ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD come up with strategies to disguise their symptoms. This could include creating a daily schedule and setting phone reminders. They can also use bravado as a buffer against social isolation.
However, their coping mechanisms may become ineffective. They may also experience compulsive disorders, such as mood disorders, anxiety and self-harming behaviors such as cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women with ADHD tend to be inattentive, which makes it harder to keep their attention on their tasks and more likely to forget things. They may also have difficulties organizing their personal and professional lives, which can impact their work performance. They may miss appointments, not pay bills or put off paying bills. They might have difficulty understanding or completing math. These problems may get worse during, before and after menopausal symptoms.
Experts believe that girls and women are more adept at concealing their symptoms, making 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). Those behaviors can be perceived as less socially acceptable particularly if they're impulsive or disorganized.
The good news is that it's possible for women suffering from ADHD to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. It is important to select a provider that is well-versed in the disorder and how it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which aids patients recognize negative beliefs and thoughts that can trigger problematic behavior. Neurocognitive psychotherapy is a blend of CBT together with other therapies to enhance impulse control and self-regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy assists people learn skills for managing emotions and improve their interpersonal interactions.
Women who suffer from ADHD often have a problem with rejection sensitivity. This is an intense emotional reaction to rejection whether real or perceived. This makes it difficult for them to keep relationships. This can result in women with ADHD being more prone than other women to engage in risky sexual behaviors, get pregnant without planning or seek out casual sexual partners.
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 be a part of a group at work, at school or in other social situations. It can also be difficult for them to read body language and understand social cues.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD often find it difficult to wait for something or feel the urgent need to move on. This makes it difficult to accomplish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning house or paying bills. Women might also have difficulty to keep their social commitments or follow through with their commitments. Women can also have emotional outbursts or a lack in self-control.
When women are experiencing symptoms of ADHD, it is important to seek assistance. Treatment can improve their life and increase confidence and self-esteem. With changes in lifestyle and medication, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the symptoms.
A good night's sleep can reduce ADHD symptoms. The way you sleep can be improved with having a regular bedtime routine by limiting screen time at night and eating on an established schedule. A person suffering from ADHD may benefit from a blanket that is weighted or relaxing music to help them fall asleep.
Depression, though not an indication of ADHD, is common in women who suffer from the condition. It may occur as a result of the debilitating consequences of untreated ADD or due to underlying issues like low self-esteem, poor job performance and difficulty with relationships. Women suffering from ADD tend to be low on self-esteem due to their inability to perform as well as women and girls similar to them. Inability to read social cues and difficulty with social interactions can cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be more difficult for women to be diagnosed with ADD than males. Doctors often mistakenly diagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is particularly true during puberty and pregnancy and also during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles as hormones change.
Women can also hide their symptoms more easily than boys or men. It can be difficult to balance the demands of society and ADHD symptoms. This can cause stress, depression, and anxiety. It can be a factor in the development of self-injury that is non-suicidal which is a common occurrence among young women and teens with ADHD.
Impulsive
If you're suffering from impulsive type ADHD symptoms You're quick to react without thinking. You're not able to wait for your turn to speak during the course of a conversation, and are more likely to interrupt or complete other people's sentences. You may also be unable to judge the social appropriateness of your actions. These behaviors can affect your ability to keep a job or a relationship and they can make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family, friends and coworkers.
Women with impulsive ADHD struggle with managing their emotions. This can cause conflict in relationships and the workplace. They might feel that people are judging them or are disrespectful because they can't keep up or concentrate. They might be unable to finish their work at home or at work or lose their keys or wallet. They might be inclined to spending money on things that are not valuable or they could lose track of important dates or appointments.
Some women with ADHD are able to hide their symptoms. This is particularly the case in their professional lives. They might have secretaries, assistants or cleaning services to help them cope with the chaos that can cause them to forget appointments, not pay bills, or miss deadlines. They may find it easier to cope with their impulsive ADHD symptoms when they're at home and with their family members than at the workplace.
Gender bias is a reason that women suffering from impulsive type ADHD are underdiagnosed. 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.
Depression, which is often caused by or coexists alongside ADD, can also be a reason why a woman with impulsive type ADHD might not be diagnosed. Depression sufferers may find it difficult to manage the impulsive behavior that are associated with ADD. It is also difficult to treat depression when impulsive behavior is present. Impulsive behavior can cause feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness that some women with ADD feel. This can be exacerbated by the lack of support from family members.
The following are some ways to lower your risk of contracting a disease:
Women with ADHD may experience symptoms that resemble depression. This can include feeling depressed and unimportant, having difficulty sleeping or concentrating or being anxious and easily angered. Many times, the two conditions are paired and treated together by a doctor. Depression and ADD can affect your relationships with other people. Your inability to concentrate and pay attention can lead to confusion and frustration, which may lead you to conflict. In school or work settings such issues could make colleagues and coworkers misinterpret your behavior as hostility, disinterest, or lack of commitment.
Women are more adept at concealing their symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose depression and ADHD. They tend to alter their behavior to fit in with society expectations and avoid being judged as weak or emotionally unstable. In some cases, they resort to unhealthy ways to cope, like excessive alcohol and substance use, especially in adolescence. This can also make it difficult for them to recognize that their ADHD is causing their issues and delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Within the same family, symptoms severity can vary. Certain people have milder symptoms that are called high-functioning ADHD. Others have severe symptoms that affect their lives.
The good news is that there are treatments available for adults suffering from ADHD that include cognitive behavioral therapy, neurocognitive psychotherapy, and dialectical therapy for behavior. These therapies can help improve self-regulation and impulse control and help you manage your emotions.
In addition, there are a number of drugs that treat ADHD in adults. Stimulants are typically prescribed, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). There are other non-stimulants, including atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree) and clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor will be able to explain the benefits and risks of these drugs. Keep Reading might also offer other suggestions for managing your symptoms. For instance, you can use a planner or notepad to record reminders, and taking notes during meetings to keep your schedule organized. You might also benefit from joining a women's ADHD support group.