ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women with ADHD have a different set of societal expectations than males, and those expectations can lead to shame and self-blame. Treatment should consider gender stereotypes, hormonal fluctuations and the severity of symptoms.
Treatment, lifestyle changes, and therapy can improve the quality of relationships and performance at work and in school, and also improve self-esteem.
Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience symptoms such as problems staying organized, difficulty recalling details, or having trouble working in noisy or busy environments. They might also experience emotional dysregulation and feel overwhelmed. These feelings are often exacerbated by the expectations of being female, such as societal demands and family roles.
Women with ADHD might have a tougher in getting diagnosed and treated due to these difficulties. Many people with ADHD are misdiagnosed as they do not meet the requirements. Symptoms must be present since childhood, and they must last at least six months before they qualify for a diagnosis. It's important to understand that stress and certain medications may cause symptoms similar to ADHD.
One of the primary reasons why women with ADHD are underdiagnosed is that they tend to mask their symptoms. They may resort to coping strategies to disguise their symptoms, like pretending they are not feeling overwhelmed or over-compensating for symptoms that are easy to detect in men and boys. Additionally, they are more likely to have a mental health condition that affects their mood and emotions, like depression or anxiety, which could be overlooked as an ADHD symptoms.
Another reason that women suffering from ADHD are underdiagnosed may be due to a bias against the disorder in the medical community. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on ratings scales and interviews, and these tools tend to favor male behavior and symptoms. Many women with ADHD suffer from internalized stigma and low self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment or evaluate their symptoms.
Women who are not attentive can be more difficult to diagnose since they might have difficulty focusing on tasks or dreaming. With the growing awareness of ADHD among women, fueled by prominent women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman, more women are seeking help.
Women who suffer from ADHD have a greater tendency to develop sensitivity towards rejection which is an intense and often uncontrollable response to rejection, whether real or perceived without ADHD. adhd in young women can cause problems with interpersonal relationships and lead to a lack of support networks and an inability to seek assistance.
Diagnosis
Women are often not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood. This could be due to their ability to cover up their symptoms or gender bias. Gender bias is a set assumptions and practices in clinical settings that can negatively impact how doctors identify women and girls with ADHD. This can take form in the form of rating scales that tend to be biased towards male behavior or internalized feelings that lead to misdiagnosis. Women and girls who experience inattentive ADHD often have difficulty with staying focused in lectures at college or business meetings, and they may have trouble staying on track at home or in their relationships. They may have homes that are cluttered and forget appointments and fail to pay their bills on time. They might get easily distracted in social interactions and struggle to manage their emotions, particularly when faced with rejection or disappointment.
The symptoms can also change throughout the course of life. For example, they may worsen during a woman's menstrual cycle or during the transition to menopause as hormonal changes can trigger irritability as well as mood swings. Women with ADHD might also have issues in their relationships with loved ones because of their impulsivity and inadequate preparation, or they might struggle to keep friendships going due to social sensitive to rejection. They could be at a higher chance of being pressured into sexual activity, and of having pregnancies that are not planned due to their difficulty in insisting that their partners make use of contraception.
Accurate diagnosis is crucial to managing ADHD symptoms. Medication, such as stimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate can ease symptoms. Non-stimulants like atomoxetine could be beneficial as well. When choosing a treatment, your doctor will be aware of any other health issues and medications you have. You may also require counseling or lifestyle changes. You can assist by keeping track of your symptoms and keeping your doctor updated on any changes that you notice in yourself. You can also discuss any issues that you have with your family members and friends members, as they might be able to detect things that you're not aware of. A diagnosis can be a powerful step towards building confidence in yourself and feeling more confident in taking control of your life.
Treatment
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may have trouble performing at work and maintain healthy relationships and manage household chores. Symptoms may also lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or shame, especially since women are often expected to be caregivers. Due to their impulsivity and increased risk of violence in intimate relationships, women and girls who have untreated ADHD are more likely to engage in dangerous sexual behavior or become victims of abuse from their partners.
Adults with ADHD are most commonly treated with medications. Stimulant medications, like methylphenidate or amphetamines, help to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. If these medications aren't appropriate, healthcare professionals can prescribe nonstimulant medicines such as atomoxetine and Guanfacine. A healthcare professional will assess the woman's needs, symptoms and history to determine the best option for her.
Women are diagnosed with ADHD in the same proportion as males. However, they are under-diagnosed because they tend to hide their symptoms and cover them as other illnesses such as depression or anxiety. The rating scales for ADHD and the methods used to conduct interviews are biased towards male behavior. This can lead to female symptoms being misinterpreted or not identified.
Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood can be an important moment of recognition for many women. It can provide an external explanation for their problems and restore their sense of self-worth. Also knowing that they can manage their condition and develop life skills that will serve them throughout their lives can boost confidence of women.
For many women, the best method of learning to manage their ADHD is to use a combination of behavioral strategies and mental health therapies. Therapy can assist women in developing strategies for coping and establish achievable goals in all areas of their lives. This can be achieved with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to assist her in identifying and change negative attitudes and behaviors and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to increase mindfulness and the ability to establish and respect personal boundaries. Moreover, some women may benefit from joining an ADHD support group to meet with other people who understand the condition.
Self-help
Women who suffer from ADHD are often misdiagnosed as their symptoms do not look like those of boys. They may mask their ADHD characteristics by implementing strategies to cope that allow them to appear "normal" and meet societal norms. These coping strategies can be healthy as well as unhealthy, but they can prevent women from seeking diagnosis.
In addition to self-help strategies, it's important to seek out an experienced healthcare professional who is specialized in treating ADHD in females. They can assist in diagnosing and treat the condition and provide a better understanding of its effects on girls and women.
Women suffering from ADHD are often unable to maintain close relationships and can develop depression or anxiety. This can be made worse by the fact that they are more likely to engage in sexual activities at an early age and are at risk of unwelcome sexual encounters and violence from their intimate partners. Women with ADHD are also prone to mood swings that can make it hard to make their loved ones be able to understand or help them.
The most common treatments for ADHD are antidepressants and psychostimulants. Psychostimulants improve concentration and focus by speeding up the messages sent to your brain. Antidepressants change the way the brain utilizes certain chemicals, like neurotransmitters, to manage emotions and moods. They can be adjusted by a healthcare provider to ensure maximum effectiveness throughout a woman's life.
Girls and women with ADHD can benefit from a range of self-help strategies, such as regular exercise, keeping a daily schedule or reminders, as well as practicing mindfulness. They can also find out about accommodations for school or work that could ease their symptoms.
It is essential for girls and women suffering from ADHD to seek out a therapist and therapist with experience with the condition, since they can help with a myriad of symptoms, such as emotional distress and low self-esteem, difficulties in maintaining relationships, and issues at work or in school. They can also teach coping strategies, such as breathing and relaxation techniques, to ease symptoms and enhance quality of life. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex refers to biology, such as hormones and chromosomes. However, it is also acknowledged that gender is an internal sense of self that is assigned at birth or determined by the person's behavior and appearance.