Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from ADHD are often subject to different expectations from society on how they should manage family, careers and home life. This can cause you feel frustrated and ashamed if your symptoms get in the way.
Research shows that women and girls are frequently under-diagnosed for ADHD compared to males and boys. This could be because they conceal their symptoms or develop coping strategies to hide the signs, for example:
1. Inattentiveness
Being unable to pay attention at school or work is one of the main symptoms of adhd. People with this condition frequently miss important meetings, get behind on assignments or are misguided when trying to follow instructions. They may also have difficulties staying focused in noisy or crowded spaces. Certain people with ADHD may exhibit what's called "thousand-yard stares" and lose focus during conversations. These symptoms can cause difficulties at work or in relationships.
Females and females are particularly at risk for undiagnosed ADHD especially as they grow older. They develop strategies to cover up their symptoms and continue to do so until adulthood. They may even start to view their symptoms as individual characteristics, which can make them less likely to seek help.
In addition, many teachers don't recommend ADHD assessments for girls as frequently as they do for males. If a girl's numbness or ADHD is impacting her school performance or social interactions, then she should speak to an expert in health.
Being inattentional ADHD can create lots of emotional stress. It can be a frustrating experience to feel as if you're not able to meet the expectations of your friends, co-workers and family members. It can also be upsetting when you feel you are not able to get along with your siblings or children. Some people suffering from ADHD experience depression and anxiety that can be exacerbated by their impulsivity and inattention. You can reduce the severity of these symptoms by seeking assistance and doing other activities. Regular exercise can help release neurotransmitters to improve concentration and attention. It can also reduce anxiety and mood swings which are common among people with ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage. You may blurt out things you shouldn't, purchase something on a whim or get into trouble with the law because of your behavior. It can also make it difficult to control your emotions and feelings. This could lead to self-harm, such as burning, cutting, or scratching yourself. This could also cause alcohol or drug abuse.
People who are impulsive may have issues with their relationships, work or school performance. You can control your impulsivity by taking medication prescribed by your physician. You can increase your control over impulses with medications like amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. undiagnosed adhd in women -stimulant drugs like clonidine or guanfacine could also help to better control your impulses.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. This type of ADHD can be harder to recognize, leading to the wrong diagnosis. Women can hide their symptoms to conform to social standards and expectations. This is particularly problematic during adolescence or early adulthood. Some women employ unhealthy coping strategies that include drinking excessively and use of drugs to hide their ADHD problems.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD can conceal their symptoms by thriving in particular areas of their lives, like school or work. This can give you feeling unsecure and make you feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life. Talk to your doctor about the accommodations that you can make at work or at school to manage your ADHD symptoms. This is a great chance to inform your colleagues or professors of the issues you are facing.
3. Disorganization
If you have ADHD and you are unable to keep appointments or showing up late to work, forgetting dates, and zoning out during conversations can lead to frustration and make others feel ignored or offended. The disorder can make it difficult to keep track of tasks, manage finances and schedules. If you don't know what you'll need for groceries, then you could miss out on meals, or spend too much on unnecessary things.
Women suffering from ADHD have difficulty keeping the daily chores, bills and homework. The disorder can also lead to disorganized workspaces, messy homes and a propensity to accumulate. The "time blindness" that ADHD sufferers have makes it difficult for them to determine how long has been passed or how much time they've worked on a specific task. Together with the difficulty of staying focused, problems with time management can cause feelings of guilt and shame about being unorganized.
While research suggests that girls and women are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than boys and men The symptoms can be concealed and undiagnosed. Women are often not diagnosed until they reach the age of adulthood when their symptoms become more obvious. Social stigma and stereotypes may hinder women to access the treatment and assistance they need.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to manage your ADHD symptoms. The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine boost and balance neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that transmit information. Non-stimulant drugs like antidepressants and atomoxetine are also used to treat ADHD, but they work slower than stimulants. Your doctor could also recommend you to a mental health professional who can assist in the development of an individual treatment plan that is tailored to your individual requirements.
4. Impulsiveness
Women suffering from ADHD may have a hard time controlling their emotions and often feel more sensitive to rejection. The chemical imbalance that is associated with ADHD affects the communication between brain regions that regulate emotions and determine how to handle them.
People with ADHD are prone to moodiness and depression. This, in conjunction with the difficulty managing their obligations and obligations, can create problems for family and romantic relationships. Women with ADHD also tend to have a lower self-esteem and may have difficulty forming friendships and managing social situations. They may go off on tangents or have difficulty understanding what other people are saying. This could make it difficult for them to find a place in a group.
Women suffering from ADHD might find it difficult to keep themselves motivated to complete simple or boring tasks like washing dishes cleaning, and doing laundry. This can lead them to develop unhealthy coping methods, such as binge-watching TV shows or abusing substances. These are particularly risky for teens and girls with ADHD who are more likely than their peers to engage in risky activities such as early sexual activities and fewer partners who are protected and informal sex.
As adults, women with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed than men because they tend to have inattentive symptoms instead of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Many women hide their ADHD due to the numerous expectations that society places on them (managing the household and children for example). It isn't always easy for doctors to identify that there is a problem since the symptoms are easy to recognize in both boys.
5. Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD can have difficulty managing their daily tasks. They may have trouble managing their time and paying their bills on time and keeping up with work and school obligations. A variety of emotional symptoms, including mood swings and difficulties in regulating emotions, can also make it difficult to interact with other people and cause issues in relationships between people.
People with ADHD are unable to discern body language or social cues. They can go off on a tangent during conversations or have trouble following the conversation, which can cause difficulties with school or work performance as well as strained relationships. They can also have trouble making new friends or finding the right balance between their work, home, and social life.
women and adhd of ADHD can vary throughout the day, and can be affected hormonally like during menstrual cycles and pregnancy, or during perimenopausal perimenopausal cycles. This could result in misdiagnosis or the wrong kinds of medications being prescribed.
There are some symptoms and signs that are that are common to ADHD that can aid you or someone you love to recognize the condition. Recognizing these symptoms is a great first step towards obtaining the support and treatment you need to effectively manage your symptoms.
Having ADHD isn't a guarantee that you don't have other physical or mental health issues and it's essential that your doctor or therapist conducts a thorough assessment. They will need to ask questions about your current and past actions and experiences, review any medical history, and talk with you about how your symptoms affect you in a variety of settings.