ADD and Women in Women
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD come up with strategies to disguise their symptoms. These may include building an everyday schedule and setting reminders for phone calls. They could also employ bravado as a buffer against social isolation.
However, their coping mechanisms may become ineffective. They could also develop comorbid disorders like depression, anxiety, and self-harming behaviors such as cutting.
Hyperactive or hypoactive?
adhd in women checklist with ADHD tend to be inattentive which makes it more difficult for them to stay focused on tasks and are more likely forget things. They may also have trouble organizing their personal and work lives, which may hinder their performance at work. They might not attend appointments, fail to pay bills and can be susceptible to procrastination. They may have difficulty understanding or completing math. These problems can worsen during, before and after menopausal symptoms.
Experts believe that girls and women are more adept at concealing their symptoms, which makes it 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). 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 with ADHD to live full, happy and fulfilling lives. It is important to find a provider who is knowledgeable about the disorder and can explain how it affects women. Treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which assists patients recognize negative beliefs and thoughts that cause them to engage in problematic behaviors. Neurocognitive psychotherapy is a blend of CBT along with other therapeutic methods to improve impulse control and self-regulation. Dialectical behavior therapy can help people learn skills for managing emotions and improve interpersonal interactions.
Women suffering from ADHD typically have issues with rejection sensitivity. This is an intense emotional reaction to rejection whether it is real or perceived. This makes it difficult for them to keep relationships. This can lead to women who suffer from ADHD being more likely than others to engage in risky sexual 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 makes it difficult for them to make friends with other people at work, at school or in other social environments. They might also have difficulty learning to read body language and detect social cues.
Impatient
Women suffering from ADHD often have a difficult time waiting for something or feel the urgent need to get moving. This makes it difficult to complete tasks such as cooking dinner, cleaning the home or paying bills. Women may also have difficulty to keep their social commitments or follow through with their commitments. They also have to deal with emotional outbursts and lack of self-control.
It is important for women suffering from ADHD to seek treatment 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 reduce or eliminate symptoms by making changes in lifestyle as well as therapy and medication.
A restful night's sleep can reduce ADHD symptoms. A routine for bedtime and a slowed down the time you spend on screens at night, and eating on a regular schedule can all help improve sleeping habits. A person suffering from ADHD could benefit from a blanket that is weighted or relaxing music to help them sleep.
Depression, while not an indicator of ADHD is a common occurrence in women with the condition. It can be caused by the debilitating effects of untreated ADD, or deeper issues like low self-esteem and relationship difficulties. Women with ADD are often lacking self-esteem due to their inability to perform as well as women and girls similar to them. Being unable to interact with others and an inability to detect social cues can cause feelings of self-worthlessness.
Women may have a tougher to be diagnosed with ADD. Doctors often misdiagnose bipolar disorder in women as ADD symptoms. This is especially evident during puberty, pregnancy and during perimenopause and menopause when hormones are changing.
Women also have the ability to conceal their symptoms better than men or boys. It can be difficult to cope with the demands of life with ADHD symptoms. This can lead to anxiety, depression and stress. It could also contribute to the development of self-injury that is non-suicidal which is common in young women and teens with ADHD.
Impulsive
If you're suffering from impulsive type ADHD symptoms you're quick to make decisions without thinking. You're not patiently waiting to get your turn in a conversation, and are more likely to interrupt other people or finish their sentences. You may also find it difficult to judge the appropriateness of your actions in the context of social situations. These actions can affect your ability to maintain your job or maintain a relationship and can make it difficult to live up to the expectations of family members, friends and coworkers.
Women with impulsive-type ADHD frequently have difficulty managing their emotions, which can lead to more conflict in relationships and at work. They may feel like others are judging them or are disrespectful because they are unable to keep up or concentrate. They may not be able to finish tasks at work or home, or misplace their wallet or keys. They could be prone to spending money on items that don't bring value or lose track of important dates and appointments.
Some women who have ADHD can conceal their symptoms, especially in their professional lives. They might have secretaries, assistants or cleaning services to help them deal with the disorder that may make them forget appointments, not pay bills or miss deadlines. They may be able to deal 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 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 women with an impulsive type of ADHD might go undiagnosed include depression, which can coexist with or is caused by ADD. 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 behaviour is present. Those impulsive behaviors can also 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 family members.
Depression
Women suffering from ADHD might exhibit symptoms similar to those that are seen in depression. These symptoms can include feeling unworthy and low as well as difficulty sleeping or concentrating, and being irritable. In many cases, the two conditions are combined and treated together by a doctor. Depression and ADD can also impact your relationships with others. Inability to focus and pay attention can cause frustrations and misunderstandings which can lead you to conflict. These issues can lead to coworkers or colleagues thinking that your behavior in work or school settings as a lack of interest, commitment or hostility.
Depression and ADHD in women can be more difficult to diagnose than men due to women being more adept in hiding their symptoms. They often change their behavior to meet societal expectations and avoid being seen as weak or emotionally unstable. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy coping strategies, such as excessive drinking and substance abuse, particularly in adolescence. This makes it difficult for them to realize that their ADHD is the cause of their issues, and can delay receiving a proper diagnosis.
Even within the same family, symptoms severity may differ. adhd in women checklist have milder symptoms, which are known as high-functioning ADHD. Certain people experience severe symptoms that affect their daily lives.
There are several treatment options for adults with ADHD. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurocognitive therapy (NCP), and dialectical behavior therapy. These treatments can help improve self-regulation, impulse control, and teach you to manage your emotions.
There are also a number medicines that can be prescribed to treat ADHD among adults. Stimulants are typically prescribed, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Non-stimulants are also available like atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree) and Clonidine (Kapvay), and guanfacine (Intuniv). Your doctor can tell you more about these medications as well as their benefits and risks. Your doctor may also have other suggestions for managing your symptoms. For example, you might consider using an organizer and note-taking reminders and taking notes at meetings to help you stay on track. You could also benefit by joining an women's ADHD support group.