ADD and Women in Women
Women and girls with ADHD come up with strategies to mask their symptoms. These may include building a daily schedule and setting phone reminders. They could also resort to bravado to protect themselves from social isolation.
Their coping strategies may become unsustainable. They may also develop compulsive disorders, such as anxiety, mood disorders and self-harming behavior like cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women suffering from ADHD are more likely to be unfocused and have a harder time staying focused and are more likely to forget things. They may also have trouble managing their work and personal lives, which could hinder their performance at work. They might not attend appointments, or fail to pay bills, and are prone to procrastination. They may have trouble in math or reading. These issues can become more difficult in the months prior to, during or after menopausal changes.
Experts believe that girls and women are more adept at concealing their symptoms, which makes it difficult to recognize ADHD. This may be because of gender stereotypes that view boys and men as more boisterous than girls and women, according to Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Those behaviors can be perceived as being less acceptable to society particularly if they're impulsive or disorganized.
The good news is that it's possible for women with ADHD to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. However, it's important to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about the disorder and understands how it affects women. Some treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, which assists patients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that lead to problematic behaviors; neurocognitive psychotherapy, which is a combination of CBT and other therapeutic methods that are designed to enhance self-regulation and impulse control and dialectical behavioral therapy, which helps people learn skills to help them manage emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
Women with ADHD also have a tendency to struggle with sensitivity to rejection, an intense emotional response to actual or perceived rejection which makes it harder for them to maintain relationships. This can lead to women with ADHD being more likely than other people to engage in risky sexual actions, become pregnant unintentionally or seek out casual sexual partners.
In addition, women with ADHD may have trouble making friends and interacting naturally with others, especially if they have hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms. This makes it difficult to make friends at work, school, or other social settings. They might be unable to read bodylanguage and recognize social cues.
Impatient
Women with ADHD often struggle to wait for something or feel a urgent need to get moving. This makes it difficult to complete tasks such as cooking dinner, cleaning the house or paying the bills. Women may also find it difficult to stick to their social obligations or stick to their commitments. They also have to deal with emotional outbursts and lack of self-control.
If a woman is experiencing symptoms of ADHD, it is important to seek assistance. Treatment can improve their lives and boost their confidence and self-esteem. Through changes in lifestyle as well as medication and therapy, it is possible to decrease or completely eliminate the symptoms.
Getting enough sleep can also help to reduce ADHD symptoms. Sleeping habits can be improved by following a routine for bedtime, limiting the amount of screen time at night and eating on the schedule. Women who suffer from ADHD may benefit from a weighted quilt or soothing music to help them sleep.
Depression is common among women suffering from ADHD, even though it's not an indication of the condition. It is often caused by the debilitating impact of untreated ADD or other underlying issues such as low self-esteem or relationship issues. Women who suffer from ADD often struggle with self-esteem as they aren't performing as well as other women and girls their age. Inability to recognize social signals and have difficulty with social interactions can cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
Women may have a tougher time getting diagnosed with ADD. Doctors often mistakenly diagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is especially evident during puberty, pregnancy and during perimenopause and menopause when hormones are changing.
Women are also able to hide their symptoms easier than men or boys. Additionally, society has a lot of expectations for women that can be stressful to juggle with the symptoms of ADHD. This can cause stress, depression and anxiety. It could also contribute to the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which is a common occurrence in teens and young women with ADHD.
Impulsive
You act quickly and without thinking when you are suffering from an impulsive ADHD symptoms. You aren't able to wait for your turn to speak during a conversation, and you're more likely to interrupt or finish other people's sentences. You also have difficulty judging the appropriateness of your social actions. These actions can affect your ability to keep your job or maintain a relationship and can make it difficult to meet the expectations of family, colleagues and friends.
Women with impulsive type ADHD frequently have difficulty managing their emotions and this can lead to more conflict in relationships and at work. They may feel that others are critical or disrespectful because they're unable to keep pace or focus. They might not be able to complete tasks at work or home, or misplace their wallet or keys. They might be inclined to spending money on things that aren't worth the money or lose track of important dates or appointments.
treatment for adhd in women who suffer from ADHD are able to hide their symptoms. This is particularly the case in their professional lives. They might have assistants, secretaries or cleaning services to help them cope with the disorganization that can cause them to miss appointments, forget to pay bills or miss deadlines. It might be easier for them to manage their hyperactive ADHD symptoms at home with their friends and family than in the office.
Gender bias is a reason why women suffering from impulsive-type ADHD are underdiagnosed. Doctors and teachers tend to look for the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that are more common in boys and men when making diagnoses, so they're more likely to overlook or dismiss a woman's symptoms as anxiety or mood-related rather than ADHD.
Other reasons why women with an impulsive type of ADHD might go undiagnosed include depression, which is often associated with or is caused by ADD. Depression sufferers may have difficulty attempting to control the impulsive behaviors that come with ADD. It can be difficult to treat depression when impulsive behavior is present. Those impulsive behaviors can also cause feelings of self-doubt and despair that some women with ADD feel. This can be exacerbated by the lack of support from loved ones.
Depression
Women suffering from ADHD can have symptoms that are similar to those that are seen in depression. They may feel depressed and unimportant, having difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating or being angry and easily annoyed. Doctors often combine both disorders and treat them in conjunction. Depression and ADD can also impact your relationships. In platonic or romantic relationships, your trouble with attention and focus could heighten frustrations and misunderstandings that can cause conflict. These problems can lead to colleagues or coworkers not understanding your behaviour in school or work settings as a lack of interest, commitment or hostility.
Depression and ADHD in women are harder to diagnose than in men because women are better in hiding their symptoms. They tend to alter their behavior to meet societal expectations and avoid being judged as weak or emotional. In some cases they may resort to unhealthy ways to cope, like excessive alcohol and substance use, especially in the adolescent stage. This can make it difficult for them to recognize their ADHD is causing their issues and delay obtaining an accurate diagnosis.
Even within the same family, symptom severity may differ. Some suffer from milder symptoms that are called high-functioning ADHD. Some suffer from severe symptoms that affect their lives.
There are a variety of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive therapy (NCP), and dialectical behavior therapy. These treatments can help improve self-regulation and impulse control, and can teach you how to manage your emotions.
There are also a number medicines that can be prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. Stimulants are typically prescribed, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Non-stimulants include atomoxetine, viloxazine, Clonidine, and Guanfacine. Your doctor can tell you more about the advantages and risks of these drugs. They might also be able to give you additional suggestions for dealing with your symptoms. Planners can be used to keep track of your schedule, or take notes during meetings and record reminders. You may also benefit from joining a women's ADHD support group.