ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD typically have different symptoms than boys. The symptoms of impulsivity, forgetfulness and difficulty in interpreting social signals can make it hard to establish friendships or maintain relationships.
These differences and biases in treatment recommendations can lead to misdiagnosis of adhd and its ineffective treatment in young women.
Signs and symptoms
Adhd is characterised by a lack of organization, forgetting appointments and bills, and difficulty maintaining friendships. Women and girls can also experience difficulty with relationships, impulsivity which results in risky behavior, including sexual activity and a tendency to emotional volatility. They can be misunderstood by their peers and struggle with anxiety or depression disorders that co-occur with ADHD, making it even difficult to diagnose and treated.
Some girls and women do not show obvious symptoms of attention-deficit disorders (ADHD), but compensate when they enter high school where social and academic demands are increased. In the end, they do not seek help until they are struggling to cope in college or the workplace.
Research has shown that women and girls are often not diagnosed and recognized for ADHD in comparison to males and females. This disparity could be due to gender bias, which can often be unintentional. Particularly, women and girls are less likely to be referred to a specialist for ADHD because they are more likely to hide their symptoms as mentioned above or they present with different kinds of symptoms than males.
A woman or girl is less likely to have ADHD being referred to them due to the fact that they tend to show emotional or mood symptoms like irritability or depression. They are more likely than men to be taken to a psychiatrist for mood disorders or anxiety, and receive inappropriate treatment that can exacerbate their problems.
Inattentional ADHD is more common among women and girls. It manifests as a lack of focus, missing deadlines, or committing a few mistakes at school or work. You are easily distracted by thoughts or other activities going on around you, and you often lose track of time when doing tasks. You have trouble sitting still and find it difficult to relax. You have trouble keeping your desk or space tidy and well-organized. You are easily overwhelmed when you visit stores or restaurants. You are prone to forgetting important events or details, such as your friend's birthday.
Symptoms of the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD - which is more prevalent in boys and men - can interfere with relationships, schoolwork and job performance. You are constantly busy, interrupting others and find it difficult to pay attention to what people are talking about. You have trouble sitting still and may fidget or react on impulse, such as squirming in your seat or pulling at your hair. You're unable to manage your emotions and may blurt out hurtful or embarrassing remarks.
Diagnosis
For girls and women with ADHD an getting a correct diagnosis is crucial. A proper diagnosis can help you comprehend the difficulties you are facing and help you locate the resources and support you require to feel more in control. A diagnosis can be a lightbulb moment that many girls and women are able to experience their diagnosis as an opportunity to feel relieved, and provide them with an external explanation of the difficulties that they've struggled to comprehend or blamed to sexist biases or miscommunication. Or, they blame their own internalized gender stereotypes.
A medical professional can test for ADHD by examining your symptoms and history and using a symptom checklist or questionnaire to gauge the severity of your symptoms. They will ask you questions regarding your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. They can recommend strategies and medications that can enhance your performance. For example, your doctor may recommend ways to organize your life, such as planners, post-it notepads, and lists, or they may recommend a medication that will aid in concentration and focus. The medications that treat ADHD contain stimulants that increase your alertness and focus or non-stimulants that help you stay focused without affecting your heart rate and blood pressure.
ADHD in girls and women is often diagnosed much later than it is in boys and men. This is likely due to sexist views, an inaccessibility to health care and misperceptions about how the disorder manifests in females.
The symptoms can vary across the lifespan and can become more severe prior to, during, and after hormonal changes. This can make it difficult to diagnose process and treatment options for women and girls with ADHD. For instance, impulsivity and inattention can heighten frustrations and misunderstandings in relationships with romantic partners, friends or colleagues, and make it difficult for people to keep up with work or social obligations. They might also have difficulty to complete tasks such as paying bills as well as finishing work or school assignments, or completing household chores. This can lead to a sense of dissatisfaction with their lives, and can exacerbate mental issues like depression or anxiety.
The gender and sex differences in ADHD are most likely the result of neurological, genetic, and environmental factors. Gender refers to a person's assigned status at birth in accordance with their chromosomes and anatomical features, and includes people who identify as females or men, as well as nonbinary.
Treatment
Many women and girls are not able to receive an accurate diagnosis of ADHD until they reach adulthood. Early diagnosis can help people know their symptoms and determine the most effective treatment options. The most effective approach to treating ADHD in women and girls is to use a multimodal approach that includes medication, therapy and counseling as well as home and work accommodations and lifestyle plans.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often have more emotional issues and have a harder dealing with relationships than males. They may be misunderstood by their partners or others which can cause frustration and the feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher risk of having co-occurring anxiety and depression.
They typically have a harder time finding work or retaining jobs because of their disorganization and poor time management skills and difficulty with executive functions (planning and organizing prioritizing). Social difficulties and emotional dysregulation can make it difficult for them to keep or build meaningful relationships. They tend to be more self-critical which can cause them to look for unhealthy ways of coping, such as excessive alcohol and drugs.
The most common medications used to treat ADHD in adults are stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall(r)) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse(r)). Non-stimulants include the atomoxetine (Strattera(r)) as well as viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
Girls and women with ADHD could benefit from psychotherapy. This is a kind of talking therapy aimed at changing the way an individual thinks and acts. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that seeks to change the way someone perceives and responds to situations. It may also involve taking on lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and taking nutritional supplements. However, it is important to note that removing food items or taking supplements should only be done under the supervision of a health professional.
It is important for people who suffer from ADHD to have a system of support in place, which can include family members, friends or colleagues, as well as mentors and colleagues. It is recommended that they join in support groups or community groups, as they can offer a safe place to discuss the challenges of living with ADHD and offer tips for managing it effectively.
Resources
Girls who suffer from ADHD have a hard time making and maintaining friendships. visit my web site might also be suffering from depression or low self-esteem. They are more susceptible to destructive, impulsive behavior which could put them or others at risk. These behaviors include not taking safety precautions, drinking or using drugs or engaging in risky sexual activities.
A health care provider must conduct a thorough assessment to determine the cause and create a treatment plan that is effective. This includes the person's medical and mental history as well as their current state of mind. The doctor will also look at the environment around the person to determine if they are a factor.
There are numerous sources for people with ADHD which include support groups and websites that provide information and tools. There are also books to assist people with their condition and find success in life. For instance, "The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD can conquer chaos and Regain Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific issues that girls with ADHD confront. Stephanie Sarkis's book on PhD "Natural Treatment for Adult ADHD: Complementary strategies to boost focus, motivation, and performance, whether or not you take medication" offers a variety of alternative treatment options.
Connecting with others with the same diagnosis can give a lot of help and understanding. Many websites and social media platforms provide assistance for those suffering from ADHD, including ADDitude magazine's forum and the ADDitude parent group. Some organizations offer summer or daytime programs that teach executive function and organizational skills.
Many people with ADHD are able to benefit from working with a professional counselor or coach to learn new strategies for coping and achieving their goals. They can also seek advice from a therapist that specializes in the treatment of mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, or ADHD. Many people use apps, such as the popular Wunderlist and other software, to monitor their daily activities. There are also a variety of websites offering virtual collaboration, such as Focusmate, which pairs people working on the same project so they can work together via remote.