ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women with ADHD develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. These include establishing an everyday schedule and setting reminders on their phones. They can also make use of bravado to protect themselves from social isolation.
However, their coping strategies may become ineffective. 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 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 organizing their professional and personal lives, which can impact their work performance. They may miss appointments, fail to pay bills or procrastinate. They might have difficulty reading or doing math. These difficulties can worsen prior to, during and after menopausal changes.
Experts believe that girls and women are more adept at concealing 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, especially if they are impulsive or disorganized.
The good news is that it is possible for women suffering from ADHD to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. However, it's important to find a professional who is knowledgeable about the disorder and understands the way it affects women. Some treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy, which helps patients recognize negative beliefs and thoughts that can cause them to engage in problematic behaviors neurocognitive psychotherapy, which is a blend of CBT and other therapeutic practices designed to improve impulse control and self-regulation and dialectical behavior therapy, which assists patients develop the skills needed to assist them in managing their emotions and improve their interpersonal interactions.
Women who suffer from ADHD often have a problem with sensitivity to rejection. This is a strong emotional reaction to rejection, whether it is real or perceived. This causes them to be unable to maintain relationships. This can mean that they are more likely to seek out romantic partners on a casual basis, engage in risky sexual 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 makes it difficult for them to make friends with other people at school, at work or in other social situations. It is also difficult for them to comprehend body language and understand social cues.
Impatient
Women with ADHD often struggle to wait for something or feel the urgent need to get moving. This can make it difficult to finish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning the house or paying bills. It can be a challenge for women to follow through on their commitments and social activities. They also have to deal with emotional outbursts and a lack of self-control.
If a woman is experiencing symptoms of ADHD It is essential that they seek help. Treatment can help improve their lives and boost their confidence and self-esteem. Through lifestyle changes as well as medication and therapy, it is possible to lessen or eliminate the symptoms.
A good night's rest can reduce ADHD symptoms. The way you sleep can be improved with a good bedtime routine, limiting the amount of screen time at night and eating on an established schedule. Women suffering from ADHD may also benefit from a weighted quilt or relaxing music to help them sleep.
Depression, while not an indicator of ADHD is a common occurrence in women with the condition. More methods is often caused by the debilitating effect of untreated ADD or deeper issues like low self-esteem and relationship difficulties. Women who suffer from ADD are often struggling with self-esteem because they don't perform as well as women of similar older. Being unable to interact with others and a lack of ability to detect social cues can also contribute to feelings of self-worthlessness.
Women have a difficult time getting diagnosed with ADD. Doctors often mistakenly diagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is particularly evident during pregnancy and puberty and also during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are undergoing changes.
Women are also able to hide their symptoms more easily than men or boys. Additionally the society has many expectations for women, which can be stressful to juggle with symptoms of ADHD. This can cause anxiety, depression and stress. It may also be a factor in the development of self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI), which is a common occurrence in teens and young women with ADHD.
Impulsive
If you're suffering from impulsive type ADHD symptoms you're quick to make decisions without thinking. You aren't able to wait for your turn to speak during the course of a conversation, and are more likely to interrupt or finish sentences of others. You may also be unable to judge the social adequacy of your actions. These actions can affect your ability to maintain the relationship or job you have and make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family, colleagues and friends.
Women who suffer from impulsive-type ADHD frequently have difficulty managing their emotions which can cause more conflict in relationships and at work. They might feel that other people are judging or ignoring them because they can't concentrate or keep up. They may not be able to complete tasks at work or home or even lose their wallet or keys. They might be inclined to spending money on things that aren't valuable, or lose track of important dates or appointments.
Some women with ADHD are able to hide their symptoms, particularly in their professional lives. They may have secretaries, assistants or cleaning services to help them deal with the chaos that can cause them to forget appointments, not pay bills or fail to meet deadlines. They might find it easier to deal with their impulsive ADHD symptoms when they're at home and with their family members than at the workplace.
Gender bias is among the reasons 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 why a woman with an impulsive type of 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 difficult for those suffering from depression to control, and it's difficult to treat the depression while being afflicted by the impulsive behavior. Those impulsive behaviors can also contribute towards the feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness that women who suffer from ADD feel. This can be exacerbated due to a lack of support from loved ones.
Here are a few of the ways you can reduce your risk:
Women suffering from ADHD can have symptoms that are similar to those that are seen in depression. The symptoms may include feeling depressed and worthless, having difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, as well as being anxious. A lot of times, these two conditions are paired and treated together by a physician. Depression and ADD can affect your relationships with other people. In romantic or platonic partnerships your issues with focus and attention can cause frustration and miscommunication which can lead to conflict. These issues can lead to colleagues or coworkers misinterpreting your behaviour in school or work situations as a lack of commitment, disinterest or hostility.
Women are more adept at concealing their symptoms, making it difficult to identify depression and ADHD. They alter their behavior in order to comply with social norms and avoid being labeled fragile or emotionally unstable. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy methods to cope, like excessive alcohol consumption and use of drugs particularly during adolescence. This could make it difficult for them to recognize that their ADHD is the reason for their issues, and can delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Even within the same family, symptom severity can vary. Certain people experience milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Some people have severe symptoms that interfere with their daily lives.
There are many treatment options available for adults with ADHD. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurocognitive therapy (NCP) and dialectical behavior therapy. These therapies can help improve self-regulation and control of impulses and also teach you to manage your emotions.
In addition to that, there are a variety of medications that are used 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, the clonidine and guanfacine. Your doctor can tell you more about these medications, including their benefits and risks. Your doctor could also provide other suggestions for dealing with your symptoms. You can use a planner to stay on top of things or make notes during meetings and write down reminders. You could also benefit from joining an ADHD support group for women.