Do Not Buy Into These "Trends" Concerning Signs And Symptoms Of ADHD In Women
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from ADHD are often subject to different expectations from society regarding how they should handle their family, careers and their home lives. This can result in feelings of guilt and anger when your symptoms are getting out of control.
Research shows that girls are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than both males and females. This could be due to the fact that they cover up their symptoms or develop strategies to cover the symptoms.
1. Inattentiveness
One of the most common symptoms of adhd is difficulty paying attention at school or at work. People with adhd tend to forget important meetings or tasks, or are misguided by the instructions. They may also have trouble concentrating in noisy or crowded settings. Some people who suffer from ADHD may experience "thousand-yard gazes" or lose focus during conversations. These symptoms can cause problems at work or with relationships.
Women and girls are especially susceptible to being diagnosed with ADHD, especially as they grow older. They often develop coping mechanisms that hide their symptoms and utilize these methods of coping throughout their adulthood. They may even start to recognize their symptoms as being personal attributes, which can make it more difficult to seek help.
Additionally, many teachers don't suggest ADHD assessments for girls as often as they do for men. If a girl's numbness or ADHD is affecting her school performance or social interactions, then she should speak to a health professional.
Having inattentive ADHD can create lots of emotional stress. It can be frustrating to feel like you're not able to meet the expectations of your friends, co-workers and family members. It can be a bit depressing to feel as if you're not getting along well with your kids or siblings. Inattention and impulsivity can exacerbate anxiety and depression in some people suffering from ADHD. You can decrease the severity of these symptoms by seeking out help and doing other things. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and attention. It can also reduce mood swings and anxiety, which are common in people with ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage. You might make comments you shouldn't or buy something on impulse. You could also find yourself arrested by the police due to your conduct. Impulsivity can make it difficult to control your emotions and emotions. Self-injury can result, such as burning, cutting or scratching yourself. It can also lead to drug and alcohol abuse.
People who are impulsive usually have problems with relationships and school or work performance. Your doctor can assist you to manage your impulsivity by prescribing medication. You can improve your impulse-control with medications like amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. Non-stimulant drugs such as clonidine and Guanfacine can also enhance your ability to manage yourself.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. But this type of ADHD is more difficult to detect and could result in underdiagnosis. Women may hide symptoms to conform to social expectations and standards. This can be particularly problematic in the adolescent years and early adulthood. Some women even use unhealthy strategies for coping such as excessive drinking and drug use to cover up their ADHD challenges.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD might conceal their symptoms by thriving in certain areas of their lives, such as school or at work. This can lead to an illusion of security and can cause you to feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. Ask your healthcare provider about accommodations at work or school to help you manage your ADHD symptoms. This is an excellent way to increase awareness with your co-workers or professors about the issues you might face.
3. Disorganization
If you suffer from ADHD then you may be unable to attend appointments, arriving late to work, forgetting dates and not paying attention to conversations can result in anger and make others feel snubbed or offended. The condition can make it difficult to keep track of tasks, manage finances and schedules. If you don't know what you need to get for food, you may miss out on meals, or spend excessively on unnecessary items.
Women suffering from ADHD often have a hard time keeping track of daily chores, homework and bills. The disorder can also lead to disorganized workspaces, messy homes, and a tendency to hoard. People suffering from ADHD suffer from a condition called "time blindness," which makes it difficult to know the amount of time that has passed and the length of time you've spent on a particular task. Together with the difficulty of staying focused, problems with time management can lead to feelings of guilt and shame about being unorganized.
While research suggests that women and girls are more likely to have ADHD than men and boys the symptoms can be hidden and underdiagnosed. Women are often not given a diagnosis until the age of adulthood, when their symptoms are more obvious. Social stigma and stereotypes can hinder women to access the treatment and support they need.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to manage your ADHD symptoms. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine increase and balance neurotransmitters - brain chemicals that talk to each other. Antidepressants and atomoxetine which are non-stimulant drugs can also be used to treat ADHD. However they are slower to work than stimulants. Your doctor might refer you to an expert in mental health, who can assist in creating a treatment plan specific to your requirements.
4. Impulsiveness
Women who suffer from ADHD may have a difficult to control their emotions and are often more sensitive to rejection. This is due to the fact that the pathway of communication between brain regions that regulate emotional responses and interpret what to do with those emotions is disrupted by the chemical imbalance that's associated with ADHD.
People with ADHD are more susceptible to moodiness and depression. This, combined with the difficulty managing their obligations can lead to problems with relationships with family and romantic partners. Women who suffer from ADHD also be less confident in themselves and may have difficulty forming friendships and navigating social situations. They can wander off on tangents or have trouble understanding what others are saying. This makes it difficult for them to find a place in an organization.
When it comes to managing their daily responsibilities, women with ADHD may have trouble finding the motivation to do mundane or monotonous tasks like dishes, laundry, or cleaning. This can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors like binge-watching TV shows or using substances. These behaviors can be especially risky for young girls as well as adolescents with ADHD, who are more likely to engage in sexually dangerous behaviors, including early initiation of sexual activity, having fewer protected sexual partners and more casual sexual activity than their peers.
As adults, women with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed than men because they tend to have inattentive symptoms instead of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Additionally many women conceal their ADHD symptoms because of the a myriad of expectations that society places on them (managing the home and the family, for example). It can be difficult for doctors to identify that there is a problem since the symptoms are easy to spot in both men and boys.
5. Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD might have difficulty managing their daily tasks. They may have trouble managing their time and paying their bills on time and juggling work and school obligations. A variety of emotional symptoms, including mood swings and trouble regulating emotions, can also make it difficult to get along with others and create problems in personal relationships.
People suffering from ADHD are unable to discern body language or social cues. They may wander off on a tangent in conversations or struggle to follow the thread of conversation, causing problems with work or school performance and tension in relationships. They may also have difficulty making new friends, or finding a balance between work, home, and social life.
treatment for adhd in women of ADHD can change throughout the day and may be affected by hormones, as during menstruation or pregnancy, or even perimenopausal. This could lead to confusion or the wrong medication being prescribed.
While everyone struggles with different difficulties when dealing with ADHD there are a few typical signs and symptoms that can help you spot the condition in yourself or a loved one. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step towards getting the help and treatment you need to manage your symptoms effectively.
The fact that you have ADHD does not mean that you don't have other physical or mental health conditions, so it's important that your doctor or therapist performs a thorough evaluation. They'll ask questions about your past and current behaviors, review your medical history, and talk about how your symptoms affect you in different settings.