ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. One of them is creating an everyday routine and setting up phone reminders. adhd symptoms in women adults could also resort to bravado to shield themselves from social isolation.
The coping strategies they employ could become ineffective. They may also develop co-occurring conditions like anxiety, mood disorders and self-harming behaviours such as cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to have the inattentive subtype which makes it difficult to keep their attention on tasks and are more likely to forget things. They may also have difficulty organizing their personal and professional lives, which could impact their work performance. They might not attend appointments, fail to pay bills or put off paying bills. They may have trouble reading or doing math. These difficulties can worsen prior to, during and after menopause.
Experts believe that women and girls are better at hiding their symptoms, making it more difficult to diagnose 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). These behaviors may be viewed by others as unacceptable especially if they are impulsive or chaotic.
The good news is that it's possible for women suffering from ADHD to lead happy, full and satisfying lives. It's important to choose an expert who is well-versed in the disorder and understands how it affects women. There are a variety of treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that lead to problematic behaviors Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which is a combination of CBT and other therapeutic practices that aim to enhance self-regulation and impulse control and dialectical behavioral therapy, which helps people learn skills to assist them in managing their emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
Women who suffer from ADHD also have a tendency to struggle with sensitivity to rejection, which is an intense emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection that makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships. This can result in women with ADHD being more prone than others to engage in sexually risky actions, become pregnant unintentionally or look for 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 could make it difficult to make friends with other people at work, at school or in other social situations. It is also difficult for them to read body language and pick up on social signals.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD have a difficult time deciding whether to stay in a rut or are driven to move forward. This can make it difficult for them to complete tasks such as cooking dinner, cleaning house or paying bills. Women might also have difficulty to stick to their social obligations or follow through with their commitments. They also have to deal with emotional outbursts and a lack of self-control.
It is essential for women suffering from ADHD to seek assistance when they are experiencing the symptoms of the disorder. Treatment can help improve their lives and increase confidence and self-esteem. It is also possible to lessen or eliminate symptoms by making changes in lifestyle as well as therapy and medication.
A restful night's sleep can help to reduce ADHD symptoms. Sleeping habits can be improved through a good bedtime routine by limiting screen time at night, and eating according to a schedule. Women suffering from ADHD might benefit from a weighted quilt or soothing music to help them sleep.
Depression is common among women suffering from ADHD, even though it's not a symptom of the condition. It could be the result of the debilitating effects caused by untreated ADD or due to root causes like low self-esteem, poor work performance and difficulty with relationships. Women with ADD are usually insecure about their self-esteem because of their inability to perform as well as women and girls of the same age. Inability to recognize social signals and have difficulty with social interactions can also result in feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be harder for women to get diagnosed with ADD than males. This is due to the fact that doctors often mistake the symptoms of ADD in women as signs that are more typical of bipolar disorder. This is especially true during puberty, pregnancy as well as during menopausal perimenopausal transitions when hormones are changing.
Women are also able to hide their symptoms better than boys or men. It can be difficult to balance the demands of society with ADHD symptoms. This can cause stress, depression and anxiety. It may be a contributing factor to the development of self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) which is prevalent in teenagers and young women with ADHD.
Impulsive
You are quick and without thinking when you suffer from an impulsive ADHD symptoms. You don't want to wait for your turn in a conversation and are more likely to interrupt others or finish their sentences. You may also find it difficult to judge social appropriateness or 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 members, friends and coworkers.
Women with impulsive-type ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions, which can lead to more conflict in relationships and at work. They might feel that people are criticizing or disrespecting them because they are unable to focus or keep up. They may be unable to finish their work at the office or at home, or they might misplace their keys or wallet. They might be prone to spending money on things that don't provide value or forget important dates and appointments.
Some women with ADHD are able to hide their symptoms. This is particularly true in their professional lives. They may have assistants, a secretary or cleaning services who can help them deal with the chaos that can cause them to miss deadlines, forget appointments or pay their bills. It could be easier for them to manage their impulse-driven ADHD symptoms at home with their family and friends than at the office.
Gender bias may be one of the reasons why women suffering from an impulsive type of 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 that women with an impulsive type of ADHD might go undiagnosed include depression, which can coexist with or is caused by ADD. The impulsive behavior that comes with ADD is often difficult for depression sufferers to manage, and it can be difficult to treat depression while being afflicted by an impulsive personality. These impulsive symptoms may contribute to the feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt that some women with ADD suffer from, which can be compounded by the lack of support from loved ones.
Depression
Women who suffer from ADHD can have symptoms similar to those that are seen in depression. These symptoms could include feeling depressed and worthless, having difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, as well as being angry. Doctors often combine both disorders and treat them in conjunction. Depression and ADD can affect your relationships with others. Inability to focus and pay attention can lead to confusion and frustration that can lead to conflict. In work or school settings These issues can cause coworkers and colleagues to misinterpret your behavior as insecurity, hostility, or lack of commitment.
Women are more adept at hiding their symptoms, which makes it harder to recognize depression and ADHD. They change their behavior in order to conform to social expectations and avoid being seen as fragile or emotionally unstable. In some cases they may resort to unhealthy ways to cope, like excessive alcohol consumption and use of drugs, especially in adolescence. This can make it difficult for them to understand that their ADHD is the reason for their issues, and can delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Within the same family, symptoms severity may differ. Certain people have milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Certain people experience severe symptoms which interfere with their daily activities.
The good news is that there are treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD that include cognitive behavioral therapy, neurocognitive psychotherapy, and dialectical therapy for behavioral disorders. These treatments can improve self-regulation as well as impulse control, and can help you manage your emotions.
Additionally, there are a number of medications used to 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, including atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree) as well as clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about the benefits and dangers of these medications. They might also give you other recommendations for coping with your symptoms. For example, you might try using an organizer and note-taking reminders and taking notes at meetings to help you stay organized. You may also benefit from joining an women's ADHD support group.