ADHD Symptoms in Women
Adult women with ADHD have challenges that a lot of don't realize. Untreated, adhd in men symptoms can wreak havoc in relationships and at work life.
A tendency to discriminate against gender and a tendency for girls and women to hide their symptoms make it difficult to diagnose. The growing awareness has led to more adults getting the help they require. ADHD symptoms in women differ from men's and can be exacerbated by hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
The Signs of Inattention Type
Women with inattention ADHD may have trouble staying focused and completing tasks, often making careless mistakes or misunderstand instructions. They may have trouble keeping the track of their obligations, such as paying bills, returning calls, or sending birthday cards. They also struggle to remember appointments and can often skip meetings or arrive late to work or social activities.
The symptoms of inattentive type ADHD are less noticeable than hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms in boys and men, so it's possible that women and girls who have these symptoms don't receive a diagnosis until adulthood. People who don't seek treatment for their symptoms may experience emotional anxiety. This can result in poor relationships or co-occurring disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In the end, the problems of living with untreated ADHD can seem overwhelming. Some people blame themselves and resort to unhealthy strategies for coping that include drinking too much and substance abuse. Some people turn to unhealthy behaviors, such as eating more or dieting. For some girls, especially teens, the frustration of not being capable of meeting social expectations can result in self-injury that is not suicide-related, and could look like burning, cutting or scratching.
It's not surprising that women with inattentive ADHD are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. This makes it difficult to manage ADHD symptoms. These women may also have low self-esteem, which makes it difficult to acknowledge that the issue is a mental illness, and not their fault.
Girls with inattentive ADHD might also have difficulty in interpreting social cues. This can cause them to appear distant and unobservant. They might miss jokes or misread body language and be criticized for being rude or offensive. They may also be struggling with impulse control, which means they may disrupt others or utter offensive phrases.
To increase their focus, it's important for women suffering from inattentive type ADHD to get enough rest each night and avoid caffeine, nicotine and stimulants. Regular exercise can boost neurotransmitters, which may help with concentration.
Symptoms of Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
Women and adolescent girls with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD can find it hard to concentrate or organize. This can lead to a messy home and difficulties in paying bills on time. They might also forget appointments, or the names of family members and friends members. They are easily distracted or bored and can't wait to be heard. They are less likely to display the internalizing symptoms of depression or anxiety, which may be more common in males and females.
It can be harder to identify and diagnose hyperactive/impulsive ADHD in women than in boys or men. Because these symptoms are more common in males and females health professionals may not look for these symptoms in women and girls or may ignore these symptoms, putting them down to gender stereotypes or mood issues. ADHD rating scales are also skewed toward male behavior, which makes it difficult to recognize and assess these symptoms in women.
There are a myriad of ways to manage ADHD in women who are adults. This includes taking medication. Finding a therapist or clinician who is skilled in treating ADHD in women and girls is crucial. The type of treatment recommended will be based on the signs and the lifestyle. It may include cognitive behavioral therapy to prove your experience and help you overcome negative thoughts and family psychoeducation, or even support group work.
Some people can reduce their symptoms by adhering to an established schedule of sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet. For others, stimulant medications like dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin) or lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) may be required.
During menopause, when hormone levels drop, many symptoms of ADHD get worse. During this period, try to maintain a close eye on your health and schedule regular doctor's appointments, monitor your symptoms, and adhere to your treatment plan carefully. You can also ask your health care provider to adjust the dosage or type of your medications if needed. Speak to your therapist about the issues you have with managing your symptoms, and how they impact your work, at home and in your relationships. They might also suggest ways to improve communication with other people and your partner.
Signs of Mixed Type
Women with mixed type ADHD have difficulties at school and at work, but they do not show the impulsive or hyperactive behavior of the other subtypes. They might forget appointments, lose important documents or pay bills and have trouble working through home chores. Symptoms of this form of the disorder could include disrupting others, blurting out answers, or speaking without thinking. Women with this presentation of the condition also have difficulties maintaining relationships and friendships and often find it difficult to live a life of their own.
In many cases, the inattention symptoms of ADHD are the only ones noticed by family, friends or teachers. This can lead to girls and young women being underdiagnosed. Gender bias and the tendency of those with ADHD to camouflage their symptoms are also contributing factors to underdiagnosis.
Symptoms of this type of ADHD are affected by hormonal fluctuations, especially in puberty and during pregnancy and menopause. At these times, estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels rise. This makes ADHD symptoms more evident and makes them worse. Additionally the symptoms are likely to vary day-to-day, depending on the levels of estrogen and progesterone. This can lead to misdiagnosis and improper or insufficient treatment.
read this article can be combined with medications to treat symptoms of the combination type. This includes cognitive behavior therapy, which helps to change negative thoughts and behavior and psychoeducational counseling. Both are offered through local mental health clinics as well as on the internet.
Regular physical activity such as walking, running or swimming can improve focus and attention. It also helps release neurotransmitters that boost brain function and decrease anxiety or stress which are common among people with ADHD. Other ways to manage ADHD include taking breaks regularly, creating routines for your day, and employing strategies for organization. A support group can also be beneficial in developing lifestyle changes and strategies for coping. For some individuals, a professional ADHD coach is a good option for individual, individualized guidance. People with ADHD may also benefit from a cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal therapy. Therapists can help the person to become aware of how their behavior impacts others and help them develop communication skills.
Adult Type symptoms
Women with ADHD may have symptoms that are different than those of males. Finding and treating the problem in women is a challenge due to gender role expectations, which can make it harder for parents or teachers to notice when a girl has a problem with her attention or hyperactivity. It can also be concealed by mental health or depression issues, making it harder to recognize. Symptoms can also fluctuate with hormone levels, such as those experienced during the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy and menopause.
Women with ADHD are more likely to suffer from inattention symptoms. You lose things, have difficulty remembering details and tend to get distracted by what others are doing or by your thoughts. Your inattentive ADHD symptoms can affect your school, work, marriages and other relationships. You might have difficulty paying bills, following directions or keeping an eye on appointments. Your family and friends may be aware. Your teacher or boss might note that you have trouble finishing tasks in time or have trouble staying focused in meetings.
If you have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, your symptoms are more noticeable than inattentive ones. You're always on the go, disrupt other people, talk excessively or use a lot of nonsense words without thinking about what you're saying. You have trouble waiting for your turn and are unable to maintain eye contact with others. You can be impatient and experience mood swings that are difficult for your family and friends to bear.
It may be difficult to control your emotions, especially in times of stress and trauma. You may react strongly to criticism or be more prone to start fights, even if the situation isn't particularly serious. You might find it easier to deal with these emotions by engaging in self-destructive behavior, like drug and alcohol abuse or unhealthy eating patterns.
Women diagnosed with ADHD are able to improve their lives with the right treatment. You might consider working with a life management coach or joining an online ADHD support group. You may also seek advice from an experienced counselor who has experience treating women with this disorder. You might want to talk with a psychiatrist who can assist you in understanding how your genes or brain activity can affect your ADHD symptoms.