ADD and Women in Women
Women and girls with ADHD develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. These may include building an everyday schedule and setting reminders on their phones. They may also use bravado to ward off social isolation.
Their coping mechanisms could become ineffective. They may also experience co-occurring conditions like anxiety disorders, mood disorders and self-harming behavior like cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women suffering from ADHD tend to be inattentive which makes it more difficult to keep their attention on their work and more likely to forget things. They may also have difficulty managing their work and personal lives, which can affect their performance at work. They might miss appointments, fail to pay bills or delay their work. They might have difficulty reading or doing math. These issues can become more difficult before, during and after menopausal changes.
Many experts think that it is more difficult for girls and women to be diagnosed with ADHD because they are more adept at hiding their symptoms. 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 being less acceptable to society, especially if they are unorganized or impulsive.
The good news is that it's possible for women with ADHD to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. It is important to find a doctor who is well-versed in the disorder and knows the way it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which assists patients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that lead to problematic behaviors. women and adhd combines CBT with other therapeutic practices to improve self regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy can help people learn skills for managing emotions and improve their interpersonal interactions.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued with rejection sensitivity. This is a strong emotional reaction to rejection, whether real or perceived. This makes it difficult for them maintain relationships. This can result in women who suffer from ADHD being more likely than other women to engage in sexually risky 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 can make it hard to fit in at school, work or other social settings. They might be unable to understand body language and recognize social signals.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD find it hard to sit still or have a desire to move forward. This makes it difficult to finish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning the house or paying the bills. It can be a challenge for women to follow through on their commitments and social activities. Women can also have emotional outbursts or a lack in self-control.
When women are experiencing symptoms of ADHD It is crucial to seek out help. Treatment can improve their lives and boost their confidence and self-esteem. With changes in lifestyle as well as medication and therapy, it is possible to lessen or eliminate the symptoms.
A restful night's sleep can reduce ADHD symptoms. A regular bedtime routine and a slowed down screen time at night, and eating on a regular schedule can all aid in improving sleeping habits. A woman suffering from ADHD may benefit from a blanket that is weighted or relaxing music to help them fall asleep.
Depression is common for women suffering from ADHD, even though it's not a sign of the condition. It is often caused by the debilitating effect of untreated ADD, or related issues such as low self-esteem and relationship difficulties. Women with ADD frequently struggle with self-esteem because they aren't performing as well as other women and girls their older. Having adhd in older women with social interaction and a lack of ability to pick up on social cues can also contribute to their feelings of self-worthlessness.
Women can have a harder when it comes to being diagnosed with ADD. This is because doctors frequently mistake the symptoms of ADD in women as symptoms that are more typical of bipolar disorder. This is especially relevant during pregnancy, puberty as well as during menopausal perimenopausal transitions when hormone levels are changing.
It is also easier for women to hide their symptoms than it is for boys and men. In addition, society has a lot of expectations for women, which can be stressful when juggling with symptoms of ADHD. This can lead to stress, depression and anxiety. It can be a factor in self-injury that is not suicide-related which is a common occurrence among teens and young women with ADHD.
Impulsive
You act quickly and without thinking when you suffer from an impulsive ADHD symptoms. You can't wait to get your turn in a conversation and are more likely to interrupt other people or finish their sentences. You are also unable to judge the social appropriateness of your actions. These behaviors can impact your ability to maintain your job or maintain a relationship and make it difficult to meet the expectations of family, colleagues and friends.
Women with impulsive-type ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions which can cause more conflict in relationships and at work. They may feel that others are judging them or disdaining them because they are unable to focus or keep up. They may be unable to finish tasks at the office or at home or lose their keys or wallet. They could be at risk of spending money on items that aren't worth the money or they may forget important dates or appointments.
Women who suffer from ADHD are able to hide their symptoms, especially in their professional lives. They may have assistants, a secretary or cleaning services that can assist them in overcoming the disorder that can lead them to miss deadlines, forget appointments or pay their bills. It 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 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 impulsive-type ADHD may not be recognized is depression, which is often associated with or is caused by ADD. The impulsive behavior that is associated with ADD can be hard for those suffering from depression to manage, and it's a challenge to treat depression while dealing with the impulsive behavior. Those impulsive symptoms can also contribute to the feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt that women suffering from ADD suffer from, which can be compounded by an absence of support from family members.
Here are a few of the ways you can reduce your risk:
Women who suffer from ADHD can have symptoms similar to those that are seen in depression. These symptoms can include feeling unworthy and low as well as difficulty sleeping or concentrating, and being irritable. A lot of times, these two conditions are paired and treated by a physician. Depression and ADD can affect your relationships with others. Your inability to focus and pay attention can cause confusion and frustration which can lead you to conflicts. These issues can lead to colleagues or coworkers misinterpreting your behaviour in school or work settings as lack of interest, commitment or hostility.
Depression and ADHD in women are more difficult to identify than men due to women being more adept in hiding their symptoms. They often change their behavior to meet societal expectations and avoid being viewed as weak or emotionally unstable. In some cases, they resort to unhealthy methods of coping, such as excessive drinking and drug use especially during adolescence. This could make it difficult for them to understand that their ADHD is the root of their issues, and can delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Even within the same family, symptoms severity can differ. Some people have milder symptoms, which are known as high-functioning ADHD. Some people have severe symptoms that interfere with their daily life.
The good news is that there are treatments available for adults suffering from ADHD that include cognitive behavioral therapy, neurocognitive psychotherapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. These treatments can help improve self-regulation and impulse control, as well as teach you to manage your emotions.
There are also 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 are also available like atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree) as well as clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about these drugs, including their benefits and risks. Your doctor may also have other suggestions for dealing with your symptoms. For example, you might use an organizer or notepad to record reminders, and taking notes during meetings to keep your schedule organized. You might also benefit from joining an women's ADHD support group.