ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women with ADHD are subject to a different set societal expectations as compared to males. These expectations can lead them to feel shame and blame themselves. Treatment must take into account gender stereotypes, hormone fluctuations, and symptom intensity.
Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy can improve relationships, work and school performance, as well as self-esteem.
Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD often experience symptoms like trouble staying organized, trouble remembering details, and having difficulty working in noisy or crowded environments. They can also experience emotional dysregulation, and feel overwhelmed. These feelings can be exacerbated by the expectations women have to meet, such as family and social roles.
These challenges can make it difficult for women with ADHD to be diagnosed and treated. Many people with ADHD have been misdiagnosed because they don't fit the requirements. Symptoms must be present since childhood, and they should last for at minimum six months in order to qualify for a diagnosis. It's important to understand that stress and certain medications can cause symptoms similar to ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD tend to mask symptoms as a result, which is one of the primary reasons why they aren't diagnosed. They may use coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms, like pretending that they aren't overwhelmed or over-compensating for symptoms that are easier to detect in males and boys. Moreover they are more likely to have a mental health condition that affects their mood and emotions, like anxiety or depression, which is often overlooked as an ADHD sign.
A bias against ADHD within the medical field may also be a reason why women with ADHD aren't diagnosed. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on scales of rating and interviewing, which are biased towards male behaviors and symptoms. Additionally, many women suffering from ADHD are afflicted with an internalized stigma and low self-esteem, making them less willing to seek treatment or evaluation for their symptoms.
Some women suffering from ADHD have the inattentive subtype. this type of ADHD can be difficult to diagnose because it's more internal -for example, daydreaming or having trouble staying focused on tasks. With the increased awareness of ADHD among women, fueled by famous women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman, more women are seeking assistance.
Women who suffer from ADHD have a higher tendency to develop sensitivity towards rejection which is an intense and often uncontrollable response to rejection, whether real or perceived - than women who do not suffer from ADHD. This can cause issues in interpersonal relationships, a lack of support and a reluctance for women to ask for assistance.
Diagnosis
Women are not often diagnosed with ADHD until the age of adulthood. signs of add in adult women could be due to their ability to cover up their symptoms or gender bias. Gender bias refers to a set of beliefs and practices that are prevalent in clinical settings that can negatively impact the way that clinicians diagnose women and girls with ADHD. This could be in the form of rating scales that tend to be biased towards male behavior or internalized thoughts that can lead to incorrect diagnosis. Girls and women who suffer from inattentive ADHD often have difficulty with staying focused in lectures at college or business meetings. They may struggle to stay focused at home or in their personal relationships. They might have homes that are cluttered, forget their appointments and not pay their bills on time. They could be easily distracted by social gatherings and have trouble managing their emotions when confronted with rejection or disappointment.
The symptoms can also change at different times of life. They may worsen, for example, during a woman’s menstrual period or during the time leading up to menopausal symptoms, when hormonal changes can cause more the irritability. Women with ADHD may also experience difficulties in their relationships due to their impulsivity and lack of preparation, or they could struggle to maintain friendships due social sensitivities to rejection. They are more likely to be pressured into sexual activity or to have unplanned pregnancy in the event that they are unable insist that their partners use contraception.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. The use of medication, for example stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, can reduce symptoms. Non-stimulants like atomoxetine, can be helpful too. When deciding on a treatment, your doctor will be aware of any other health issues and medication history you may have. You may also be required to make lifestyle changes and receive counseling. You can help by tracking your symptoms and keeping your doctor updated on any changes that you notice in yourself. You can also speak to your family and friends about any problems you're experiencing because they might be able spot something that you didn't notice. A diagnosis can boost your self-esteem and help you feel more in control.
Treatment
Women with untreated ADHD might have difficulty performing at work and maintain healthy relationships and handle household chores. The symptoms can also cause feelings of self-esteem loss and guilt, especially since the norms of society often require women to be caregivers. In addition, due to their tendency to be impulsive, women and girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk for engaging in unsafe sexual actions or being victims of violence from intimate partners as compared to their peers who don't suffer from the disorder.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with medications. Stimulant medications, like amphetamines or methylphenidate, aid to control brain activity and manage symptoms. If inattentive add in women are not efficient or appropriate, healthcare providers may prescribe nonstimulant medications, such as atomoxetine and guanfacine. A healthcare professional will evaluate a woman's symptoms, needs and medical history to determine the most effective treatment is.
Women are diagnosed with ADHD in the same proportion as men. However, they are under-diagnosed because they are more likely to conceal their symptoms and conceal them with other disorders like depression or anxiety. The scales of rating for ADHD and the techniques used to interview are biased towards male behavior. This leads to some female symptoms being misinterpreted or not identified.
Many women consider it to be an important time to be diagnosed with ADHD as adults. It can provide a rationale for the struggles they face and restore their self-worth. Additionally, knowing that they can improve their symptoms and build life skills that will serve them throughout their lives can boost confidence of women.
Combining behavioral strategies and mental health therapies is the best way for many women to learn to cope with ADHD. Therapy can assist women in developing strategies to cope and set achievable goals in all areas of their lives. This can be achieved with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to assist her in identifying and alter negative thoughts and behaviors and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to increase mindfulness and the ability to establish and maintain personal boundaries. Some women may also benefit by joining an ADHD support group to network with other women who understand the condition.
Self-help
Women with ADHD often go undiagnosed for a lengthy period, as their symptoms aren't like those of boys. They may conceal their ADHD traits using coping mechanisms to appear "normal" or to conform to societal norms. These coping mechanisms can be healthy or unhealthy, but they could prevent women from seeking an diagnosis.
It is important in addition to self-help methods to seek out the help of a medical professional that specializes in treating ADHD among females. They can help diagnose and treat the condition, and provide a better understanding of its impacts on girls and women.
Females who suffer from ADHD frequently experience anxiety and depression, and they can also struggle to maintain relationships with their loved ones. This is exacerbated due to the fact that they are more likely to engage in sexual activity at a young 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 that makes it difficult for loved ones to understand them or support them.
The most popular treatments for ADHD are antidepressants and psychostimulants. Psychostimulants speed up signals sent to the brain, which can improve attention and focus. Antidepressants alter how certain chemicals in the brain, including neurotransmitters as well as mood-regulating hormones are utilized to regulate moods and emotions. A healthcare provider can adjust these medications to ensure that they're effective throughout the lifetime of a woman.
Girls and women with ADHD might benefit from self-help strategies such as regular exercise, maintaining an ongoing schedule, creating reminders or mindfulness. They can also find out about accommodations for work or school that can help them manage their symptoms.
It's important for girls and women with ADHD to find a clinician and therapist with experience with the condition, as they can assist with a variety of other symptoms, such as emotional distress and low self-esteem, difficulties finding or maintaining relationships, and difficulties at work or in school. They can also teach coping techniques that include breathing techniques and relaxation techniques, to ease symptoms and enhance quality of life. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, which includes hormones and chromosomes, but that gender is an internal sense of self, which can be established at birth or by a person's behavior and appearance.