ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women with ADHD are subject to a different set of societal expectations than men, and those expectations can cause shame and self-blame. Treatment should consider gender constructs hormone fluctuations, the severity of symptoms.
Treatment, lifestyle changes and therapy can improve relationships, school and work performance, and self-esteem.
Symptoms
Women with ADHD often have symptoms like trouble staying organized, trouble recalling details, or having trouble working in noisy or bustling environments. They may also experience emotional dysregulation and feel overwhelmed. These feelings can be exacerbated by the expectations women face in their families and social roles.
Recommended Resource site who suffer from ADHD might have a difficult time getting diagnosed and treated due to these issues. Many people with ADHD are misdiagnosed as they don't meet the criteria. Symptoms have to be present since childhood, and they should last for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis. It is important to be aware that stress and certain medications may cause symptoms similar to ADHD.
Women with ADHD tend to hide their symptoms, which is one of the primary reasons why they aren't diagnosed. They may use coping strategies to disguise their symptoms, like trying to pretend they aren't overwhelmed or over-compensating for symptoms that are easier to see in males and boys. They are also more likely to be suffering from a mental illness that affects their emotions and mood, such as anxiety or depression. These can be mistaken for ADHD symptoms.
A bias against ADHD in the medical community could also be the reason why women with ADHD aren't diagnosed. The diagnosis of ADHD relies on rating scales and interviews which tend to favor male behavior and symptoms. Many women with ADHD suffer from internalized stigma, low self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment or evaluation for their symptoms.
Inattentive women can be more difficult to diagnose, because they may have trouble working or focusing on their tasks, or even daydreaming. However, with increased awareness of ADHD among women, aided by high-profile women and influencers like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano, more women are seeking assessment and seeking help.
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to experience rejection sensitivity, which is a heightened and often uncontrollable reactivity to perceived or real rejection, than women without ADHD. This can lead to problems in relationships, a lack of support and a reluctance for women to ask for assistance.
Diagnosis
Women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD throughout their adulthood. This could be due to their ability to conceal their symptoms and gender bias. Gender bias is a set beliefs and practices that are prevalent in clinical settings that adversely affect how clinicians identify girls and women with ADHD. This could be in form in the form of rating scales that are biased towards male behavior or internalized thoughts that cause incorrect diagnosis. Women and girls who experience inattention ADHD frequently have trouble attending to college lectures or business meetings. They might have difficulty staying focused at home or in their personal relationships. They might have homes that are cluttered, forget their appointments and are unable to pay their bills on time. They could be easily distracted in social interactions and struggle to manage their emotions, particularly when faced with rejection or disappointment.
Symptoms may also change during different stages of life. For instance, they could worsen during a woman's menstrual cycle or during the lead-up to menopause, when hormone changes can increase irritability and mood swings. Women with ADHD may also have issues in their relationships due to of their impulsivity and insufficient planning, or they could struggle to maintain friendships due to social sensitive to rejection. They may be more at risk of being pushed into sexual activity, and of having pregnancies that are not planned because they are unable to insist that their partners make use of contraception.
A precise diagnosis is essential to managing ADHD symptoms. The use of medication, for example stimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate can ease symptoms. Nonstimulants like atomoxetine can also be beneficial. When deciding on a treatment, your doctor will take into consideration any other health conditions and medication history you may have. You may also need to make lifestyle changes and undergo counseling. You can help by tracking your symptoms and keeping your physician aware of any changes that you notice in yourself. You can also discuss any issues that you have with your family and friends members, as they might be able to spot things you may have missed. A diagnosis can be an effective step in building self-esteem and feeling more in control of your life.
Treatment
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may struggle to perform at work and maintain healthy relationships and take care of household chores. These symptoms can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss and shame, particularly since the norms of society often require women to be caregivers. Due to their impulsivity, and increased risk of violence in intimate relationships, girls and women who have untreated ADHD are more likely to engage in dangerous sexual behaviors or be victims of abuse from their partners.
Adults suffering from ADHD are typically treated by medication. Drugs that stimulate the brain, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines assist in controlling brain activity and manage symptoms. If these drugs aren't efficient or appropriate healthcare professionals can prescribe nonstimulant drugs like atomoxetine or Guanfacine. A healthcare professional will analyze the woman's symptoms, requirements and past medical history to determine the most effective treatment is.
Although women are diagnosed with ADHD at the same rate as males, they are consistently under-diagnosed because of the way they conceal their symptoms or mask them with other illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, rating scales and interview techniques for ADHD tend to focus on male behavior patterns, and as a result, some female symptoms are misinterpreted or under-identified.
Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood can be an important moment of acknowledgment for a lot of women. It can provide an external explanation for the challenges they face and restore their self-worth. Furthermore, knowing that they can manage their condition and develop life abilities that will last throughout their lives can boost a woman's confidence.
Combining behavioral strategies with mental health therapies is the best way for women to deal with ADHD. Therapy can help a woman develop strategies for coping and set realistic goals to succeed in every aspect of her life. This can be achieved through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to aid her in identifying and alter negative behavior and thoughts, as well as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to increase awareness and the ability to establish and maintain personal boundaries. Some women might also benefit by joining an ADHD support group in order to network with women who are also affected by the condition.
Self-help
Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed because their symptoms are not the same as the boys. They may conceal their ADHD symptoms by employing coping strategies to appear "normal" or to conform to social norms. These coping strategies can be healthy as well as unhealthy, but they can stop women from seeking treatment.
It's important, in addition to self-help methods to seek treatment from a healthcare provider who specializes in treating ADHD for females. They can diagnose and treat this condition, as well as help women and girls to better understand the consequences.
Women with ADHD are often unable to maintain close relationships and can develop anxiety or depression. These issues can be complicated by their tendency to be sexually active at a younger age, which puts them at risk of having unintentional sexual encounters or intimate partner violence. Mood changes are also common in women suffering from ADHD and can make it difficult for their loved ones to understand or support them.
Psychostimulants and antidepressants are the most common treatments for ADHD. Psychostimulants can improve focus and attention by speeding up signals sent to your brain. Antidepressants alter the way the brain utilizes certain chemicals, like neurotransmitters, to regulate emotions and moods. They can be adjusted by a healthcare provider to ensure that they are effective throughout the woman's lifetime.
Women and girls with ADHD can benefit from a range of self-help techniques, including regular exercise and keeping a daily calendar or reminders, and focusing on mindfulness. They can also find out about accommodations for school or work that can alleviate their symptoms.
It is important that women and girls with ADHD seek out a therapist or therapist who has experience with the condition. They can assist with other issues such as emotional distress as well as low self-esteem and difficulty making or maintaining relationships. They can also teach coping strategies, including breathing techniques and relaxation to ease symptoms and improve their lives. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, such as hormones and chromosomes. However, it is also acknowledged the gender is an internal concept of self that can be established at birth or by a person's behaviour and appearance.