ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women with ADHD are subject to different social expectations than men, and these expectations can result in shame and self-blame. Treatment needs to account for gender constructs, hormone fluctuations and symptom intensity.
Medication, lifestyle changes and therapy can improve the quality of relationships and performance at work and at school, as well as self-esteem.
adhd traits in women with ADHD may suffer from symptoms like difficulty organizing their lives, forgetting important details, and working in noisy or crowded areas. They can 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.
Women who suffer from ADHD might have a tougher in getting diagnosed and treated because of these issues. Many people with ADHD are misdiagnosed since they do not meet the requirements. Symptoms must be present since childhood and they must last at least six months before they be eligible for a diagnosis. It's also important to know that other conditions and illnesses may cause similar symptoms to ADHD as well, such as stress and certain medications.
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to cover up their symptoms as a result, which is one of the primary reasons why they aren't diagnosed. They may use strategies to cover up their symptoms. For instance, they might pretend that they're not stressed or exaggerate symptoms that are more visible for both genders. They are also more likely to be suffering from a mental illness that affects their mood and mood, like anxiety or depression, which could be mistaken for ADHD symptoms.
A bias against ADHD in the medical community may also be a reason why women with ADHD are not diagnosed. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on ratings scales and interviews and these tools tend to favor male behaviors and symptoms. Lastly, many women with ADHD experience internalized stigma and low self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment or evaluation for their symptoms.
Women who are not attentive can be more difficult to diagnose, as they may have difficulty focusing on tasks or daydreaming. But, with the growing awareness of ADHD among women, aided by influential women and celebrities, such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano many women are seeking assessments and seeking out the needed assistance.
Women who suffer from ADHD have a higher tendency to develop rejection sensitivity which is a strong sometimes uncontrollable reaction to rejection, either real or perceived who do not have ADHD. This can cause problems with interpersonal relationships and lead to the absence of support networks and an inability to seek assistance.
Diagnosis
Women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD until the age of adulthood. This could be due to their ability to cover up their symptoms or gender bias. Gender bias in clinical settings refers the set of beliefs and practices that negatively influence how clinicians determine and treat girls and women with ADHD. It can take the form of rating scales that are biased towards male behavior, or through internalized feelings that can lead to confusion about the diagnosis. Women and girls with inattentive ADHD might have difficulty focusing during business meetings or college classes, and could be unable to stay focused in their personal relationships or at home. They might have messy homes and forget appointments and aren't able to pay their bills on time. They could be easily distracted by social interactions and struggle to control their emotions, especially when facing rejection or failure.
The symptoms can also change in different seasons of life. For example, they may worsen during a woman's menstrual cycle or during the transition to menopause which can increase irritability and mood fluctuations. Women who suffer from ADHD may also have issues in their relationships with partners because of impulsivity and poor planning, or they could struggle to maintain friendships because of social sensitivities to rejection. They may be at a higher risk of being pushed to engage in sexual activities and of having unplanned pregnancy because they have difficulty insisting that their partners take contraceptives.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is essential to manage ADHD symptoms. Symptoms can be reduced by medications, including stimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate. Non-stimulants, like atomoxetine, may be beneficial too. When deciding on a treatment, your doctor will take into consideration any other health conditions or medication history you may have. You may also have to alter your lifestyle and seek counseling. You can aid in tracking your symptoms and keeping your physician informed about any changes you notice in yourself. You can also talk to your family and friends about any issues you are having, as they may be able to identify something you didn't notice. A diagnosis can aid in building self-esteem and feel more in control.
Treatment
Women suffering from ADHD who are not treated may have difficulties managing their home and maintaining healthy relationships or doing well at work. These symptoms can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and guilt, especially since societal expectations often expect women to take care of. In addition, because of their impulsivity, girls and women with untreated ADHD are more prone for engaging in unsafe sexual behavior or being victims of violence from intimate partners than those who do not have the disorder.
Medications are the most common treatment for ADHD in adults. Drugs that stimulate the brain, such as amphetamines and methylphenidate, help to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. If these medications aren't appropriate, healthcare professionals can prescribe nonstimulant medicines such as atomoxetine and Guanfacine. A healthcare professional will evaluate the woman's symptoms, requirements and history to determine what the best treatment plan is.
Women are diagnosed with ADHD in the same proportion as males. However they aren't diagnosed as such because they tend to hide their symptoms and mask them with other conditions such as depression or anxiety. Additionally, rating scales and interview techniques for ADHD are skewed toward male behavior patterns, and as a result, some female symptoms are misinterpreted or under-identified.
Being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood can be a significant moment of acknowledgment for a lot of women. It can provide a rationale for the difficulties they confront and boost their self-esteem. Also, knowing that they can improve their condition and develop life abilities that will last throughout their lives can boost confidence of women.
Combining behavioral strategies and mental health treatments is the most effective way for many women to deal with ADHD. Therapy can assist women in developing coping strategies and achieve achievable goals in all areas of their lives. This can be achieved through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps her identify and change negative thoughts, as well as dialectical behavioral treatment (DBT), which increases awareness and the capacity of setting and respecting personal boundaries. Some women may also benefit by joining an ADHD support group in order to meet women who have a similar disorder.
Self-help
Women who suffer from ADHD often go undiagnosed for a long time, as their symptoms don't appear like those of boys. They may hide their ADHD characteristics by using coping strategies to appear "normal" or to meet societal norms. These coping mechanisms can be healthy or unhealthy, but can prevent women from seeking an diagnosis.
In addition to self-help techniques It is essential to seek out an expert in healthcare who is skilled in treating ADHD in females. They can diagnose and treat this condition, and help girls and women to better understand the effects.
Females suffering from ADHD often develop depression and anxiety, and they can also struggle to maintain relationships. This can be made worse by the fact that they are more likely to engage in sexual activity at an early age which puts them at risk of sexually inappropriate encounters and violence from intimate partners. Women who suffer from ADHD are also prone to mood swings, which can make it hard for their loved ones understand them or support them.
Psychostimulants and antidepressants are the most common treatments for ADHD. Psychostimulants speed up signals sent to the brain, which can improve attention and focus. Antidepressants alter the way that certain chemicals in the brain, including neurotransmitters as well as mood-regulating hormones are used to regulate moods and emotions. The dosage of these medications can be altered by a healthcare provider to ensure that they are effective throughout the woman's lifetime.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD might benefit from self-help strategies like regular exercise, maintaining a daily schedule, or setting reminders, or practicing mindfulness. They can also learn about accommodations for work or school that can ease their symptoms.
It is crucial that girls and women suffering from ADHD find a clinician or therapist with experience in the condition. They can help with other symptoms, such as anxiety as well as low self-esteem and difficulty making or maintaining relationships. They can also teach coping techniques such as breathing techniques and relaxation to help ease symptoms and improve their lives. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, which includes hormones and chromosomes, but that gender is an internal sense of self that is given at birth or determined by a person's behavior and appearance.