ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women with ADHD develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some of these include creating a daily routine and setting up phone reminders. They can also use bravado as a buffer against social isolation.
However, their coping strategies may become ineffective. They may also develop comorbid disorders such as depression, anxiety, and self-harming behavior like cutting.
Hyperactive or Hypoactive
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to be unfocused which means they are more difficult to stay focused and are more likely to forget things. They also may have issues organizing their professional and personal lives, which can impact their work performance. They might not attend appointments, or fail to pay their bills and may be prone to procrastination. They might have trouble understanding or completing math. These problems can get worse before, during and after menopause.
Experts believe that women and girls are better at hiding their symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose 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 less socially acceptable particularly if they're chaotic or impulsive.
The good news is that it is possible for women suffering from ADHD to lead happy, full and satisfying lives. But it's crucial to find a provider who is knowledgeable about the disorder and knows how it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which aids patients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that cause them to engage in problematic behaviors. Neurocognitive psychotherapy is a combination of CBT with other therapeutic practices to improve self-regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy can help people learn skills for managing emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
Women with ADHD also have a tendency to struggle with sensitivity to rejection, which is an intense emotional response to real or perceived rejection that makes it difficult to keep relationships. This can lead to women with ADHD being more prone than others to engage in sexually dangerous behaviors, get pregnant without planning 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 could make it difficult to make friends with other people at school, at work or in other social settings. They might also have difficulty learning to read body language and recognize social cues.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to wait for something or feel a urgent need to complete the task. This can make it hard to finish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning up the house or paying the bills. Women might also have difficulty to stick to their social obligations or follow through with their commitments. They can also struggle with emotional outbursts and inability to control their emotions.
When women are experiencing symptoms of ADHD, it is important that they seek help. Treatment can improve their lives and increase their confidence and self-esteem. It is also possible to lessen or eliminate symptoms with changes in lifestyle treatment, therapy and medications.
Sleeping enough can help to reduce ADHD symptoms. A good bedtime routine and a slowed down the time you spend on screens at night, and eating on a regular schedule can all contribute to improved sleeping habits. Women with ADHD could also benefit from a heavier quilt or relaxing music to help them sleep.
Depression, though not an indicator of ADHD, is common in women with the condition. It can be caused by the debilitating impact of untreated ADD or other underlying issues such as low self-esteem and relationship difficulties. Women with ADD frequently struggle with self-esteem because they don't perform as well as other women and girls their age. Being unable to interact with others and being unable to pick up on social cues can also contribute to their 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 mistake the symptoms of ADD in women as signs that are more typical of bipolar disorder. This is especially evident 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 it is for males and males. Additionally there are a lot of expectations for women that can be difficult to manage with symptoms of ADHD. This can lead to anxiety, depression and stress. It may be a factor in the development of self-injury that is non-suicidal which is common in young women and teens who have ADHD.
Impulsive
If you're suffering from impulsive type ADHD symptoms, you're quick to act without thinking. You're not patiently waiting to get your turn in a conversation and are more likely to interrupt others or finish their sentences. You may also be unable to judge the social appropriateness of your actions. These behaviors can affect your ability to maintain your job or maintain a relationship and make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family, colleagues and friends.
Women with impulsive type ADHD frequently have difficulty managing their emotions which can cause more conflict in relationships and at work. They might feel that people are judging or ignoring them because they are unable to focus or keep up. They may not be able to complete tasks at work or at home or lose their wallet or keys. They may be prone towards spending money on items that aren't worth the money or they could lose track of important dates or appointments.
Women who suffer from ADHD are able to conceal their symptoms, particularly in their professional lives. They may have assistants, secretary or cleaning services who can help them deal with the chaos that can cause them to be late for deadlines, forget appointments or even pay bills. They might find it easier to deal with their impulsive-type ADHD symptoms when they're at home and with their loved ones than in the workplace.
Gender bias could be one of the reasons women who suffer from 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 a woman with an impulsive type of ADHD may not be diagnosed is depression, which is often associated with or is caused by ADD. The impulsive behavior associated with ADD is often difficult for depression sufferers to control, and it's difficult to treat depression while being afflicted by an impulsive personality. These impulsive symptoms may cause feeling of insecurity and self-doubt that women suffering from ADD have, which can be compounded by the lack of support from loved ones.
Here are a few ways to lower your risk:
Women suffering from ADHD may exhibit symptoms similar to depression. The symptoms may include feeling worthless and low, having difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, and being irritable. Doctors often combine both conditions and treat them together. Depression and ADD can also affect your relationships with other people. Your inability to concentrate and pay attention can lead to frustrations and miscommunications, which may lead you into conflict. These problems can lead to coworkers or colleagues misinterpreting your behaviour in school or work situations as a lack of commitment, disinterest or hostility.
Depression and ADHD in women can be more difficult to identify than men due to women being more adept in hiding their symptoms. They tend to alter their behavior to fit in with society expectations and avoid being judged as weak or emotionally unstable. In some instances they may resort to unhealthy ways to cope, like excessive drinking and drug use particularly during adolescence. This makes it difficult for them to understand that their ADHD is the root of their problems, and delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Within the same family, symptoms severity can vary. Some sufferers have milder symptoms, and are known as high-functioning ADHD. Some have severe symptoms that interfere with their daily activities.
The good news is that there are treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD, including cognitive behavioral therapy, neurocognitive psychotherapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. These treatments can help improve self-regulation, impulse control, and help you manage your emotions.
There are a variety of medications that are prescribed to treat ADHD among 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 will be able to provide more information about the benefits and dangers of these drugs. adhd symptoms in women adults may also have other suggestions for managing your symptoms. For instance, you could consider using a planner, writing down reminders, and taking notes during meetings to help you stay on track. You could also benefit by joining an women's ADHD support group.