ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls with ADHD might exhibit different symptoms. The symptoms of the inability to focus, forgetfulness, and impulsivity. interpreting social cues can make it difficult for them to establish friendships or maintain relationships.
Unfortunately, these differences and an unbalanced treatment referral cause under-diagnosis and treatment of adhd in young women.
Signs and symptoms
Adhd is characterized by an inability to organize, forgetting appointments and bills, and difficulty maintaining friendships. Girls and women can also have trouble maintaining relationships, show impulsivity, which can lead to risk-taking behavior such as sexual activity, or be prone to emotional turbulence. They may be misunderstood and suffer from depression or anxiety disorders that can be co-occurring with ADHD. This makes it harder to recognize and treat.
Some women and girls don't display obvious signs of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in middle school or in elementary school, and then they compensate when they reach high school, where academic and social expectations increase. In the end, they don't seek help until they have difficulty coping in college or at work.
Research has proven that women and girls are often misdiagnosed and not recognized as having ADHD, in comparison to boys and men. This is due to gender bias, which could often be unintentionally. Girls and women are less likely than men to be recommended to a doctor for ADHD, either because they camouflage symptoms as described above or because they have different symptoms.
A woman or girl is less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD being referred to them due to the fact that they tend to show mood or emotional symptoms like irritability or depression. They are more likely to be referred for mood disorders or anxiety and to receive inappropriate treatment, which can compound their issues by masking the root causes.
The signs of the inattentive subtype of ADHD which is more common for women and girls - include difficulty staying focused, missing deadlines, or making careless mistakes at school or work. You are easily distracted by your thoughts or other things going on around you, and you often lose track of time while working on tasks. It is difficult to relax and you have difficulty sitting still. You have trouble keeping your desk or space tidy and neat. You're easily overwhelmed when you go to restaurants or stores. You tend to forget important details or important events, like 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 on the move, you interrupt others and are unable to listen to what they're saying. You have a hard time sitting still and may fidget or act on impulse like squirming in your seat or grabbing your hair. high functioning adhd in women 're not able to control your emotions, and can make snide or embarrassing remarks.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is crucial for girls and women with ADHD. Accurate diagnosis will help you understand why some aspects of your life are difficult, and allow you to seek the support and resources that can help you feel more in control. A diagnosis could be a moment of lightbulb: many women and girls find their diagnosis to be a relief, giving them an external explanation for challenges that they've struggled to understand or chalked up to sexist biases, miscommunication, or their own internalized gender stereotypes.
A medical professional can test for ADHD by looking at your symptoms and past history as well as using the symptom checklist or questionnaire to determine their intensity. They will also ask questions about how your symptoms impact your daily life. They can suggest strategies and medications that can enhance your performance. For instance, your doctor may recommend organizational methods like planners, post-it notes and lists, or they may recommend a medication that will help you concentrate and focus. The drugs used to treat ADHD include stimulants that improve your attention and alertness, or nonstimulants that can help you stay focused, without increasing blood pressure and heart rate.
ADHD is diagnosed later in women and girls than in boys. It is likely that sexist views, less access to healthcare and a misperception of how the disorder manifests in females are the main reasons for this delay.
The symptoms can change throughout life and may worsen when, prior to or after hormonal changes. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat women and girls with ADHD. For instance, impulsivity or inattention can heighten the frustrations and miscommunications in relationships with romantic partners, friends or colleagues, and make it hard for people to keep up with work or social commitments. They may also struggle to complete tasks like paying bills, finishing school or work assignments, and doing housework. This could cause them to be unhappy with their lives, and can exacerbate emotional issues such as depression or anxiousness.
The gender and sex differences in ADHD are most likely the result of neurological, genetic, and environmental factors. Gender refers to the gender-specific status a person receives at birth based on chromosomes, anatomy, and other factors. This includes people who identify themselves as females or men, or even non-binary.
Treatment
Many girls and women don't receive a precise diagnosis of ADHD until they reach adulthood. Being diagnosed early can help people understand their symptoms and determine the best treatment options. The most effective approach to treating ADHD in women and girls involves a multimodal strategy including counseling, therapy, and medication, workplace and home life accommodations and lifestyle strategies.
Women and girls with ADHD suffer from more emotional issues and a tougher dealing with relationships. They are often misunderstood either by romantic partners or other people. This can lead to anger and feeling of unfairness. They also have greater risk of having depression and anxiety co-occurring.
They often have more difficulty finding work or retaining jobs due to their lack of organization and poor time management skills, and difficulties with executive tasks (planning or organizing, prioritizing). They often have difficulty forming meaningful friendships or maintain relationships due to social challenges and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more critical of themselves, which can lead them to seek unhealthy methods of coping with stress, including excessive drinking and substance 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 include the drugs atomoxetine (Strattera(r)) and viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and Clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
In addition to medications, girls and women with ADHD may benefit from psychotherapy that is a type of therapy for talking that aims to change the way someone thinks and behaves. This may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is focused on changing the way the person perceives or reacts to situations. It may also include changes to lifestyles, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, and taking nutritional supplements. However, it is crucial to remember that removing foods or taking supplements should only be done under the supervision of a medical professional.
People with ADHD must have a strong support system. This could include friends, family or colleagues as well as mentors. It is also recommended that they join support or community groups since they provide an opportunity to talk about the difficulties associated with living with ADHD, and share tips for managing it effectively.
The following resources are available to you:
Girls with ADHD often struggle to form and keep friendships. They may also suffer with depression or low self-esteem. They may be more prone to destructive, impulsive behaviors that could put them or others at risk. These could include the lack of safety precautions, drug or alcohol misuse or engaging in high risk sexual activity.
A health care provider must perform a thorough evaluation in order to identify the root of the problem and formulate a treatment plan that is efficient. This includes the person's medical and mental history as well as mood. The physician will also assess the person's surroundings to determine whether it's an influence.
There are many resources for those suffering from ADHD. These include support groups, websites offering information and tools, as well as websites that offer information. There are many books that can help manage the condition and help you achieve success in the world of work. For example, "The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD Can Conquer Chaos and Find Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific issues that girls with ADHD confront. "Natural Relief for Adult ADHD: Complementary Strategies to Improve Focus, Motivation, and Performance with or without medication" by Stephanie Sarkis, PhD offers a range of alternative treatments for people with ADHD.
Connecting with other people with the same diagnosis can offer a lot of support and empathy. Many websites and social media platforms offer assistance for those suffering from ADHD, including ADDitude magazine's forum and ADDitude's parenting group. Some organizations also offer summer camps and day programs that teach organizational and executive function skills.
Many people with ADHD are able to benefit from working with a counselor or coach to learn new behavioral techniques and achieve their goals. They can also seek assistance from a therapist that specializes in treating mental health issues like depression, anxiety or ADHD. There are apps, like the popular wunderlist and software, to track their daily activities. There are a number of websites that offer virtual collaboration, for instance Focusmate which allows people to collaborate who are working on the same task so they can work together from a distance.