Symptoms of ADHD in Women Adults
While ADHD symptoms are more common for men and boys, women can suffer from the disorder too. The symptoms can be different at different times, as hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycle and pregnancy or menopausal symptoms can make them worse.
Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment is a crucial first step. Managing ADHD by taking medication and therapy improves relationships, school and work performance.
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. Female hormones also change during menstrual cycles and during pregnancy, which can affect the way ADHD medications work. Symptoms of ADHD can also be disguised by various mood disorders, like depression and anxiety. People with these comorbid disorders are often embarrassed of their symptoms and don't report them to their doctor, which makes it difficult to identify and treated.
Untreated ADHD can create a host of problems in the daily routine of a woman. For instance, it can make it difficult to maintain the job or keep up with schoolwork. It can also lead to financial problems, like missing payments or forgetting about appointments and bills. It can affect relationships and create feelings of low self-esteem. Women with ADHD have a difficult time navigating gender roles of society. They also tend to internalize their symptoms which can cause more stress and relationship issues.
add symptoms in adult women of ADHD tend to get worse as time passes. They may also become more prominent when a woman is under stress or going through a major life event. For example women may experience more trouble with symptoms at home or at work following having a divorce, becoming having children or becoming pregnant.
Women can learn to manage their symptoms through combining therapy and behavioral strategies. A therapist can teach them the art of time management and organization and aid in improving their overall functioning. You might also find it beneficial to work with an ADHD coach, or to join an ADHD support group.
Diagnosis
Women and girls may have a difficult time to get an accurate diagnosis because of gender stereotypes and the 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. Because of this distinction in the symptom presentation females and girls are more likely to be misdiagnosed a lot more often than boys and men.
The signs of inattention ADHD can manifest as a lack of focus, confusion or difficulty with time management at home and at work. This could result in delays in appointments, problems paying bills on time and difficulty keeping up with school or work obligations. 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 signs can cause disruption to relationships, hinder work and school performance and cause issues at home or in a relationship.
For many years, ADHD has been considered an illness that affects only boys and men. The first studies of ADHD focused on the behaviors of boys who were hyperactive. This helped to shape the diagnostic criteria and rating scales still in use today. This led to the assumption that ADHD only impacted male children as well as girls and women were not diagnosed because their behavior didn't match the traditional stereotypes of the disorder.
Untreated ADHD can cause teenagers and girls to have difficulty navigating their lives as adults. Their struggles to manage their finances, keep a clean home and maintain their daily routines could cause feelings of inadequacy. Women may also experience mood disorders such as anxiety and depression that can make it more difficult to seek treatment.
Treatment
There are many treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD, including medications. 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 depression and anxiety symptoms. Your doctor will inform you about which medication is most appropriate for your needs.
In addition to medication Your doctor might also suggest therapy. Therapists who specialize in ADHD can help you learn to manage your symptoms and build confidence in yourself. They can also help you learn healthy strategies for coping and help your family understand your condition. They can provide cognitive behavior therapy, which teaches to identify negative thoughts and replace with more realistic ones. They could also offer psychoeducation for the family, which can help your loved one better understand ADHD and develop coping techniques.
Women may have different ADHD symptoms as compared to men. For instance, a woman with inattentive-type ADHD may have trouble staying organized at work and home or forget about appointments and bills. In contrast, a woman with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may be more disruptive in social and professional settings. As a result, they may feel misunderstood or even embarrassed by their behavior.
The fluctuation in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can affect how your ADHD symptoms manifest. The treatment plan you choose to take will depend on your current hormone levels as well as your age and stage of life. It is possible that your symptoms get better when you're pregnant, as the surge of estrogen can help balance the chemicals in the brain. Your doctor may also suggest taking part in a clinical study. These studies are designed to discover new ways to prevent and treat diseases, as well as detect and conditions.
Medication
Women who suffer from ADHD face unique challenges to manage their symptoms. They must deal with a complex interplay between gender expectations and executive function problems. They must also contend with the sensitivity of rejection which can lead them to feel ashamed when they fail to meet social expectations. This can make it difficult for them to build and keep relationships. They may develop coping strategies to conceal their struggles and try to fit into the crowd, which may mask their ADHD symptoms. In addition, they struggle to understand their distressing emotions and often assume that their behavior is "normal."
Due to these reasons, it's harder for women and girls to receive an accurate diagnosis than males and females. In addition the symptoms of women tend to be less severe and inattentive rather than hyperactive. This makes them less likely to cause concern. This can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment.
The drugs help to control the chemical imbalances that trigger the symptoms of ADHD among women and girls. Drugs that stimulate are usually the first choice for these patients. However, they need to be closely monitored as some patients may experience a severe reaction to these medications. Other drugs that do not stimulate are also available, and these drugs are often combined with psychotherapy and other behavioral treatments to alleviate symptoms.
These individuals should tell their doctor about any prior issues that they have had with ADHD. They can utilize this information to create a treatment plan. They can also ask that their healthcare provider refers them to a mental healthcare professional who has experience treating ADHD among women and girls. They can offer counseling and psychotherapy, lifestyle management techniques as well as school and job accommodations and other treatments that help them better manage their ADHD symptoms.
Support
Women suffering from ADHD are often faced with a range of issues, including misdiagnosis and unrecognized symptoms. Rating scales for ADHD tend to be biased towards male behavior, and women with the condition tend to develop more internalized symptoms such as depression and anxiety (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). Women also have different symptom presentations with inattention symptoms appearing more frequently than hyperactive or impulse-related symptoms.
The first step is to talk to a primary care physician. They will assess your symptoms and recommend you to an expert in mental health. Many women find that having a diagnosis allows them to accept their issues more effectively and manage them better.
Typically, a doctor will prescribe medications to regulate brain activity and control symptoms. Most stimulant medications are prescribed however, non-stimulants can be an option for some people. Doctors may also recommend therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people change negative thought patterns and behavior. They can also offer advice on how to improve communication and relationships.
Managing the symptoms of ADHD requires the support of loved ones. Counseling for marriage and family therapy can help people better comprehend the challenges ADHD creates in their lives. They can also learn to manage issues that arise from impulsive or inattentive behavior, such as forgetfulness and difficulty making decisions.
Many people with ADHD have a hard time seeking help or admitting they need assistance. A doctor can help them overcome this hurdle by helping them understand how ADHD impacts their lives, and by teaching them coping strategies to help them perform better at school and work. They can also ask their co-workers or teachers for small accommodations that will allow them to succeed in class or at work.