ADD and Women in Women
Women and girls with ADHD often develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms. Some of these include establishing a daily routine and setting up phone reminders. They may also use bravado to shield themselves from social isolation.
However, their coping strategies could become unsustainable. They may also develop co-morbid disorders like mood disorders, anxiety and self-harming behaviors like cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to be distracted and are more difficult to stay focused and are more likely to forget things. They may also have difficulty organizing their personal and work lives, which may hinder their performance at work. They may miss appointments, or fail to pay their bills and may be inclined to delay their work. They may have trouble in math or reading. These difficulties can worsen in the months prior to, during or after menopause.
Many experts think that it is more difficult for women and girls to get diagnosed with ADHD because they are more adept at hiding 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 are often viewed as being less acceptable to society, especially if they are impulsive or disorganized.
The good news is that it is possible for women suffering from ADHD to lead happy, full and satisfying lives. It's important to choose a provider that is well-versed in the disorder and understands how it affects women. Some treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy, which helps patients identify negative thoughts and beliefs that cause them to engage in problematic behaviors; neurocognitive psychotherapy, which is a blend of CBT and other therapeutic practices that are designed to improve self-regulation and impulse control and dialectical behavioral therapy, which helps patients develop the skills needed to help manage their emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
Women suffering from ADHD are often plagued with sensitivity to rejection. This is a strong emotional reaction to rejection whether it's real or perceived. This makes it difficult for them to maintain relationships. This can lead to women who suffer from ADHD being more likely than other people 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 to be accepted at work, school, or other social settings. They might also find it difficult to read body language and detect social cues.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to wait for something or feel the urgent need to complete the task. This can make it difficult to finish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning up the house or paying the bills. It can also be difficult for women to stay focused on their commitments as well as social interactions. Women can also have emotional outbursts or a lack in self-control.
It is essential for women suffering from ADHD to seek help when they experience symptoms of the disorder. Treatment can help improve their lives and boost self-esteem and confidence. With changes in lifestyle, medication and therapy it is possible to decrease or completely eliminate the symptoms.
A good night's sleep can help reduce ADHD symptoms. Sleeping habits can be improved through having a regular bedtime routine, limiting the amount of screen time at night and eating on the schedule. A woman with ADHD could also benefit from using blankets that are weighted or soothing music to help them fall asleep.
Depression is common among women with ADHD although it's not an indication of the condition. It may occur as a result of the debilitating effects caused by untreated ADD or because of the root issues, such as low self-esteem, low work performance, and difficulties with relationships. Women who suffer from ADD are often low on self-esteem due to their inability to perform as well as girls and women similar to them. Having difficulty with social interaction and being unable to recognize social cues can contribute to their feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be more difficult for women to get diagnosed with ADD than it is for men. This is because doctors frequently misinterpret the symptoms of ADD in women as signs more typical of bipolar disorder. This is particularly true during puberty and pregnancy and also during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are undergoing changes.
Women can also hide their symptoms easier than boys or men. It can be challenging to manage the demands of society and ADHD symptoms. This can lead depression, stress, and anxiety. It can also contribute to self-injury that is not suicide-related which is a common occurrence in young women and teens who suffer from ADHD.
Impulsive
You act quickly and without thinking when you are suffering from an impulsive ADHD symptoms. You aren't able to wait for your turn to speak in conversations, and you're more likely to interrupt or end other people's sentences. You may also be unable to judge the appropriateness of your social actions. These behaviors can impact your ability to keep a job or a relationship and they can make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family, colleagues and friends.
Women who suffer from impulsive ADHD have a hard time controlling their emotions. This can cause conflicts in relationships and at the workplace. They might feel that other people are criticizing or disrespecting them because they are unable to focus or keep up. They may not be able to complete tasks at work or at home, or they might misplace their keys or wallet. They might be prone to spending money on things that don't add value or they might lose track of important dates and appointments.
Some women with ADHD are able to hide their symptoms, particularly in their professional lives. They might have assistants, a secretary or cleaning services who can help them deal with the disorder that can lead them to miss deadlines, forget appointments or pay their bills. They might find it easier to cope with their impulsive-type ADHD symptoms when they're at home with their family members than at the workplace.
Gender bias is among the reasons that women suffering from 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.
Depression, which is usually caused by or coexists with ADD, can also be one of the reasons for why a woman suffering from impulsive type ADHD might not be diagnosed. The impulsive behavior that is associated with ADD can be hard for those suffering from depression to manage, and it can be difficult to treat depression while being afflicted by impulsive behavior. Impulsive behavior can contribute to feelings of self-doubt and despair that women who suffer from ADD suffer from. This can be made worse due to a lack of support from loved ones.
Depression
Women who suffer from ADHD may experience symptoms similar to those seen in depression. This can include feeling depressed and unimportant, having difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, or being irritable and easily angered. Many times, the two conditions are combined and treated together by a doctor. Depression and ADD may also affect your relationships. In platonic or romantic relationships your struggles with attention and focus could cause frustration and miscommunication that can cause conflict. In school or at work, these problems can cause coworkers and colleagues to interpret your behavior as hostility, disinterest, or lack of commitment.
Women are more adept at hiding their symptoms, making it difficult to identify depression and ADHD. They change their behavior to conform to social expectations and avoid being seen as weak or emotionally unstable. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy coping strategies that include excessive drinking and drug abuse, particularly in the adolescent stage. adhd in older women can make it difficult for them to recognize that their ADHD is the cause of their problems, and delay getting a correct diagnosis.
Within the same family, symptom severity may differ. Certain people experience milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Some have severe symptoms that affect their daily activities.
There are several treatment options for adults with ADHD. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as neurocognitive therapy (NCP) and dialectical behavior therapy. These treatments can improve self-regulation as well as impulse control, and can teach you how to manage your emotions.
There are also a number medications that can be prescribed 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 such as atomoxetine (Strattera) viloxazine (Qelbree) and Clonidine (Kapvay) and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about the advantages and risks of these medications. They might also be able to give you suggestions on how to deal with your symptoms. For instance, you can use an organizer and note-taking reminders and taking notes during meetings to help you stay organized. You might also benefit from joining a women's ADHD support group.