ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women with ADHD are subject to a different set societal expectations compared to men. These expectations can cause people to feel ashamed and blame themselves. Treatment should take into account gender stereotypes, hormone fluctuations, and symptom intensity.
adult adhd in women , medication, and therapy can improve the quality of relationships and performance at work and in school, and also improve self-esteem.
Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD often experience symptoms like difficulty staying organized, difficulties remembering details, difficulty working in noisy or bustling environments. They may also experience emotional dysregulation, and feel overwhelmed. These feelings can be made worse by the expectations women face in their families and societal roles.
Women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder time getting diagnosed and treated due to these challenges. Many people suffering from ADHD are misdiagnosed because they don't meet the criteria. The symptoms must be present since childhood and be present for at least six months in order to be considered as ADHD. It's also important to know that other illnesses and conditions can trigger similar symptoms as ADHD that include stress and certain medications.
Women with ADHD tend to cover up their symptoms as a result, which is one of the main reasons why they aren't diagnosed. They may use coping strategies to hide their symptoms, for example, trying to pretend they aren't stressed or coping with symptoms that are easy to detect in males and boys. They are also more likely to be suffering from mental illness that affects their emotions and mood, such as depression or anxiety, which could be mistaken for ADHD symptoms.
A bias against ADHD in the medical community may also be a reason for why women suffering from ADHD aren't recognized as having ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on scales of rating and interviews which are biased towards male behaviour and symptoms. Many women suffering from ADHD suffer from internalized stigma and low self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment or evaluation for their symptoms.
Certain women with ADHD have the inattentive subtype, and this type can be harder to identify because it's more internal -like daydreaming or having trouble staying focused on their tasks. However, due to the increased awareness of ADHD in women fueled by high-profile women and influencers such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano many women are seeking assessments and seeking out the needed help.
Women who suffer from ADHD have a higher tendency to develop rejection sensitivity which is a strong, often uncontrollable reaction to rejection, whether it is real or perceived who do not suffer from ADHD. This can cause problems with interpersonal relationships and lead to an absence of support networks and a failure to seek help.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. This could be due to their ability to camouflage their symptoms, or due to gender bias. Gender bias refers to a set of beliefs and practices that are prevalent in clinical settings that adversely affect how clinicians identify girls and women with ADHD. This can take the form of rating scales that are skewed towards male behavior or internalized thoughts that lead to confusion in diagnosis. Girls and women who suffer from inattentive ADHD frequently have trouble focusing in college lectures or business meetings, and they may struggle to stay focused at home or in their relationships. They may have homes that are cluttered or forget appointments, and fail to pay their bills on time. They might get easily distracted by social interactions and struggle to manage their emotions, especially when they are faced with rejection or failure.
It is also possible that symptoms alter at different times of life. They can become more severe in the course of the menstrual cycle of women or in the period leading up to menopausal symptoms, when hormonal changes can cause increased the irritability. Women with ADHD might also have difficulties in their romantic relationships because of their impulsivity and insufficient planning, or they could struggle to maintain friendships due to social sensitive to rejection. They may be more likely to be pushed into sexual activities or to have unplanned pregnancy if they are unable to insist that their partners use contraception.
Accurate diagnosis is crucial to managing ADHD symptoms. The symptoms can be diminished with medications, including stimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate. Non-stimulants like atomoxetine, can be helpful too. Your doctor will take into account any other health issues you have and your history of medication when deciding an appropriate treatment plan. You may also have to make lifestyle changes and seek counseling. You can assist your doctor by keeping the track of your symptoms and letting them know about any changes you notice. You can discuss any issues you have with your family and friends members, as they might be able to identify things you may have missed. A diagnosis can aid in building self-esteem and feel more in control.
Treatment
Women suffering from ADHD who aren't treated may face difficulties managing their home or maintaining healthy relationships or performing well at work. Symptoms can also lead to feelings of low self-esteem and self-esteem, particularly as societal expectations often expect women to be caretakers. In addition, due to their tendency to be impulsive, women and girls with untreated ADHD are at greater risk for engaging in unsafe sexual actions or being victims of intimate partner violence as compared to their peers who don't suffer from the disorder.
Adults with ADHD are typically treated with medication. Stimulant medications, like amphetamines and methylphenidate help regulate brain activity and control the symptoms. If these aren't effective or suitable, healthcare professionals may prescribe non-stimulant drugs, such as atomoxetine or Guanfacine. A healthcare professional will evaluate a woman's symptoms, needs and past medical history to determine the best treatment plan is.
Women are diagnosed with ADHD in the same proportion as men. However they aren't diagnosed as such due to the fact that they hide their symptoms and conceal them as other illnesses like anxiety or depression. In addition, rating scales and interview methods for ADHD are skewed toward male behavior patterns, and as a result, certain female symptoms are not recognized or understood.
Being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood can be a significant moment of recognition for a lot of women. It can provide an external explanation for their difficulties and restore their sense of self-worth. Furthermore knowing that they can manage their symptoms and build life skills that will serve them for a long time can boost a woman's confidence.
Combining behavioral strategies and mental health treatments is the best method for women to overcome their struggles with ADHD. Therapy can help women develop strategies to cope and achieve realistic goals for all aspects of their lives. This can be achieved with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to aid her in identifying and change negative behavior and thoughts and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to improve mindfulness and the ability to set and respect personal boundaries. Some women might benefit from joining an ADHD support group in order to connect with other women who understand the disorder.
Self-help
Women with ADHD often go undiagnosed for long periods of time, as their symptoms don't look like those of boys. They may conceal their ADHD traits using coping mechanisms to appear "normal" or to conform to societal norms. These strategies of coping can be both healthy and unhealthy, but they could hinder women from seeking a diagnosis.
It's crucial in addition to self-help techniques, to seek treatment from a healthcare provider who is specialized in treating ADHD in females. They can help diagnose and treat the condition, and give a better understanding of its effects on women and girls.
Females suffering from ADHD tend to develop depression and anxiety as well as struggle to maintain close relationships. These issues can be complicated by their propensity to engage in sexual activity at a younger age, which could put them at risk for unwanted sexual encounters or intimate partner violence. Women who suffer from ADHD are also susceptible to mood swings, which makes it difficult for their loved ones be able to understand or help them.
The most popular treatments for ADHD are psychostimulants and antidepressants. Psychostimulants increase the speed of messages sent to the brain, which may improve focus and attention. Antidepressants change the way the brain utilizes certain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, to regulate emotions and moods. A doctor can alter these medications to ensure they're effective throughout the lifetime of a woman.
Women and girls with ADHD can benefit from a range of self-help strategies, such as regular exercise, keeping a daily schedule or reminders, and focusing on mindfulness. They can also learn about accommodations that can aid in easing their symptoms at work or school.
It is essential for girls and women with ADHD to find a professional and therapist who is experienced with the condition, since they can help with a variety of other symptoms, including emotional distress and low self-esteem, difficulty in maintaining relationships, and problems at work or in school. They can also teach coping methods, such as breathing and relaxation techniques to ease symptoms and enhance the quality of life. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, including hormones and chromosomes, but that gender is an internal perception of self, which can be assigned at birth or determined by a person's behavior and appearance.