Symptoms of ADHD in Women Adults
Although ADHD symptoms are more common in males and females, women can suffer from the disorder too. The symptoms may change based on the time of year, due to hormonal fluctuations that happen during menstruation and pregnancy or menopausal.
The diagnosis and treatment are important first steps. Managing ADHD with medication and therapy can improve the quality of relationships, work, and school performance.
Signs and symptoms
Women with ADHD often have inattentive symptoms rather than the hyperactive/impulsive type more common in boys and men. This could be due to with the structure of the brain or levels of chemicals like estrogen. Female hormones also change during the menstrual period as well as during pregnancy and perimenopausal. This could affect the effectiveness of ADHD medications. ADHD symptoms can be concealed or worsened by anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. Women who suffer from these disorders are often embarrassed of their symptoms and are reluctant to inform their doctor, making it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Untreated ADHD can cause problems in a variety of areas of a woman's daily life. For example, it can make it difficult to maintain the job or maintain a schedule for schoolwork. It can also lead to financial problems, like not paying bills or appointments, and late payments. It can cause low self-esteem, which can affect relationships. Women who suffer from ADHD are also unable to navigate societal expectations of gender roles and tend to internalize symptoms, which can cause their anxiety and difficulties in relationships.
The symptoms of ADHD are more severe as time passes. They can also become more apparent when a woman is stressed or undergoing a major life event. For example, a woman might have more issues with symptoms at home or at work following having a divorce, becoming pregnant or having children.
Women can learn to manage their symptoms with the use of behavioral strategies and therapy. A therapist can teach them the art of time management and organization and assist in improving their overall functioning. It may also be beneficial working with an ADHD coach, or attend an ADHD support group.
Diagnosis
Due to gender stereotypes, girls and women might have a difficult time getting an accurate diagnosis due to a tendency to conceal ADHD symptoms. Symptoms of ADHD in girls and women tend to be more inattentive, whereas boys and men often have hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Because of this distinction in symptom manifestations females and girls tend to be misdiagnosed more frequently than boys and men.
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD can show up as forgetfulness, disorganization or difficulties managing time at home and work. This could result in missed appointments, difficulty paying bills on time, and difficulty keeping up with school or work obligations. Symptoms of the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD in women can present as restless behavior, frequent need to move around, difficulty staying quiet or talking out loud or saying nonsensical words or phrases. These issues can affect relationships, hinder work and school performance and create problems at home or in relationships.
For many years, ADHD has been considered as a condition that only affects males and boys. The first studies of ADHD mainly focused on the behaviors of boys who were hyperactive, which helped to shape the diagnostic criteria and scales of rating still in use today. This led to the belief that ADHD was a problem only for male children. Many girls and women were not diagnosed with ADHD because their behavior did not fit the stereotypes.
As adhd in young women and adolescents become adults, they might be struggling to navigate daily life with untreated ADHD. Their struggles to manage their finances, maintain an orderly home and maintain their daily routines can cause feelings of inadequacy. Depression and anxiety can also co-occur with ADHD in women, which can hinder their ability to seek treatment.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options available for adults suffering from ADHD. This includes medication. Stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall(r)) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse(r)) help improve focus and motivation, reduce impulsiveness and hyperactivity, and increase working memory and verbal memory. They also help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. Your doctor will inform you about which medication is the best for you.
In addition to medication, your doctor may recommend therapy. Therapists who specialize in ADHD can assist you in learning to manage your symptoms and increase your self-esteem. They can teach you healthy coping techniques and help your family members to understand your condition. They can offer cognitive behavior therapy, which teaches to recognize negative thoughts and replace with more realistic ones. Or they can offer family psychoeducation which helps your loved ones comprehend ADHD and develop coping strategies.
Women may experience ADHD symptoms that differ from men. For instance women with inattentive-type ADHD might struggle to stay organised at home and at work or be forgetful of appointments and bills. In contrast, a woman with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may be more disruptive in social and professional settings. They might be uncomfortable or misunderstood due to their symptoms.
adhd women uk in hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopausal changes can affect how ADHD symptoms manifest. Your treatment plan will depend on your current hormone levels and your age and stage in life. adhd in young women might find that your symptoms are better during pregnancy, when estrogen levels rise to neutralize the chemical imbalance in your brain. Your doctor may also recommend that you take part in a research study. These trials are designed to find new ways to identify, prevent or treat diseases.
Medication
Women who suffer from ADHD have particular issues when it comes down to managing their symptoms. They must contend with a complex interplay between gender expectations and executive function problems. They also have to deal with sensitivity to rejection, which can cause feelings of shame when they can't keep up with social expectations. This is a contributing factor to their difficulties in establishing and maintaining relationships. They may develop coping strategies to hide their struggles and try to blend into the crowd, which may mask their ADHD symptoms. They also struggle to recognize their own feelings of distress and are often tempted to believe that their behavior is "normal."
Because of these issues that make it more difficult for women and girls to receive an accurate diagnosis than males and females. In addition their symptoms tend to be more inactive than hyperactive, and therefore don't easily arouse concern. This could cause them to be misdiagnosed and delayed in treatment.
The use of medications can help to control the chemical imbalances that cause the symptoms of ADHD in girls and women. The stimulant drugs are usually the first choice for those suffering from the disorder, but they should be watched as some people may experience a serious reaction to these drugs. Other drugs that do not stimulate are also available, and these medications are often combined with psychotherapy and other behavioral treatments to alleviate symptoms.
They should inform their healthcare provider about any previous difficulties that they have had with ADHD. They can then use this information to create an treatment plan. They can also request for their doctor to refers them to a mental health professional who is experienced in treating ADHD among women and girls. They can offer psychotherapy and counseling methods for managing lifestyles including school and job accomodations and other treatments that help them better manage their ADHD symptoms.
Support
Women suffering from ADHD face a number of issues, including incorrect diagnosis or a lack of recognition of signs. Rating scales for ADHD tend to favor male behaviors, and females with ADHD tend to develop more internalized symptoms like depression and anxiety (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). Women also tend to experience various symptom manifestations, with inattentive symptoms appearing more frequently than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms.
The first step is talking to a primary health care provider. They will assess your symptoms and refer you to a specialist in mental health. Many women discover that having a diagnosis can help them face their issues and manage them more effectively.
A doctor is likely to prescribe medication to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. Non-stimulant medications are also available for some people. Doctors can also suggest therapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which can help people overcome negative thinking patterns and behaviors. They can also offer advice on ways to improve communication and relationships.
The treatment of symptoms of ADHD requires the support of loved ones. Counseling for marriage and family therapy can help people better understand the challenges that ADHD presents in their lives. They can also learn to manage issues caused by inattention or impulsive behavior, such as inability to make decisions or forgetfulness.
Many people suffering from ADHD are reluctant to ask for assistance or admit that they require assistance. A doctor can help overcome this obstacle by explaining how ADHD affects the person and teaching them coping techniques to boost their performance at the classroom and at work. They can also ask their co-workers or teachers for small accommodations that will help them achieve their goals in school or at work.