ADD and Women in Women
Women and girls with ADHD frequently develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms. Some of these include creating an everyday routine and setting up phone reminders. They may also use bravado as a buffer against social isolation.
However, their coping mechanisms can become unsustainable. They may also develop co-morbid disorders like anxiety, mood disorders and self-harming behaviors such as cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
Women with ADHD are more likely to be distracted and have a harder time staying focused and tend to forget things. They may also have difficulty managing their work and personal lives, which may hinder their performance at work. They may miss appointments, fail to pay their bills and may be susceptible to procrastination. They might have difficulty reading or doing math. These problems can get worse prior to, during and after menopause.
Many experts believe that it is more difficult for women and girls to get diagnosed with ADHD because they are better in 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). Those behaviors can be perceived as less socially acceptable, especially if they are chaotic or impulsive.
The good news is that it is possible for women with ADHD to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. However, it's important to find a doctor who is well-versed in the disorder and understands the way it affects women. Some treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy, which helps patients identify negative beliefs and thoughts that result in problematic behavior Neurocognitive psychotherapy, which is a combination of CBT and other therapies designed to enhance self-regulation and impulse control and dialectical behavioral therapy, which assists people learn skills 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 causes them to be unable to maintain relationships. This can lead to women with ADHD being more prone than other women to engage in sexually dangerous behavior, have unplanned pregnancy 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 can make it difficult to fit in with others at work, at school or in other social settings. It can also be challenging for them to read body language and pick up on social cues.
Impatient
Women who suffer from ADHD are unable to stay in a rut or are driven to move forward. This can make it hard to finish tasks like cooking dinner, cleaning up the house or paying the bills. It can be a challenge for women to keep up on their commitments as well as social interactions. Women may also experience emotional outbursts or lack of self-control.
It is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to seek assistance when they are experiencing the symptoms of the disorder. Treatment can improve their lives and increase confidence and self-esteem. With lifestyle changes as well as medication and therapy, it is possible to lessen or eliminate the symptoms.
Getting enough sleep can also help to reduce ADHD symptoms. A good bedtime routine and a slowed down screen time at night and eating on a regular basis can all aid in improving sleeping habits. A woman with ADHD may also benefit from using blankets that are weighted or soothing music to help them sleep.
Depression, though not a symptom of ADHD is a common occurrence in women who suffer from the condition. It can be a result of the debilitating consequences of untreated ADD or due to underlying issues like low self-esteem, poor work performance and difficulty with relationships. Women with ADD are often lacking self-esteem due to their inability to perform well as girls and women of the same age. They have difficulty socializing and being unable to recognize social cues can cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
It can be harder for women to be diagnosed with ADD than men. attention deficit in women misdiagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is particularly evident during puberty, pregnancy and during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles when hormone levels are changing.
Women can also hide their symptoms better than men or boys. Additionally the society has a lot of expectations for women, which can be stressful to juggle with the symptoms of ADHD. This can lead anxiety, depression and anxiety. It could also contribute to the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which is prevalent in teenagers and young women who suffer from ADHD.
Impulsive
You are quick and without thinking when you have the impulsive ADHD symptoms. You aren't able to wait for your turn to speak in the course of a conversation, and are more likely to interrupt or end sentences of other people. You might also find it difficult to determine the appropriateness of your behavior in a social setting. These actions can impact your ability to keep a relationship or a job, and can make it difficult to live up to expectations from family, friends and colleagues.
Women with impulsive type ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions, which can lead to more conflict in relationships and at work. They may feel that others are judging or ignoring them because they can't concentrate or keep up. They might not be able to complete tasks at work or home or lose their wallet or keys. They might be inclined to spending money on items that aren't valuable, or they could lose track of important dates or appointments.
Women who suffer from ADHD are able to conceal their symptoms, particularly in their professional lives. They may employ assistants, secretaries or cleaning services to help them deal with the disorganization that can cause them to miss appointments, forget to pay bills, or miss deadlines. They may find it easier to cope with their impulsive-type ADHD symptoms when they're at home with their loved ones than when they're at the workplace.
Gender bias is among the reasons why women with impulsive-type ADHD aren't 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 why a woman with an impulsive type of ADHD might go undiagnosed include depression, which often coexists with or is caused by ADD. The impulsive behavior associated with ADD can be hard for those suffering from depression to control, and it's difficult to treat the depression while being afflicted by impulsive behavior. These impulsive behaviors may contribute to feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness that some women with ADD suffer from. This can be made worse by a lack support from loved ones.
Depression
Women who suffer from ADHD can have symptoms that are similar to those seen in depression. These symptoms could include feeling depressed and worthless and having trouble in concentrating or sleeping, and being angry. In many cases, the two disorders are combined and treated by a physician. Depression and ADD can also impact your relationships with other people. Your inability to focus and pay attention can cause confusion and frustration, which may lead you to conflict. In school or at work such issues could cause colleagues and coworkers to interpret your behavior as insecurity, hostility, or lack of commitment.
Depression and ADHD in women can be harder to diagnose than in males because women are more adept in hiding their symptoms. They alter their behavior to conform to social expectations and avoid being seen as weak or emotionally unstable. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking and substance abuse, particularly during adolescence. This can also make it hard to realize that their ADHD is causing their problems and delay getting an accurate diagnosis.
The severity of symptoms can vary from person to person even within the same family. Some suffer from milder symptoms, which are referred to as high-functioning ADHD. Some suffer from severe symptoms that affect their daily lives.
There are many treatment options available for adults suffering from ADHD. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as neurocognitive therapy (NCP), and dialectical behavior therapy. These therapies can aid in improving self-regulation and impulse control and help you 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 also non-stimulants available such as atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree) as well as Clonidine (Kapvay) and Guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor will provide more information about the benefits and dangers of these drugs. Your doctor might also offer other suggestions to help you manage your symptoms. For example, you might consider using a planner or notepad to record reminders, and taking notes at meetings to help you stay on track. You could also benefit from joining an ADHD support group for women.