Signs And Symptoms Of ADHD In Women Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women with ADHD are often faced with different social expectations regarding how they should handle their work as well as their family and home lives. This can cause you be embarrassed and frustrated when your symptoms hinder your life.
Research has proven that women and girls are consistently under-referred for ADHD as compared to boys and men. This could be because they mask their symptoms or develop strategies to cope with the signs, for example:
1. Inattentiveness
Finding it difficult to focus at school or at work is among the most common signs of adhd. Women suffering from this condition tend to miss important meetings, get behind on projects or get misguided when trying to follow instructions. They may also have difficulty concentration in noisy or crowded environments. People who suffer from ADHD might experience "thousand-yard gazes" or a tendency to lose focus during conversations. These symptoms can lead to issues at work or in relationships.
Girls and women are at greater chance of having undiagnosed ADHD as they get older. They frequently develop coping mechanisms that cover up their symptoms and continue to employ these strategies into adulthood. They might even begin to view their symptoms as personal characteristics, which could make them less likely to seek help.
In addition, many teachers don't suggest ADHD evaluations for girls as often as they do for males. If a girl's lack of attention to ADHD is impacting her school performance or social interactions it is recommended that she consult a medical professional.
Being high functioning adhd in women can create a lot of emotional stress. It can be a frustrating experience to feel like you're not being able to meet the standards of your friends, co-workers and family members. It can be frustrating to feel as if you're not able to get with your children or siblings. Many people with ADHD have anxiety and depression, which can be exacerbated by their inattention and impulsivity. You can reduce the severity of these symptoms by seeking help and doing other activities. Regular exercise can help release neurotransmitters that improve concentration and attention. It can also reduce anxiety and mood swings which are common in people who suffer from ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
The impulsive symptoms of ADHD can be a challenge to manage. You may utter things you shouldn't, buy something on impulse or even get in trouble with the law because of your actions. It can also make it difficult to control your emotions and feelings. This can lead to self-injury such as burning, cutting, or scratching yourself. It can also lead to drinking and drug abuse.
People who are impulsive often have issues with relationships and school or work performance. Your doctor can assist you to manage your impulsivity by prescribing medications. Medications like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Ritalin) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin) can help you improve your control over impulses. Nonstimulant medications like clonidine or Guanfacine can also help to manage your impulses better.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. However, this type of ADHD is harder to notice and could result in underdiagnosis. Women may conceal their symptoms in order to conform to social expectations and expectations. This can be particularly problematic in adolescence and early adulthood. Women may turn to unhealthy ways of coping like excessive drinking and substance abuse, to cover up their ADHD issues.
Women with high-functioning ADHD might conceal their symptoms by succeeding in particular areas of their lives, such as school or at work. This can create an illusion of security and cause you to feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life. Talk to your doctor about the accommodations that you can make at work or in school to manage your ADHD symptoms. This is a great opportunity to inform your colleagues or professors of the challenges you are facing.
3. Disorganization
If you have ADHD you may be late for appointments or turning up late for work, forgetting dates, or snoring during conversations can cause frustration and make others feel ignored or offended. The condition can make it difficult to keep track of tasks and manage your finances and schedules. For instance, if have trouble remembering what you need to buy for groceries, you might not be able to cook your meals or spend money on unnecessary purchases.
Women who suffer from ADHD often have a hard managing their everyday chores, homework and bills. The disorder can also lead to disorganized workspaces, messy homes, and a tendency to hoard. People with ADHD are affected by a phenomenon called "time blindness," which makes it hard to see how long it has taken and how long you've been working on a project. Problems with time management can lead to feelings of guilt or shame when combined with the difficulty of staying organized.
Although women and adhd shows that women and girls are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than men and boys the symptoms can be hidden and not recognized. A lot of women don't receive a diagnosis until the age of adulthood and their symptoms become more obvious. Social stigma and stereotypes can hinder women to access the care and support they require.
Your doctor might prescribe medication to help manage your ADHD symptoms. stimulants such as amphetamine or methylphenidate boost and balance neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that transmit information. Nonstimulant medicines like antidepressants and atomoxetine are also used to treat ADHD, but they work slower than stimulants. Your doctor may also recommend you to a mental health specialist, who can help develop an individual treatment plan that meets your individual needs.
4. Impulsiveness
Women who suffer from ADHD might have a difficult managing their emotions and often feel more sensitive to rejection. This is due to the fact that the communication trail between brain regions that regulate emotional responses and interpret what to do with these feelings is disrupted due to the chemical imbalance associated with ADHD.
People with ADHD are more prone to depression and moodiness. This, combined with a difficulty in managing their obligations can lead to problems with family and romantic relationships. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have lower self-esteem and may struggle to form friendships and navigating social situations. They might go on tangents during conversations or have trouble comprehending what other people are saying, which may make it difficult for them to find their place in groups.
When managing their daily responsibilities women with ADHD may struggle with finding the motivation to do mundane or monotonous tasks like dishes, laundry, and cleaning. This can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, such as binge watching TV shows or using substances. These types of behaviors are particularly risky for girls in their teens and adolescents with ADHD, who are more likely to engage in risky sexual actions, such as early initiation of sexual activities, fewer protected sexual partners and more casual sexual activity than their peers.
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. In addition, many women hide their ADHD symptoms because of the a myriad of expectations society places on them (managing the family and home for instance). It isn't always easy for doctors to recognize that there is a problem, as the symptoms are easy to recognize in both boys.
5. Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD might find it difficult to manage their daily tasks. They may have trouble organizing their lives and paying their bills on time and keeping up with school/work requirements. A variety of emotional symptoms, including mood swings and trouble controlling emotions, may make it difficult to get along with other people and cause problems in personal relationships.
People with ADHD are unable to discern social cues or body language. They might have trouble following a conversation or go off on a tangent, creating problems at work or school and causing stress in relationships. They may also have difficulty making new friends or balancing work, family, and social activities.
The symptoms of ADHD are different throughout the day and be influenced by hormone levels, for instance those during menstruation or pregnancy, or when they move through perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can lead either to an incorrect diagnosis or a wrong type of medication being prescribed.
There are a few signs and symptoms common to ADHD that can aid you or someone you love to recognize the condition. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step towards obtaining the support and treatment you need to effectively manage your symptoms.
The fact that you have ADHD doesn't mean it doesn't mean you're not suffering from other mental health or physical conditions It's crucial that your therapist or doctor performs a thorough evaluation. They'll have to ask questions about your past and present behaviors and experiences, look at any medical history, and discuss with you about how your symptoms affect you in various settings.