ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls with ADHD are subject to a different set of societal expectations than men, and these expectations can result in shame and self-blame. Treatment needs to account for gender stereotypes, hormone fluctuations, and symptom intensity.
Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy can help improve relationships, school and work performance, as well as self-esteem.
Signs and symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD often have symptoms like problems staying organized, difficulty remembering details, difficulty working in noisy or bustling environments. They might also experience emotional dysregulation and feel overwhelmed. These feelings are often compounded by the expectations of being a woman, such as social norms and family obligations.
undiagnosed adhd in women can make it harder for women with ADHD to get diagnosed and treated. Many people suffering from ADHD are misdiagnosed because they do not meet the requirements. The symptoms must have been present since childhood and must last for at least six month to be considered ADHD. It's important to know that stress and certain medications may cause symptoms similar to ADHD.
Women with ADHD tend to hide their symptoms as a result, which is one of the primary reasons why they aren't diagnosed. They may use coping mechanisms to cover up their symptoms, like trying to pretend they aren't overwhelmed or over-compensating for symptoms that are easier to detect in men and boys. They are also more likely to suffer from a mental illness that affects their mood and mood, like anxiety or depression. These can be misinterpreted as ADHD symptoms.
Another reason why women with ADHD are underdiagnosed may be due to a bias against the disorder in the medical community. The diagnosis of ADHD relies on rating scales and interviews which are biased towards male behaviors and symptoms. Many women with ADHD suffer from internalized stigma, low self-esteem, and are less likely to seek treatment or evaluation for their symptoms.
Inattentive women can be more difficult to diagnose, since they might have difficulty focus on work or dreaming. With the increased awareness of ADHD among women, which is fueled by high-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman More women are seeking assistance.
Women with ADHD are more likely to experience rejection sensitivity, a strong and often uncontrollable reactivity to real or perceived rejection more than women with ADHD. This can cause problems with interpersonal relationships and can lead to an absence of support networks and a failure to seek assistance.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. This could be due to their ability to cover up their symptoms or gender bias. The concept of gender bias in clinical settings refers a set of beliefs and practices that can negatively impact how doctors determine and treat women and girls with ADHD. It can take the form of ratings scales that are biased towards male behavior, or through internalized emotions that can lead to incorrect diagnosis. Women and girls with inattentive ADHD might have difficulty focusing during business meetings or college lectures, and may be unable to stay on task in their personal relationships or at home. They might have messy homes or forget appointments, and fail to pay bills on time. They might get easily distracted by social interactions and struggle to manage their emotions, particularly when faced with rejection or disappointment.
The symptoms can also change during different stages of life. For instance, they can be more severe during a woman's monthly cycle or during the transition to menopausal symptoms which can trigger irritability as well as mood fluctuations. Women with ADHD might also have difficulties in their romantic relationships because of their impulsivity and insufficient planning, or they may struggle to maintain friendships because of social sensitivities to rejection. They may be more likely to be pushed to engage in sexual activity or have unplanned pregnancies when they are unable to insist that their partners use contraception.
A precise diagnosis is essential to managing ADHD symptoms. The use of medication, for example stimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate, can reduce symptoms. high functioning adhd in women -stimulants like atomoxetine could also be helpful. When deciding on a treatment, your doctor will consider any other health issues and the history of medications you've had. You may also have to alter your lifestyle and seek counseling. You can aid in tracking your symptoms and keeping your doctors updated on any changes that you notice in yourself. You can also discuss any issues that you have with your family members and friends members, as they might be able to identify things that you might miss. A diagnosis can boost your self-esteem and help you feel more in control.
Treatment
Women with ADHD who aren't treated may have difficulty managing their home and maintaining healthy relationships or being productive at work. These symptoms can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss and shame, particularly since the norms of society often require women to be caretakers. In addition, because of their tendency to be impulsive, women and girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk for engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors or becoming victims of violence from intimate partners than their peers who don't suffer from the disorder.
The most commonly used medications are treatment for ADHD in adults. The stimulant medications, such as amphetamines or methylphenidate, aid to control brain activity and manage symptoms. If these medications aren't suitable or effective healthcare professionals can prescribe nonstimulant medication like atomoxetine and guanfacine. A healthcare professional will assess the woman's symptoms, requirements and history to determine what the best course of treatment is.
Women are diagnosed with ADHD in the same amount as men. However, they are under-diagnosed because they are more likely to conceal their symptoms and cover them with other disorders like anxiety or depression. The scales used to rate ADHD and the methods used to conduct interviews are biased towards male behavior symptoms. This leads to some female symptoms being misinterpreted or not identified.
Many women consider it an important moment to be diagnosed with ADHD as they grow older. It can offer an external explanation for their difficulties and help them feel more confident about their self-worth. Also, knowing that they can reduce their health and develop skills that will serve them well into old age can boost a woman's confidence.
Combining behavioral strategies with mental health treatments is the best method for women to deal with ADHD. Therapy can help women develop strategies for coping and set realistic goals that she can succeed in every aspect of her life. This can be accomplished by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps her to identify and overcome negative thoughts, and dialectical behavioral treatment (DBT), which increases mindfulness and the ability to establish and maintain personal boundaries. Moreover, some women may benefit from finding an ADHD support group to connect with others who understand the disorder.
Self-help
Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed because their symptoms don't look like those of males. They may hide their ADHD characteristics by implementing ways of coping that allow them to appear "normal" and meet societal norms. These strategies for coping can be healthy as well as unhealthy, but they can hinder women from seeking a diagnosis.
It's crucial, in addition to self-help methods to seek medical attention from a doctor who is specialized in treating ADHD for females. They can diagnose and treat this condition as well as help women and girls learn more about its effects.
Women suffering from ADHD are often unable to maintain close relationships and develop anxiety or depression. These issues are complicated by their tendency to be sexually active at a younger age, which could put them at risk for unwanted sexual interactions or violence from intimate partners. Mood fluctuations are also common among women with ADHD which can make it difficult for loved ones to comprehend or support them.
The most common treatments for ADHD are antidepressants and psychostimulants. Psychostimulants can improve concentration and focus by speeding up signals sent to your brain. Antidepressants alter the way certain chemicals in the brain, such as neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate mood, are used to regulate emotions and moods. A doctor can alter these medications to ensure that they are effective throughout the lifetime of a woman.
Girls and women with ADHD can benefit from a range of self-help strategies, such as regular exercise, keeping a daily schedule or reminders, and practicing mindfulness. They can also find out about the various accommodations available at school or work that could ease their symptoms.
It is essential that girls and women with ADHD find a clinician or therapist with experience in the condition. They can help with other symptoms such as depression, emotional stress as well as low self-esteem and difficulty in maintaining or establishing relationships. They can also teach coping methods like breathing and relaxation techniques to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, including hormones and chromosomes. However, it is also acknowledged that gender is an internal perception of self, which can be assigned at birth or determined by a person's behaviour and appearance.