Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from ADHD are often faced with different social expectations about how they should manage their careers as well as family and home life. This can lead you to feel frustrated and ashamed when your symptoms get in the way.
Research shows that women and girls are consistently under-referred for ADHD compared to boys and men. This could be due to the fact that they conceal their symptoms or develop strategies to cover the symptoms.
1. Inattentiveness
Being unable to pay attention at school or work is among the most common indicators of adhd. Women with this condition often forget important meetings, fall behind on assignments or are confused when trying to follow instructions. They may also have difficulties staying focused in noisy or crowded settings. Certain people with ADHD may experience "thousand-yard gazes" or zone out during conversation. These symptoms can cause issues at work or in relationships.
Women and girls are at greater chance of having undiagnosed ADHD as they grow older. They typically develop coping strategies that cover up their symptoms and continue to utilize these methods of coping into adulthood. They may even start to identify their symptoms as personal attributes, which can make it more difficult to seek help.
Additionally, many teachers don't suggest ADHD assessments for girls as frequently as they do for men. However, if a girl's inattentive ADHD symptoms are causing a negative impact on her school performance and social interactions, she should speak to a health care professional.
Inattentive ADHD is a typical cause of emotional stress. It can be a frustrating experience to feel like you're not capable of meeting the expectations of your friends, co-workers and family members. It can also be frustrating when you feel that you are unable to get along with your siblings or children. Inattention and impulsivity can cause depression and anxiety in some people with ADHD. You can lessen the severity of these symptoms by seeking out help and doing other things. Regular exercise can help release the neurotransmitters that improve concentration and focus. It can also reduce mood swings and anxiety, which are common in people who suffer from ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage. You might make comments you shouldn't or buy something on impulse. You may also end up in trouble with the law enforcement due to your conduct. In addition, it can be difficult to control your emotions and feelings. adhd in adult women -injury can manifest from cutting, burning or scratching oneself. This can also cause alcohol or drug dependence.
People who are impulsive may have issues with their relationships, work or school performance. Your doctor can assist you to manage your impulsivity with prescription medications. Drugs like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall Ritalin) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin) can improve your ability to control your impulses. Non-stimulant medications such as clonidine and guanfacine could also help to better control your impulses.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. This kind of ADHD can be harder to detect, leading to a misdiagnosis. Women might hide their symptoms in order to conform to social expectations and norms. This can be particularly challenging in the adolescent or early adulthood. Women may resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking and substance abuse, to cover up their ADHD challenges.
Women with high functioning ADHD can mask their symptoms by achieving the success they desire in certain areas of their lives like at school or at work. This can give you an illusion of security and can cause you to feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life. Consult your doctor about any adjustments that you can make at work or at school to help manage your ADHD symptoms. This is an excellent way to increase awareness among your colleagues or professors of the challenges you may face.
3. Disorganization
If you have ADHD and you are unable to keep appointments or showing up late for work, not remembering dates and becoming oblivious during conversations can lead to frustration and leave others feeling unappreciated or offended. The condition can make it difficult to keep track of your tasks and manage your finances and schedules. If you can't remember what you need to get for food, you may miss out on meals, or spend too much on unnecessary items.
Women suffering from ADHD typically have a difficult time keeping track of daily chores, homework and expenses. The disorder can also lead to messy workspaces, messy homes, and a tendency to accumulate. People suffering from ADHD are affected by a phenomenon known as "time blindness," which makes it hard to see how long it has taken and how long you've been working on a project. Combined with difficulty staying focused, time management problems can cause feelings of guilt and shame about being not organized.
add and adhd in women has shown that women, girls and boys are more likely than men to have ADHD. However, symptoms can be misdiagnosed or masked. Women are often not given a diagnosis until the age of adulthood, when their symptoms are more evident. Social stigma and stereotypes may hinder women to receive the care and support they require.
Your doctor may recommend medication to help manage your ADHD symptoms. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine can boost and regulate levels of neurotransmitters. These are the brain chemicals that communicate with one another. Antidepressants and atomoxetine which are nonstimulant medications, can also be used to treat ADHD. However they perform more slowly than stimulants. Your doctor could also recommend you to a mental health specialist who will help you develop an individual treatment plan that is tailored to your particular needs.
4. Impulsiveness
Women with ADHD are more likely to struggle with controlling their emotions, and might be more sensitive to rejection. The chemical imbalance associated with ADHD disrupts the communication between brain regions that regulate emotions and determine how to handle them.
People with ADHD are prone to depression and moodiness. This, along with the difficulty keeping track of their responsibilities 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 difficulty understanding what others are saying. This makes it difficult for them to find a spot within a group.
Women with ADHD might find it difficult to keep themselves motivated to complete simple or boring tasks like washing dishes, cleaning, and doing laundry. This can result in unhealthy coping strategies like binge-watching television shows or consuming substances. These types of behaviors are especially risky for adolescents and girls with ADHD who are more likely than their peers to engage in risky behaviors such as early sexual activity and fewer partners who are protected and informal sex.
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. In addition women often hide their ADHD symptoms due to the multitude of expectations that society puts on them (managing the family home and household for instance). This can make it difficult for health professionals to see that there's an issue, particularly since the symptoms are more easily identified in boys and men.
5. Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD can have difficulty managing their daily tasks. They may have difficulty organizing their lives and paying their bills on time, and keeping up with school/work requirements. Emotional symptoms, like mood swings and difficulties in controlling emotions, may make it difficult to interact with other people and cause difficulties in relationships with family and friends.
People suffering from ADHD struggle to read body language or social cues. They can go off on a tangent within conversations or struggle to follow the conversation, causing difficulties with school or work performance and tension in relationships. They can also have difficulty making new friends or achieving the right balance between their work, home, and social life.
Symptoms of ADHD can be different throughout the day and be affected by hormone levels, for instance those during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or when they transition through perimenopause (the menopausal phase). This could lead to a misdiagnosis or the wrong type of medication being prescribed.
Everyone faces their own unique challenges when they live with ADHD There are a few common signs and symptoms that can help you spot the condition in yourself or a loved one. Recognizing these signs is the first step to getting the support and treatment you need to manage your symptoms effectively.
Being diagnosed with ADHD isn't a guarantee that it doesn't mean you're not suffering from other mental health or physical conditions, so it's important that your therapist or doctor conducts a thorough assessment. They will ask you questions about your past and current behavior, review your medical history, and discuss the impact of your symptoms in different situations.