ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women with ADHD often develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms. These may include building an agenda for the day and setting phone reminders. They can also make use of bravado to buffer them from social isolation.
However, their coping strategies can become unsustainable. They may also experience co-occurring conditions like anxiety disorders, mood disorders and self-harming behaviours such as cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women with ADHD are more likely to be distracted, meaning they are more difficult to stay focused and tend to forget things. They may also have difficulty organizing their personal and work lives, which can affect their performance at work. They may miss appointments, not pay their bills or put off paying bills. They might have difficulty reading or doing math. These problems can get worse prior to, during and after menopause.
Many experts believe it is more difficult for women and girls to get diagnosed with ADHD because they are better in 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). Those behaviors can be perceived as unsocially acceptable, especially if they are unorganized or impulsive.
It is possible for women who have ADHD to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives. It is essential to select a provider that is knowledgeable about the disorder and how it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which helps patients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that cause them to engage in problematic behaviors. Neurocognitive psychotherapy is a combination of CBT together with other therapies to enhance impulse control and self regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy can help individuals develop skills for managing emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
add symptoms in adult women iampsychiatry with ADHD also have a tendency to struggle with sensitivity to rejection, an intense emotional response to actual or perceived rejection that makes it difficult for them to keep relationships going. This could mean that they are more likely to pursue intimate partners or engage in risky sexual behaviors 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 makes it difficult for them to make friends with other people at school, at work or in other social settings. They may be unable to read bodylanguage and detect social cues.
Impatient
Women with ADHD are unable to wait or have a desire to move forward. This makes it difficult to accomplish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning house or paying bills. Women may also have difficulty to stick to their social obligations or keep their commitments. They also have to deal with emotional outbursts and lack of self-control.
When women experience symptoms of ADHD It is essential to seek out help. Treatment can help improve their lives and boost self-esteem and confidence. With changes in lifestyle as well as medication and therapy, it is possible to lessen or eliminate the symptoms.
A good night's sleep can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. A routine for bedtime, limiting screen time at night, and eating on a regular basis can all aid in improving sleeping habits. A woman suffering from ADHD can also benefit from using blankets that are weighted or soothing music to help them sleep.
Depression, although not an indicator of ADHD is a common occurrence in women who suffer from the condition. It may occur as a result of the debilitating effects of untreated ADD or because of the underlying issues like low self-esteem, low work performance and difficulty in relationships. Women who suffer from ADD tend to be lacking self-esteem due to their inability to perform as well as women and girls of the same age. Inability to read social cues and difficulty with social interactions can also contribute to feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be harder for women to be diagnosed with ADD than males. This is because doctors frequently misinterpret the symptoms of ADD in women as signs more typical of bipolar disorder. This is particularly true during puberty, pregnancy as well as during menopausal perimenopausal transitions when hormones are undergoing changes.
Women also have the ability to conceal their symptoms better than men or boys. In addition the society has many expectations for women, which can be difficult to manage with symptoms of ADHD. This can cause stress, depression, and anxiety. It may also be a factor in the development of non-suicidal self-injury (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 act without thinking. You can't wait for your turn in a conversation and are more likely to interrupt other people or interrupt them in their conversation. You might also find it difficult to determine the social appropriateness or your actions. These behaviors can affect your ability to maintain your job or maintain a relationship and can make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family, colleagues and friends.
Women suffering from impulsive ADHD struggle with managing their emotions. This can cause conflicts in relationships and at the workplace. They may feel that others are unkind or apathetic because they are unable to keep up or focus. They might not be able to finish tasks at home or at work or lose their keys or wallet. They could be at risk of spending money on items that aren't valuable, or they could forget important dates or appointments.
Women who suffer from ADHD are able to hide their symptoms, especially in their professional lives. They might have secretaries, assistants or cleaning services to help them deal with the disorganization that can cause them to forget appointments, pay bills, or miss deadlines. They might find it easier to deal with their impulsive ADHD symptoms when they're at home with their family members than at the workplace.
Gender bias could be one of the reasons why women suffering from the impulsive type ADHD aren't recognized as having the disorder. 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 women with impulsive-type ADHD might go undiagnosed include depression, which can coexist with or is caused by ADD. Depression sufferers may find it difficult to manage the impulsive behavior that are characteristic of ADD. It is also difficult to deal with depression when impulsive behavior is present. Impulsive behavior can contribute towards the feelings of self-doubt, and a sense of worthlessness that women who suffer from ADD experience. This can be exacerbated due to a lack of support from family members.
Depression
Women who suffer from ADHD can have symptoms that are similar to those experienced in depression. They may feel depressed and unimportant, having difficulty sleeping or concentrating or being anxious and easily angry. Many times, the two conditions are paired and treated together by a physician. Depression and ADD could also impact your relationships. Your inability to focus and pay attention can cause confusion and frustration, which may lead you into conflicts. These issues can result in colleagues or coworkers not understanding your behaviour in school or work settings as lack of commitment, disinterest or hostility.
Women are more adept at hiding their symptoms, which makes it difficult to recognize depression and ADHD. They tend to alter their behavior to conform to social expectations and avoid being seen as weak or emotional. In some instances, they turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like excessive drinking and drug abuse, particularly during the adolescent years. This makes it difficult for them to recognize that their ADHD is the reason for their issues, and can delay getting a diagnosis.
Within the same family, symptom severity may differ. Some people experience milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Some sufferers have severe symptoms that affect their daily life.
There are a variety of treatment options available for adults suffering from ADHD. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as neurocognitive therapy (NCP) and dialectical behavior therapy. These therapies can help improve self-regulation and impulse control and teach you to manage your emotions.
Additionally there are a myriad of drugs that treat ADHD in adults. Stimulants are typically prescribed, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). There are also non-stimulants available like atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree), clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about these medications along with their benefits and dangers. They might also be able to give you additional suggestions for dealing with your symptoms. You can use a planner to stay on top of things or make notes during meetings and make reminders. You might also benefit from joining a women's ADHD support group.