ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD often develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. These may include building a daily schedule and setting reminders for phone calls. They can also make use of bravado to protect themselves from social isolation.
The coping strategies they employ may not be sustainable. They may also develop co-morbid disorders like mood disorders, anxiety and self-harming behaviors like cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women with ADHD are more likely to be inattentive, meaning they have a harder time staying focused and are more likely to forget things. They also may have issues with organizing their personal and professional lives, which could affect 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 before, during and after menopausal transition.
Experts believe that women and girls are better at hiding their symptoms, which makes it difficult to identify 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). These behaviors are often viewed as less socially acceptable particularly if they're impulsive or disorganized.
The good news is that it's possible for women suffering from ADHD to lead full, happy and fulfilling lives. It is important to select a provider that is knowledgeable about the disorder and knows how it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which helps patients recognize negative beliefs and thoughts that cause them to engage in problematic behaviors. Neurocognitive psychotherapy is a blend of CBT along with other therapeutic methods to improve self regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy assists people learn skills for managing emotions and improving interpersonal interactions.
Women with ADHD also have a tendency to struggle with sensitivity to rejection, which is an intense emotional response to actual or perceived rejection that makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships. This means that they are more likely to look for casual sexual partners and engage in sexually risky behaviors or even have unplanned pregnancy.
In addition, women with ADHD may have trouble making friends and interacting naturally with others, especially if they have hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms. This can make it difficult to fit in with others at work, at school or in other social settings. They may be unable to understand body language and pick up social cues.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to wait for something or feel a urgent need to get moving. This makes it difficult to complete tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning the house or paying bills. Women may also have difficulty to fulfill their social obligations or stick to their commitments. Women may also experience emotional outbursts or lack of self-control.
If a woman is experiencing symptoms of ADHD, it is important that they seek help. Treatment can improve their lives and increase their confidence and self-esteem. Through lifestyle changes and medication, it is possible to lessen or completely eliminate the symptoms.
A good night's sleep can help reduce ADHD symptoms. The way you sleep can be improved with following a routine for bedtime and limiting the amount of screen time at night and eating according to a schedule. A woman suffering from ADHD could also benefit from using blankets that are weighted or soothing music to help them fall asleep.
Depression, while not a symptom of ADHD, is common in women who suffer from the condition. It may occur as a result of the debilitating effects caused by untreated ADD or due to root issues, such as low self-esteem, poor work performance and difficulty with relationships. Women with ADD often struggle with self-esteem since they don't perform as well as women of similar older. Being unable to interact with others and an inability to detect social cues can cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be more difficult for women to get diagnosed with ADD than it is for men. This is because doctors often make the mistake of interpreting the symptoms of ADD in women for signs that are more typical of bipolar disorder. This is especially relevant during pregnancy and puberty as well as during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are undergoing changes.
It is also more easy for women to conceal their symptoms than for men and boys. In addition there are many expectations for women, which can be stressful when juggling with the symptoms of ADHD. This can cause anxiety, depression and stress. It could also be a factor in the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which is prevalent in teenagers and young women with ADHD.
Impulsive
You are quick and without thinking when you suffer from an impulsive ADHD symptoms. You aren't able to wait for your turn to speak during the course of a conversation, and are more likely to interrupt or end other people's sentences. You also have difficulty judging the social appropriateness of your actions. These actions can affect your ability to maintain your job or maintain a relationship and they can make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family members, colleagues and friends.
Women with impulsive-type ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions and this can lead to more conflict in relationships and at work. They may feel like others are critical or disrespectful because they can't keep up or focus. They may not be able to complete tasks at home or at work or even lose their wallet or keys. They might be inclined to spending money on things that aren't worth the money or forget important dates or appointments.
Some women with ADHD can conceal their symptoms, especially in their professional lives. They may have assistants, secretaries or cleaning services to help them cope with the disorder that may make them forget appointments, pay bills or fail to meet deadlines. adhd in adult women test may be easier for them to manage their hyperactive ADHD symptoms at home with their friends and family than in the office.
Gender bias is one reason why women with impulsive-type ADHD are not diagnosed. 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 that women with an impulsive type of ADHD might go undiagnosed include depression, which can coexist with or is caused by ADD. The impulsive behavior that comes with ADD can be difficult for people suffering from depression to manage, and it can be difficult to treat the depression while dealing with an impulsive personality. These impulsive symptoms may contribute to feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt that women suffering from ADD have, which may be exacerbated by a lack of support from family members.
The following are some of the ways you can reduce your risk of contracting a disease:
Women suffering from ADHD may experience symptoms similar to those that are seen in depression. These can include feeling low and unimportant, having difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating or being angry and easily angry. Doctors often combine the two conditions and treat them together. Depression and ADD may also affect your relationships. Inability to focus and pay attention can cause frustrations and miscommunications that can lead into conflicts. These issues can lead to colleagues or coworkers not understanding your behavior in school or at work settings as a lack of commitment, disinterest or hostility.
Women are more adept at concealing their symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose depression and ADHD. They alter their behavior to conform to social expectations and avoid being labelled as weak or emotionally unstable. In some instances they may resort to unhealthy methods of coping, such as excessive drinking and drug use particularly during the adolescent years. This could make it difficult for them to realize that their ADHD is the reason for their problems, and may delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Within the same family, symptom severity can vary. Some people have milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Certain people experience severe symptoms that affect their daily activities.
The good news is that there are treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD which include cognitive behavior therapy, neurocognitive psychotherapy, and dialectical therapy for behavior. These treatments can help improve self-regulation and impulse control, as well as teach you to manage your emotions.
In addition there are a myriad of medications used to treat ADHD in adults. Stimulants are typically prescribed, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Non-stimulants are also available such as atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree), Clonidine (Kapvay), and Guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about these medications, including their benefits and risks. Your doctor might also offer other suggestions to help you manage your symptoms. For instance, you could consider using a planner and note-taking reminders and taking notes at meetings to help you stay organized. You could also benefit from joining an ADHD support group for women.