ADD and Women in Women
Women and girls with ADHD develop strategies to mask their symptoms. This could include creating a daily schedule and setting reminders for phone calls. They could also employ bravado as a way to avoid social isolation.
Their coping mechanisms may become unsustainable. They may also develop co-morbid disorders such as mood disorders, anxiety and self-harming behaviors such as cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to have the inattentive subtype which makes it more difficult to keep their attention on their work and more likely to forget things. women and adhd may also have difficulty organizing their personal and professional lives, which can impact their performance at work. They might miss appointments, not pay their bills and may be inclined to delay their work. They may have trouble understanding or completing math. These problems may get worse when, prior to and after menopausal changes.
Experts believe that girls and women are better at hiding their symptoms, making it harder 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 being less acceptable to society particularly if they're impulsive or disorganized.
It is possible for women who have ADHD to live happy, fulfilled and full lives. It is essential to select a provider that is well-versed in the disorder and how it affects women. There are a variety of treatment options, including cognitive behavior therapy, which helps patients recognize negative beliefs and thoughts that can result in problematic behavior neurocognitive psychotherapy, a combination of CBT and other therapeutic practices that aim to enhance self-regulation and impulse control and dialectical behavioral therapy, which helps people learn skills to assist them in managing their emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
Women who suffer from ADHD are also often afflicted with sensitivity to rejection, an intense emotional response to real or perceived rejection that makes it more difficult for them to keep relationships going. This means that they are more likely to look for romantic partners on a casual basis, engage in sexually risky behavior or have unplanned pregnancies.
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 work, school or in other social situations. They may be unable to read body language and detect social cues.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD find it hard to sit still or are driven to move forward. This can make it difficult to complete tasks such as cooking dinner, cleaning the house or paying bills. It can be a challenge for women to follow through on their commitments and social interactions. Women may also experience emotional outbursts, or be lacking of self-control.
It is important for women with ADHD to seek help when they experience symptoms of the disorder. Treatment can make a difference in their lives and increase self-esteem and confidence. It is also possible to minimize or eliminate symptoms through changes in lifestyle, therapy and medication.
Getting enough sleep can also aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. A routine for bedtime, limiting screen time at night, and eating on a regular basis can all help improve sleeping habits. Women suffering from ADHD could also benefit from a weighted quilt or soothing music to aid in their sleep.
Depression, although not an indication of ADHD, is common in women who have the condition. It can be caused by the debilitating impact of untreated ADD or related issues such as low self-esteem and relationship difficulties. Women with ADD frequently struggle with self-esteem since they do not perform as well as other women and girls their age. Inability to recognize social cues and difficulties with social interactions can also cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be harder for women to get diagnosed with ADD than it is for males. Doctors often mistakenly diagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is particularly evident during puberty, pregnancy and during perimenopause and menopause when hormones are undergoing changes.
It is also more easy for women to conceal their symptoms than for boys and men. It can be difficult to cope with the demands of life with ADHD symptoms. This can cause stress, depression, and anxiety. It can be a factor in self-injury that is not suicide-related which is common in young women and teens who suffer from ADHD.
Impulsive
You are quick and without thinking when you have impulsive ADHD symptoms. You aren't able to wait for your turn to speak in conversations, and you're more likely to interrupt or end sentences of other people. You may also find it difficult to judge the appropriateness of your actions in the context of social situations. These actions can impact your ability to maintain relationships or work and make it hard to live up to expectations of family, friends and colleagues.
Women suffering from hyperactive ADHD have trouble managing their emotions. This can lead to conflict in relationships as well as in the workplace. They may feel that others are judging or ignoring them because they can't concentrate or keep up. They may be unable 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 are not valuable or they could forget important dates or appointments.
Women with ADHD can hide their symptoms. This is particularly relevant to their professional lives. They may have secretaries, assistants or cleaning services to help them deal with the chaos that can make them forget appointments, pay bills, or miss deadlines. They may be able to deal with their impulsive-type ADHD symptoms when they're at home and with their loved ones than when they're at the workplace.
Gender bias could be one of the reasons women who suffer from an impulsive type of 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 impulsive-type ADHD may not be recognized is depression, which often coexists with or is caused by ADD. People suffering from depression may find it difficult to manage the impulsive behavior that are characteristic of ADD. It can be difficult to deal with depression when impulsive behavior is present. The impulsive behavior can cause feeling of insecurity and self-doubt that some women with ADD have, which can be exacerbated by the lack of support from loved ones.
Here are a few of the ways you can reduce your risk of contracting a disease:
Women who suffer from ADHD may experience symptoms similar to those that are seen in depression. This can include feeling depressed and worthless, having trouble in concentrating or sleeping or being anxious and easily angered. In many cases, the two disorders are combined and treated together by a physician. Depression and ADD may also affect your relationships. Your inability to concentrate and pay attention can cause confusion and frustration, which may lead you into conflict. In work or school settings, these problems can make colleagues and coworkers interpret your behavior as insecurity, hostility, or lack of commitment.
Depression and ADHD in women are more difficult to identify than men because women are better in hiding their symptoms. They tend to alter their behavior to fit in with society expectations and avoid being viewed as weak or emotional. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy coping strategies that include excessive drinking and drug abuse, particularly in the adolescent stage. This could make it difficult for them to realize that their ADHD is the root of their problems, and delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Even within the same family, symptoms severity can differ. Some suffer from milder symptoms, referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Certain people experience severe symptoms which interfere with their daily lives.
The good news is that there are treatments available for adults suffering from ADHD which include cognitive behavior therapy, neurocognitive psychotherapy, and dialectical therapy for behavioral disorders. These treatments can help improve self-regulation and impulse control, and can help you manage your emotions.
There are also a variety of medications that can be prescribed to treat ADHD among adults. Stimulants are typically prescribed, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). There are also non-stimulants available, including atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree) and Clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about these medications as well as their benefits and dangers. Your doctor could also provide other suggestions for managing your symptoms. For instance, you could use a planner and note-taking reminders and taking notes during meetings to keep your schedule organized. You may also benefit from joining a women's ADHD support group.