Symptoms of ADHD in Women Adults
While ADHD symptoms are more prevalent in boys and men but women can also be affected by the disorder too. The symptoms may change based on the time of year due to hormonal fluctuations that happen during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.
Finding a diagnosis and getting treatment is an important first step. Controlling ADHD with medication and therapy can improve the quality of relationships, work, and school performance.
Signs and symptoms
Women with ADHD often have inattentive symptoms rather than the hyperactive/impulsive type more common in boys and men. This could be due to the brain's structure or levels similar to estrogen. The female hormones can also change during menstrual periods, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This can affect the effectiveness of ADHD medications. The symptoms of ADHD can also be masked by various mood disorders, including anxiety and depression. Women who suffer from these conditions often feel more shame about their symptoms and don't disclose them to their physicians and make it difficult for them to get diagnosed and treated.
Untreated ADHD can create a host of problems in the daily routine of a woman. add women can be challenging to maintain an occupation or manage schoolwork. It can also cause financial issues, such as missing payments or forgetting about appointments and bills. It can affect relationships and cause feelings of low self-esteem. Women who suffer from ADHD struggle to navigate gender roles of society. They also tend to internalize their symptoms which can cause more stress and relationship issues.
The signs of ADHD tend to get worse as time passes. They may also become more evident when a woman is stressed or undergoing a major life event. For example women may experience more trouble with symptoms at workplace or at home after being divorced, being pregnant or having children.
Women can learn to manage their symptoms through the use of therapy and behavioral strategies. A therapist can teach them organizational and time management skills and help improve their overall functioning. You may also find it beneficial to work with an ADHD coach, or to join an ADHD support group.
Diagnosis
Females and females may struggle to determine the correct diagnosis because of gender stereotypes and a tendency to conceal ADHD symptoms. Symptoms of ADHD in girls and women tend to be more inattentive, whereas boys and men often have hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Due to this variation in symptom manifestations females and girls tend to be misdiagnosed more often than boys and men.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can include disorganization, forgetfulness, or difficulties with time management both at home and at work. This can lead to delays in appointments, problems paying bills on schedule and having trouble keeping up with work or school tasks. Symptoms of the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD in women can present as restless behavior, frequent need to move around, difficulty staying quiet or talking out loud or saying nonsensical words or phrases. These symptoms can lead to problems in relationships at work, at home, as well as at school.
For many years, ADHD has been considered as a condition that only affects males and boys. The initial studies on ADHD focused on the behaviors of boys who were hyperactive. This helped define the diagnostic criteria and scales of rating that are still in use. This led to the belief that ADHD was only a problem for male children. Many women and girls were never diagnosed with ADHD because their behavior was not consistent with the stereotypes.
As girls and adolescent girls grow into adults, they could continue to experience difficulties navigating everyday life with untreated ADHD. Their struggles to manage their finances, keep their home in order, and manage their daily routines can cause feelings of inadequacy. full report as depression and anxiety may also co-occur with ADHD in women, which could hinder their ability to seek treatment.
Treatment
There are many treatments for adults suffering from ADHD that include medication. Stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall(r)) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse(r)) help improve focus and motivation, reduce impulsiveness and hyperactivity, and increase working memory and verbal memory. They can also decrease anxiety and depression symptoms. Your doctor will consult with you about the medications that are the best for you.
Your doctor may also suggest therapy in addition to medications. Therapists who specialize in ADHD can help you learn to manage your symptoms and increase your self-esteem. They can also help you learn healthy strategies to cope and help your family understand the condition. They can provide cognitive behavior therapy which helps you recognize negative thoughts and replace them with more realistic ones or psychoeducation for the family which can help your loved ones to understand your ADHD and develop coping strategies.
Women may have ADHD symptoms that differ from men. Women with inattention ADHD may find it difficult to keep track of their time at work and home or forget appointments or bills. In contrast, a woman with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may be more disruptive in social and professional settings. In the end, they may feel misunderstood or even embarrassed by their behavior.
The changes in hormone levels during menstrual cycle, menopausal and pregnancy can influence your ADHD symptoms. Your treatment plan depends on your current hormonal levels and your age as well as the stage of life. You might notice that your symptoms improve when you are pregnant as the increase in estrogen can help balance the chemicals in the brain. Your doctor may also recommend that you take part in a clinical study. These studies explore new ways to prevent and treat diseases, as well as detect and conditions.
Medication
Women suffering from ADHD have unique challenges when it comes to managing their symptoms. They have to deal with complex interactions between gender expectations and executive functions problems. They also have to contend with rejection sensitivity, which can cause feelings of shame when they don't keep up with social expectations. This dynamic can make it difficult for them to build and keep relationships. They may develop coping strategies to conceal their struggles and they may try to fit into. This can mask their ADHD symptoms. In addition, they struggle to understand their troubling emotions and frequently assume that their behavior is "normal."
Due to these factors, girls and women are less likely than boys and men to receive an accurate diagnose. Moreover, their symptoms tend to be less severe and more attentive, rather than hyperactive. This means they are less likely to trigger concern. This can lead them to be underdiagnosed and delayed in treatment.
Medications help control the chemical imbalances that trigger the symptoms of ADHD in women and girls. Stimulant drugs are usually the first choice for these patients. However, they must be closely monitored as some patients may experience a severe reaction to these drugs. There are also non-stimulant medications available, and they can be combined with psychotherapy and other treatments to improve symptoms.
It is essential for people with ADHD to tell their doctor about any past difficulties related to ADHD as they will be able to utilize this information when preparing a treatment plan. They may also request their health care providers to refer them to an expert in mental health who has expertise in treating ADHD in women and girls. These specialists may offer counseling and psychotherapy, lifestyle management techniques including school and job accomodations and other therapies that aid in managing their ADHD symptoms.
Support
Women suffering from ADHD have many difficulties, including incorrect diagnosis or a lack of recognition of signs. Rating scales for ADHD are skewed toward male behaviors, and women who suffer from the condition are more likely to develop more internalized symptoms such as depression and anxiety (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). Women also tend to experience different symptom presentations with inattention symptoms showing up more often than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms.
The first step is talking to a primary care physician. They will evaluate your symptoms, and refer you to an expert in mental health. Many women find that a diagnosis allows them to accept their issues more effectively and manage them better.
A doctor may prescribe medication to help regulate brain activity and control symptoms. Non-stimulant drugs are also available for some people. Doctors can also recommend therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy, which assists people to change their negative thinking patterns and behavior. They can also offer advice on ways to improve communication and relationships.
The support of family members is essential to managing the symptoms of ADHD. Counseling for marriage and family therapy can help people comprehend the challenges ADHD can bring to their lives. They can also learn how to overcome issues that result from inattention or impulsive behavior, like inattention and difficulty in making decisions.
Many people with ADHD are hesitant to ask for assistance or admit that they require help. A doctor can help overcome this barrier by explaining how ADHD affects the person and guiding them through coping strategies to help them perform better in school and at work. They may also ask their coworkers or teachers for small adjustments to help them succeed in class or at work.