Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from ADHD are often faced with different social expectations for how they should manage their work, family and home lives. This can cause you to feel frustrated and ashamed when your symptoms cause problems.
Research has shown that girls and women are consistently under-referred for ADHD as compared to boys and men. This could be due to the fact that they conceal their symptoms or develop strategies to conceal the symptoms.
1. Inattentiveness
One of the most frequent symptoms of adhd is the difficulty in paying attention in the classroom or at work. Women with this condition often miss important meetings, get behind on assignments or are misguided when trying to follow instructions. They may also have difficulties concentration in noisy or crowded settings. People with ADHD can have what is known as "thousand-yard stares" and zone out during conversations. These symptoms can cause problems at work or in relationships.
Girls and women can be particularly at risk for undiagnosed ADHD particularly as they get older. They often develop coping mechanisms that hide their symptoms and employ these strategies until they reach adulthood. They might even begin to consider their symptoms individual characteristics, which can make them less likely to seek help.
Additionally, many teachers don't suggest ADHD assessments for girls as frequently as they do for boys. However, if a girl's inattentive ADHD symptoms have a negative effect on her school performance or social interactions, she should talk to a health care professional.
Being a bit inattentional ADHD can lead to lots of emotional stress. It can be difficult to feel that you aren't being able to meet the standards of your coworkers, friends and family members. It can be a bit upsetting when you feel that you are unable to get along with your children or siblings. Inattention and impulsivity can cause depression and anxiety in some people with ADHD. You can decrease the severity of these symptoms by seeking assistance and doing other things. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and attention. It can also help reduce anxiety, mood swings and other symptoms that are common among people with ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
The unpredictable symptoms of ADHD can be a challenge to manage. You may utter things you shouldn't, buy things on impulse, or get into trouble with the law due to your actions. It can also make it difficult to control your emotions and feelings. signs and symptoms of adhd in women -injury can manifest from burning, cutting or scratching yourself. This can also result in alcohol or drug abuse.
People with impulsivity often have problems with relationships and work or school performance. Your doctor can help manage your impulsivity by prescribing medication. Drugs like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall Ritalin) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin) can enhance your control over impulses. Non-stimulant medications like clonidine or Guanfacine can improve your ability to control yourself.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. This kind of ADHD can be harder to recognize, leading to the wrong diagnosis. Women may hide symptoms to conform to social norms and expectations. This masking can be especially problematic in the adolescent years and early adulthood. Some women use unhealthy ways of coping, such as excessive drinking and substance abuse to hide their ADHD challenges.
Women who suffer from high functioning ADHD can mask their symptoms by having the success they desire in certain areas of their life, such as at school or at work. This can give you a false sense of security and make you feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. Ask your healthcare provider about accommodations at school or at work to help you manage your ADHD symptoms. This can be a great way to build awareness with your coworkers or professors of the challenges you might face.
3. Disorganization
If you have ADHD then you may be unable to attend appointments, turning up late to work, forgetting dates and zoning-out during conversations can result in anger and make others feel ignored or offended. The condition can make it difficult to stay on top of tasks and manage your finances and schedules. For example, if you have trouble remembering what you'll need for groceries, you might miss out on meals or overspend on unnecessary things.
Women suffering from ADHD are unable to keep track of their daily chores, bills and homework. The disorder can also contribute to disorganized workspaces, messy homes and a tendency to accumulate. People suffering from ADHD experience a concept called "time blindness," which makes it hard to see how long it has taken and how long you've been working on a particular task. Together with the difficulty of staying focused, time management problems can lead to feelings of guilt and shame about being not organized.
While research has shown that women and girls are more likely to have ADHD than men and boys, symptoms can be masked and underdiagnosed. Women are often not diagnosed until they reach adulthood when their symptoms become more obvious. Additionally, social stigma and stereotypes may make it difficult for women to receive the help and treatment they require.
Your doctor may recommend medication to help you manage your ADHD symptoms. The stimulants methylphenidate or amphetamine can boost and balance levels of neurotransmitters. These are the brain chemicals that communicate with each other. Antidepressants and atomoxetine, which are non-stimulant medicines, can also be used to treat ADHD. However, they work more slowly than stimulants. Your doctor could also recommend you to a mental health specialist who can assist in the development of an individualized treatment plan that meets your specific needs.
4. Impulsiveness
Women suffering from ADHD can have difficulty controlling their emotions, and they might be more sensitive to rejection. This is due to the fact that the communication trail between key brain areas that regulate emotional reactions and interpret what to do with those emotions is impaired by the chemical imbalance associated with ADHD.
People with ADHD are more prone to moodiness and depression. This, combined with a difficulty in keeping track of their responsibilities can lead to problems with romantic and family relationships. Women who suffer from ADHD might also suffer from low self-esteem, and have difficulty in forming relationships and managing social situations. They may wander off on tangents during conversations or have trouble understanding what others are saying, which could make it difficult for them to find their place in groups.
Women with ADHD might find it difficult to keep themselves motivated to complete routine or boring tasks, such as washing dishes, cleaning, and washing laundry. This can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors like binge watching TV shows or taking drugs. These are particularly risky for teens and girls with ADHD who are more likely than other kids to engage in risky behavior such as early sexual activities, fewer protected partners, and informal sex.
As adults, women with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed than men because they tend to have inattentive symptoms instead of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Many women are unable to recognize their ADHD due to the many expectations set by society (managing home and family for example). This makes it difficult for health professionals to identify an issue, particularly since the symptoms are more easily recognized in boys and men.
5. Hyperactivity
Women who suffer from ADHD may struggle to handle their daily tasks. They may have trouble organizing their lives and paying their bills on time and keeping up with school/work requirements. In addition, emotional symptoms such as mood swings and difficulty managing their emotions, could make it difficult to connect with others and cause problems in personal relationships.
People with ADHD struggle to read social cues or body language. They can go off on a tangent within conversations or struggle to follow the thread of a conversation, causing issues with school or work performance and strained relationships. They may also have difficulty making new friends or achieving the right balance between work, home and social life.
The symptoms of ADHD can change throughout the day, and can be affected hormonally, as during menstruation and pregnancy, or during perimenopausal perimenopausal cycles. This could lead to misdiagnosis or the wrong type of medications being used.
There are some signs and symptoms that are typical of ADHD that can help you or a loved-one identify the disorder. It is crucial to identify these signs to receive the treatment and assistance you require to manage your symptoms effectively.
Being diagnosed with ADHD isn't full report that you don't have other physical or mental health issues It's crucial that your doctor or therapist conducts a thorough examination. They'll ask questions about your past and present behaviors, review your medical history, and discuss how your symptoms impact you in various settings.