ADHD in Women and Girls
Women and girls with ADHD are governed by a different set societal expectations as compared to males. These expectations can lead them to feel shame and blame themselves. Treatment needs to account for gender-based stereotypes, hormonal changes and the severity of symptoms.
Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy can improve the quality of relationships and performance at work and in school, and also improve 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 made worse by the expectations women face, such as family and societal roles.
Women with ADHD may have a harder time getting diagnosed and treated because of these challenges. Many people suffering from ADHD are misdiagnosed because they don't meet the criteria. The symptoms must have been present since childhood and must last for at least six months to be considered as ADHD. It's important to understand that stress and certain medications may cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD.
One of the primary reasons women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed is because they are more likely to hide their symptoms. They may resort to strategies to disguise their symptoms. For example they may pretend that they're not stressed or overstate symptoms that are more evident in boys and men. They are also more likely to suffer from a mental illness that affects their emotions and mood, like anxiety or depression, which can be mistaken for ADHD symptoms.
Another reason that women with ADHD are not being diagnosed is due to a bias against the disorder within the medical community. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on rating scales and interviewing that are biased towards male behaviour and symptoms. Many women with ADHD suffer from internalized stigma, low self-esteem and are less likely to seek treatment or an evaluation for their symptoms.
Attention-deficit women are more difficult to diagnose since they might have difficulty focus on work or dreaming. However, with increased awareness of ADHD in women fueled by influencers and high-profile women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano many women are seeking assessments and getting much-needed help.
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to develop sensitivity towards rejection - an intense, often uncontrollable reaction to rejection, whether it is real or perceived who do not have ADHD. This can cause problems with interpersonal relationships and lead to an absence of support networks and a failure to seek help.
Diagnosis
Women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD well into adulthood. adhd symptoms for women could be due to their capacity to conceal their symptoms and gender bias. Gender bias refers to a set of assumptions and practices in clinical settings that can negatively impact the way that clinicians diagnose women and girls with ADHD. This could be in the form of rating scales that tend to be biased towards male behavior or internalized thoughts that lead to confusion in diagnosis. Women and girls with inattentive ADHD might have difficulty focusing on business meetings or college lectures, and may also have difficulty staying on task in their personal relationships or at home. They may have messy homes or 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, especially when facing rejection or failure.
The symptoms can also change throughout the course of life. For instance, they can be more severe during a woman's monthly cycle or during the lead-up to menopausal which can increase irritability and mood swings. Women with ADHD may also have issues in their romantic relationships because of their impulsivity and insufficient planning, or they might struggle to maintain friendships due to social sensitive to rejection. They may be at chance of being pressured to engage in sexual activities and of having unplanned pregnancies due to their difficulty in insisting that their partners use contraception.
A precise diagnosis is essential to managing ADHD symptoms. Medication, such as stimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate, can help reduce 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 the history of medications you've had. You may also be required to make lifestyle changes and seek counseling. You can assist your doctor by keeping the track of your symptoms and inform them about any changes that you observe. You can also talk to your family and friends about any issues you're experiencing as they might be able to identify something you didn't notice. A diagnosis can be a significant way to build self-esteem and feeling more in control of your life.
Treatment
Women with untreated ADHD may have trouble performing at work, maintain healthy relationships, and manage household chores. Symptoms may also lead to feelings of self-esteem issues or a sense of shame, particularly as women are often expected to be caregivers. Due to their impulsivity, and increased risk of violence in intimate relationships, women and girls who suffer from untreated ADHD are more likely to engage in dangerous sexual conduct or become victims of abuse from their partners.
Adults with ADHD are typically treated by medication. The stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate or amphetamines, help to control brain activity and manage symptoms. If these drugs aren't effective or appropriate healthcare professionals may prescribe nonstimulant medications, such as atomoxetine and Guanfacine. A healthcare professional will analyze the woman's symptoms, needs and medical history to determine the most effective treatment is.
While women are diagnosed with ADHD at the same rate as men but they are not always diagnosed due to the ways they hide their symptoms or cover them with other conditions like depression and anxiety. The rating scales for ADHD and the interview techniques are heavily influenced by male behavior. This can lead to female symptoms being misinterpreted or not being identified.
Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood can be an important moment of recognition for a lot of women. It can offer an external explanation for their problems and help them regain their sense of self-worth. Women's confidence can be boosted by knowing that they can reduce symptoms and learn life skills that will benefit them well into their old age.
Combining behavioral strategies with mental health therapies is the best method for women to overcome their struggles with ADHD. Therapy can assist a woman build coping strategies and establish realistic goals that she can accomplish in all areas of her life. This can be achieved through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps her identify and change negative thoughts, and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which increases mindfulness and the capability of setting and observing personal boundaries. Additionally, some women might benefit from joining an ADHD support group to make connections with others who are aware of the condition.
Self-help
Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed since their symptoms do not look the same as those of males. They may hide their ADHD symptoms by implementing ways of coping that enable them to appear "normal" and conform to societal norms. These coping mechanisms could be healthy or unhealthy, but they can hinder women from seeking the diagnosis.
In addition to self-help methods It is essential to seek out an expert in healthcare who is skilled in treating ADHD in females. They can help diagnose and treat the condition and provide a better understanding of its impacts on girls and women.
Females with ADHD often develop anxiety and depression, and they can also struggle to maintain relationships with their loved ones. This is exacerbated due to the fact that they are more likely to engage in sexual activities at an early age, putting them at risk of sexually inappropriate encounters and violence from intimate partners. Women with ADHD are also susceptible to mood swings, which can make it difficult for loved ones to be able to understand or help them.
The most popular treatments for ADHD are psychostimulants and antidepressants. Psychostimulants can improve concentration and focus by speeding up signals sent to your brain. Antidepressants alter the way the brain utilizes certain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, to manage moods and emotions. They can be adjusted by a doctor to ensure optimal effectiveness throughout the woman's lifetime.
Women and girls with ADHD can benefit from self-help strategies such as regular exercise, maintaining an ongoing schedule, creating reminders or mindfulness. They can also inquire about accommodations that could help ease their symptoms at work or school.
It is essential for girls and women with ADHD to find a clinician and therapist who is experienced with the condition, since they can help with a myriad of symptoms, including emotional distress and low self-esteem, difficulty making or maintaining relationships and difficulties at school or at work. They can also teach coping skills, including relaxation and breathing techniques to help ease symptoms and improve their quality of life. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, which includes hormones and chromosomes, but the gender is an internal concept of self that can be given at birth or determined by a person's behavior and appearance.