may result in other health issues. Women, for instance are prone to drinking excessively or drugs to manage. They could also develop depression or other mental health conditions like anxiety. These unhealthy coping mechanisms can make it harder for someone to notice that they are suffering from a condition and can delay an accurate diagnosis.

Disruptive behavior is among the most common adhd symptoms for women. It can affect their school or work performance, or even their relationships. They can be a problem when they are unable to stay focused on a particular task, ignoring important events or tasks and easily getting distracted by the environment or their thoughts. They might fumble or tap their feet or hands or squirm their seats. They may also talk loud or yell, and they can be interruptive.


Women with the inattentive subtype can have difficulty concentrating during lectures or conversations or completing schoolwork, reading, or writing assignments, following instructions in class or at work, and managing daily tasks. They might be unorganized and forgetful. They may also be messy. It can be challenging to keep up with commitments or tasks. They are more susceptible to misplacing or losing things, including keys, wallets and eyeglasses.

Having the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd can disrupt work or school, cause social problems, and create relationship challenges. This type of adhd can cause problems at home, at work, and at schools, and can trigger feelings of anxiety, boredom, and frustration. They can't wait for their turn, whether at school, at work, or home. They often interrupt others. They are prone to act recklessly and aren't able to control their behavior.

4. Anxiety

Women and girls who have ADHD might find it difficult to cope with their symptoms. This is due in part to societal expectations that demand women and mothers to be the primary caregivers for their children and household. If a woman is struggling to fulfill her obligations, it can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. This can make it more difficult for her to seek treatment.

Women with ADHD are often not diagnosed as easily as men or boys because their symptoms don't seem to be as apparent. They may present with primarily inattentive symptoms, which do not have the same outward appearance as hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms, making them less likely to receive a referral for treatment from teachers and parents. They are also more likely to develop coping mechanisms that mask their ADHD symptoms. For instance excessive fidgeting and forgetfulness can be mistaken as signs of anxiety disorders.

The symptoms of ADHD may also change over the course of the woman's life. For example, during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual or pregnancy, women may discover her ADHD symptoms to become more intense. This can lead her to be misunderstood, or considered an excessively emotional.

The information in this article is based on research regarding how ADHD affects people based on their sex. Verywell Health recognizes that sex is a biological phenomenon: chromosomal makeup hormones, hormones, and anatomical structure. gender is a subjective sense of who you are as a man, a woman, or if nonbinary, or a person. This distinction is important because it helps us comprehend the reasons behind why ADHD manifests differently in men and women. In this article, we refer to men and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) as males and boys and women and people assigned to female at birth (AFAB) as women and girls. This terminology is used in many research studies. To find out more, check out Verywell Health's guide to gender and sexuality.