ADD and Women in Women
Women and girls with ADHD develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. Some of these include creating an everyday routine and establishing phone reminders. They can also make use of bravado to buffer them from social isolation.
However, their coping mechanisms could become unsustainable. They may also develop comorbid disorders like mood disorders, anxiety and self-harming behavior like cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to be inattentive and have a harder time staying focused and tend to forget things. They may also have difficulty organizing their personal and work lives, which could 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 difficulties can worsen in the months prior to, during or after menopausal transition.
Many experts believe that it is more difficult for females and females to get diagnosed with ADHD because they are more adept at masking 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). These behaviors can be perceived by others as unacceptable, especially if impulsive and unorganized.
It is possible for women who have ADHD to lead happy, fulfilled and full lives. It is important to select a provider that is knowledgeable about the disorder and knows how it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which assists patients identify negative beliefs and thoughts that cause them to engage in problematic behaviors. Neurocognitive psychotherapy is a combination of CBT along with other therapeutic methods to improve impulse control and self regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy can help people learn skills for managing emotions and improving interpersonal interactions.
Women with ADHD are often plagued with sensitivity to rejection. This is a strong emotional reaction to rejection whether it is real or perceived. This makes it difficult for them maintain relationships. This can mean that they are more likely to look for casual sexual partners or 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 could make it difficult to fit in with others at work, at school or in other social settings. It can also be difficult for them to comprehend body language and pick up on social signals.
Impatient
Women who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time deciding whether to wait or feel the need to move forward. This can make it difficult to complete tasks such as cooking dinner, cleaning up the house or paying bills. Women might also have difficulty to fulfill their social obligations or stick to their commitments. Women may also experience emotional outbursts, or be lacking in self-control.
If a woman is experiencing symptoms of ADHD, it is important to seek out help. Treatment can improve their lives and boost confidence and self-esteem. It is also possible to reduce or eliminate symptoms by making modifications to lifestyle treatment, therapy and medications.
A good night's rest can help to reduce ADHD symptoms. weblink sleep can be improved by following a routine for bedtime and limiting the amount of screen time at night and eating on the schedule. Women who suffer from ADHD may benefit from a weighted quilt or soothing music to help them sleep.
Depression is common among women with ADHD although it's not an indication of the condition. It can be caused by the debilitating effect of untreated ADD or other deeper issues like low self-esteem and relationships issues. Women who suffer from ADD are often struggling with self-esteem because they aren't performing in the same way as other girls and women their age. Inability to read social signals and have difficulty with social interactions can cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be harder for women to be diagnosed with ADD than men. Doctors often misdiagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is especially true during puberty, pregnancy as well as during menopausal perimenopausal transitions when hormones are changing.
Women can also hide their symptoms better than boys or men. Additionally the society has many expectations for women. It can be stressful when juggling with the symptoms of ADHD. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress. It may be a factor in the development non-suicidal-self-injury which is a common occurrence among teens and young women who have ADHD.
Impulsive
If you suffer from impulsive-type ADHD symptoms, you're quick to act without thinking. You're not able to wait for your turn to speak in conversations, and you're more likely to interrupt or complete sentences of others. You might 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 a relationship or a job and can make it hard to meet the expectations from family friends, colleagues and other family members.
Women with impulsive type ADHD often have trouble managing their emotions and this can lead to more conflict in relationships and at work. They might feel that people are unkind or apathetic because they're unable to keep pace or focus. They might not be able complete tasks at work or home or even lose their wallet or keys. They could be at risk of spending money on items that aren't valuable, or they may lose track of important dates or appointments.
Some women who have ADHD can conceal their symptoms, particularly in their professional lives. They may have assistants, secretary or cleaning services who can assist them in overcoming the disorganization which can cause them to be late for deadlines, forget appointments or even pay bills. 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 one reason 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 that women with impulsive-type ADHD may not be diagnosed is depression, which can coexist with or is caused by ADD. The impulsive behavior that is associated with ADD is often difficult for depression sufferers to control, and it's difficult to treat the depression while struggling with an impulsive personality. These impulsive behaviors may contribute to feelings of self-doubt and despair that some women with ADD feel. This can be exacerbated due to a lack of support from loved ones.
Here are a few ways to lower your risk of contracting a disease:
Women who suffer from ADHD might exhibit symptoms that are similar to those experienced in depression. These can include feeling low and depressed, having difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating or being angry and easily angry. Many times, the two disorders are combined and treated together by a physician. Depression and ADD can also impact your relationships. In platonic or romantic relationships your struggles with focus and attention can cause frustration and miscommunication that may lead to conflict. These issues can result in colleagues or coworkers misinterpreting your behaviour in school or work settings as a lack of interest, commitment, or hostility.
Depression and ADHD in women are more difficult to diagnose than males because women are more adept in hiding their symptoms. They often change their behavior to fit in with society expectations and avoid being viewed as weak or emotionally unstable. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy coping strategies like excessive drinking and substance abuse, particularly during the adolescent years. This can make it hard to realize that their ADHD is the cause of their problems and delay getting an accurate diagnosis.
Even within the same family, symptom severity may differ. Some suffer from milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Some people have severe symptoms that affect their daily life.
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 therapies can improve self-regulation as well as impulse control and teach you to manage your emotions.
There are also a number 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 other non-stimulants, including atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree), clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor will be able to tell you more about the benefits and dangers of these drugs. Your doctor might also offer other suggestions for managing your symptoms. For example, you might use a planner and note-taking reminders and taking notes at meetings to keep your schedule organized. You could also benefit from joining an ADHD support group for women.