Often, women with ADHD feel that their lives are out of control or in chaos, and daily tasks may seem impossibly huge. Our culture commonly expects women to fill the caretaker role. When things feel out of control and it's difficult to organize and plan because of ADHD, taking care of others can feel nearly impossible.
Interestingly, girls with untreated ADHD may be more likely to blame and judge themselves for these problems, leading to a higher risk for low self-esteem than boys who have ADHD. They may also be more likely to have problems with substance abuse, eating disorders, and anxiety.
For adults with symptoms of ADHD, their experiences could have been overlooked in childhood; this is especially relevant to girls and women with ADHD who report more inattentive or internalized symptoms. High functioning ADHD symptoms include: Difficulty multitasking. Getting stressed out easily.
A girl with ADHD may have impulsivity and be hyper-talkative. She may be verbally impulsive, interrupt others, talk excessively, or change topics repeatedly during conversations. She might even blurt out words without thinking about their impact on others. Girls with ADHD can also be overly sensitive.
Research is showing that the symptoms of ADHD often intensify for girls during puberty when estrogen increases in their bodies.
“Chatty Kathy” with ADHD
A third type of girl with ADHD is a combination of hyperactive and inattentive. While they have a much higher activity level than the daydreamers, they are not necessarily “tomboys.” Often these girls are hyper-talkative rather than hyperactive. They are “silly”, excitable and overemotional.
Adults diagnosed with ADHD often blame themselves for their problems or view themselves in a negative light. This can lead to self-esteem issues, anxiety, or depression.
Girls with ADHD may want to move and talk, but don't want to be seen to be misbehaving, so they keep it in. They may fidget in smaller, less recognisable ways, such as doodling or playing with jewellery, or may be overly chatty when allowed to talk.
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. That's because the disorder has a number of possible symptoms, and they can easily be confused with those of other conditions, like depression or anxiety.
Other women with this disorder are able to maintain their composure yet still feel anxious and annoyed. Women with ADD may also be impatient about life and events. A woman may plan her whole education or life in one day and need for it to happen immediately. She goes into things full swing rather than step-by-step.
Hormones, which affect the symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety, can complicate things. The natural fluctuations related to both a girl's age and menstrual cycle can seem to worsen some symptoms, while at other times symptoms seem to decrease. These changing symptoms can play a role in a delayed diagnosis.
Although there is no single medical, physical, or genetic test for ADHD, a diagnostic evaluation can be provided by a qualified mental health care professional or physician who gathers information from multiple sources.
Untreated ADHD in adults can lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. This is because ADHD symptoms can lead to focus, concentration, and impulsivity problems. When these problems are not managed effectively, they can lead to feelings of frustration, irritability, and low self-esteem.
Girls with ADHD may want to move and talk, but don't want to be seen to be misbehaving, so they keep it in. They may fidget in smaller, less recognisable ways, such as doodling or playing with jewellery, or may be overly chatty when allowed to talk.
When someone with ADHD falls in love for the first time, they can experience more intense emotions than those who do not have ADHD. These people “might feel a deep sense of intimacy and acceptance” when they first fall in love.
The husband without AD/HD may misinterpret his wife's disorganization and procrastination as deliberate offenses. If the wife goes on an impulsive spending spree, it may damage family finances. The urge for novel situations can lead some women into repeated job changes or promiscuity.
For many ADHD women it can be helpful to use more feeling centered-language and to show clearer emotion. She might requires higher facial affect and clearer signals. She may respond to language which expresses emotion, and appreciate it when you tell her how you feel instead of what you think.
They keep their things fairly organized and try to avoid making a mess. But many kids and adults with ADHD are the opposite — they're messy most of the time. And it can cause problems at home, school, and work. For example, kids might miss a field trip because the permission slip got lost in their overflowing backpack.