5 Killer Quora Answers To ADHD In Young Women
ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls with ADHD often exhibit different symptoms than men. signs of add in adult women of ADHD include impulsivity, forgetfulness, and difficulty understanding social signals may make it difficult to maintain relationships or make friends.
Unfortunately, these differences and an unbalanced treatment referral cause ineffective diagnosis and treatment of adhd in young women.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptoms of adhd are difficulty keeping track of appointments not remembering appointments or making payments, and having difficulty maintaining friendships. Women and girls can also be troubled with relationships, impulsivity which results in risky behavior, including sexual activities and a tendency towards emotional instability. They can be misunderstood and suffer from anxiety or depression disorders, which may be co-occurring with ADHD. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat.
Some girls and women do not show obvious symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) however, they compensate when they enter high school, where social and academic demands rise. They don't seek assistance until they have trouble coping at college or at work.
Research has shown that girls and women are consistently misdiagnosed and under-identified as having ADHD, in comparison to boys and men. The gender bias, which is often not intentional, may contribute to this gap. Women and girls are less likely than men to be referred to a doctor for ADHD, either because they hide symptoms as described above or because they have different symptoms.
Girls and women also are less likely to be referred for ADHD due to their propensity to exhibit emotional or mood-related symptoms, such as irritability, rage and depression. They are more likely to be referred for mood disorders or anxiety and receive inadequate treatment, which could exacerbate their issues by masking the root causes.
Inattentional ADHD is more common in girls and women. It manifests as lack of focus, missing deadlines, or committing a few mistakes at school or work. You are easily distracted by your thoughts or other activities going on around you, and you often lose track of time when doing your work. You struggle to stay focused and find it difficult to relax. You are having trouble keeping your desk or room tidy and neat. You're easily overwhelmed when you go to stores or restaurants. You tend to forget important information or important dates, such as birthday celebrations for friends.
Symptoms of the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD - which is more prevalent in boys and men - can interfere with relationships, schoolwork and job performance. You are always moving and interrupt others, and have trouble listening to what they are saying. You have trouble being still and you may fidget or react on impulse, such as squirming in your seat or grabbing your hair. You're unable to manage your emotions and may you make hurtful, embarrassing or off-color comments.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is crucial for girls and women with ADHD. Getting a proper diagnosis will aid in understanding why certain aspects of your life are challenging and enable you to seek the support and resources that will make you feel more in control. In addition, a diagnosis could be a lightbulb moment that many girls and women experience their diagnosis as an uplifting experience, providing them with an external explanation of the difficulties that they've been unable to comprehend or attributed to sexist bias or miscommunication, or even their internalized gender stereotypes.
A medical professional can test you for ADHD based on your symptoms and previous experiences, and by using a symptom list or questionnaire to determine the severity of the symptoms. They'll also inquire about how your symptoms affect your daily life. They can recommend strategies and medications that will help you function better. For instance, your doctor may recommend organizational methods like planners, post-it notes and lists, or they may suggest a medication that can aid in concentration and focus. The drugs used to treat ADHD include stimulants that improve your attention and alertness as well as non-stimulants to help you stay focused without affecting your blood pressure and heart rate.
ADHD is more often diagnosed in girls and women than in boys. This is likely due to sexist views and the lack of access to health care and misperceptions about how the disorder manifests in females.
Symptoms can vary across the years, and they can worsen before, during, and after hormonal changes. This can make it difficult to diagnose process and treatment options for women and girls with ADHD. For instance, impulsivity or inattention can heighten the frustrations and miscommunications in relationships with romantic friends, partners or colleagues, and make it hard for people to keep up with work or social engagements. They may also struggle to complete tasks such as paying bills, completing school or work assignments, and doing household chores. This can lead people to feel unhappy with their lives and exacerbate emotional problems such as depression or anxiousness.
The differences between men and women in ADHD are likely to be due in part to neurological, biological, and environmental factors. Gender refers to the person's status at birth in accordance with their chromosomes and anatomy and includes those who identify as women, men, or nonbinary.
Treatment
Many women and girls do not get an accurate diagnosis of ADHD until well into adulthood. Early diagnosis can help people know their symptoms and determine the most effective treatment options. The most effective method to treat ADHD for women and young girls is to employ an approach that is multimodal and includes medication, therapy, counseling, home and office accommodations, and lifestyle strategies.
Women and girls with ADHD often have more emotional issues and have a harder dealing with relationships than males. They might be misunderstood by their romantic partners or other people, which can lead to frustration and a feeling that life is unfair. They also have greater risk of having co-occurring anxiety and depression.
They typically have a harder time finding work or keeping jobs because of their disorganization and poor time management skills, and difficulties in executive functions (planning and organizing, prioritizing). They often struggle to develop meaningful friendships or maintain relationships due to social issues and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more self-critical, which may lead them to look for unhealthy ways to cope, such as excessive alcohol and drug use.
The most common medications used to treat ADHD in adults are stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall(r)) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse(r)). Non-stimulants are atomoxetine, viloxazine and Clonidine.
In addition to medications, girls and women with ADHD can benefit from psychotherapy, which is a form of talking therapy that aims to alter the way a person thinks and behaves. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talking therapy that aims to change the way an individual interprets and responds to situations. It may also involve incorporating lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet regularly exercising and taking nutritional supplements. It is important to keep in mind that removing foods or taking nutritional supplements should be done under the supervision types of adhd in women health experts.
It is important for people with ADHD to have a system of support in place which could include family members, friends, colleagues and mentors. It is also recommended that they participate in support or community groups, since they can provide a safe space to discuss the challenges of living with ADHD and share tips on how to deal with it effectively.
The following resources are available to you:
Girls with ADHD often struggle to make and maintain friendships. They may also suffer from low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. They may be more prone to destructive, impulsive behaviors which could put them or others at risk. These include not taking safety precautions, drinking alcohol or taking drugs or engaging in risky sexual activities.
A health care provider must conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine the cause and develop a treatment plan that is efficient. This involves looking at the patient's medical and mental health history, and the current state of mind. The physician will also look at the surroundings of the person to determine whether they may be a contributing factor.
There are numerous sources for people with ADHD such as support groups and websites that provide information and tools. There are books that can help you manage the condition and achieve success in the world of work. For instance, "The Queen of Distraction: How women with ADHD can overcome chaos and Regain Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific challenges that girls with ADHD face. Stephanie Sarkis's doctoral book "Natural Treatment for adult adhd in women ADHD: Complementary strategies to improve focus, motivation and performance without or with medication" provides a variety of alternative treatment options.
Connecting with people with the same diagnosis can provide a lot support and compassion. ADDitude magazine’s forum and ADDitude’s parenting group are two of the many websites and social media platforms that provide support to people with ADHD. Some organizations also offer summer camps and day programs that teach organization and executive function skills.
Many people with ADHD are able to benefit from working with a professional counselor or coach to develop new techniques for managing their behavior and reach their goals. They can also get help from a therapist that specializes in treating those suffering from ADHD or mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. There are apps, like the popular Wunderlist and software, to track their daily activities. There are a number of websites that offer virtual collaboration, such as Focusmate which connects people who are working on the same task to work from a distance.