ADHD in Women and Girls
Girls and women with ADHD face different social expectations than men, and these expectations can result in shame and self-blame. Treatment must take into account gender constructs as well as hormonal fluctuations and symptom severity.
Treatment, lifestyle changes and therapy can improve relationships, school and work performance, as well as self-esteem.
Signs and symptoms
Women with ADHD may suffer from symptoms like difficulty organizing their lives, forgetting important details, and working in noisy or crowded environments. They may also experience emotional dysregulation and feel overwhelmed. These feelings can be exacerbated by the expectations women are faced with in their families and social roles.
Women with ADHD may have a harder time getting diagnosed and treated due to these issues. Many people suffering from ADHD have been misdiagnosed because they don't fit the criteria. The symptoms have to be present since childhood and they must last at least six months before they be eligible for a diagnosis. It's important to know that stress and certain medications can cause symptoms similar to ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to cover up their symptoms and this is one of the main reasons why they aren't diagnosed. They may resort to coping strategies to cover up their symptoms, such as pretending that they aren't stressed or overcompensating with symptoms that are easier to detect in males and boys. In addition, they are more likely to have a mental health issue that affects their mood or emotions, such as depression or anxiety, which can be dismissed as an ADHD sign.
A bias against ADHD in the medical profession may also be a reason why women with ADHD aren't diagnosed. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on rating scales and interviews and these tools are biased toward male behaviors and symptoms. In addition, many women who suffer from ADHD experience negative self-esteem and internalized stigma and are less likely to seek out evaluation or treatment for their symptoms.
Inattentive women can be more difficult to diagnose as they may have difficulty working or focusing on their tasks, or even daydreaming. With the growing awareness of ADHD among women, and aided by high-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman, more women are seeking assistance.
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to develop rejection sensitivity - an intense, often uncontrollable reaction to rejection, whether real or perceived without ADHD. This can cause issues in relationships and the lack of support and a reluctance for women to ask for assistance.
Diagnosis
Women often go undiagnosed for ADHD throughout their adulthood. This could be due to their ability cover up their symptoms or gender bias. The concept of gender bias in clinical settings refers a set of beliefs and practices that affect how healthcare professionals diagnose and treat girls and women with ADHD. This can be in the form of scales for rating that are skewed toward male behavior, or through internalized emotions that can lead to misdiagnosis. Girls and women who suffer from inattentive ADHD typically have difficulty focusing in college lectures or business meetings, and they may have trouble staying on task at home or in their relationships. They may have homes that are cluttered or forget appointments, and fail to pay their bills on time. They might get easily distracted by social interactions and struggle to control their emotions, especially when faced with rejection or disappointment.
The symptoms can also alter at different times of life. For instance, they can be more severe during a woman's monthly cycle or during the transition to menopausal which can cause increased irritability and mood swings. Women who suffer from ADHD may also experience difficulties in their romantic relationships due to impulsivity and poor preparation, or they may struggle to maintain friendships due to social sensitive to rejection. They could be more at chance of being pressured to engage in sexual activities and of having unplanned pregnancy because they are unable to insist that their partners use contraception.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial to manage ADHD symptoms. The symptoms can be controlled with medication, for example, stimulants such as amphetamine or methylphenidate. Non-stimulants like atomoxetine, can be helpful too. When deciding on a treatment, your doctor will consider any other health conditions and medications you have. You may also need to change your lifestyle and receive counseling. You can aid your doctor by keeping track of your symptoms and letting them know about any changes you notice. You can also speak to your family and friends about any problems you're having as they might be able to identify something you missed. A diagnosis can help you build self-esteem and feel more in control.
Treatment
Women with untreated ADHD may struggle to perform at work, maintain healthy relationships, and take care of household chores. Symptoms may also lead to feelings of self-esteem issues or a sense of shame, particularly as women are typically expected to be caregivers. Due to their impulsivity, and heightened risk of violence in intimate relationships, girls and women who suffer from untreated ADHD are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual behaviors or be victims of abuse from their partners.
Medications are the most common treatment for ADHD in adults. Drugs that stimulate the brain, such as amphetamines or methylphenidate, aid to regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. If they aren't efficient or appropriate, healthcare professionals can prescribe non-stimulant drugs, such as atomoxetine or Guanfacine. A doctor will examine a woman's needs, symptoms and history to determine the best method of treatment.
While women are diagnosed with ADHD at a similar rate as men but they are not always diagnosed due to the way they hide their symptoms or mask them with other disorders like depression and anxiety. Additionally, rating scales and interview techniques for ADHD tend to be biased towards male behavior patterns, and as a result, women's symptoms can be misinterpreted or under-identified.
Many women consider it a significant moment to be diagnosed with ADHD as adults. It can provide a rationale for the difficulties they confront and restore their self-worth. Additionally knowing that add in adult women can reduce their symptoms and build life skills that will serve them for a long time can boost confidence in women.
For many women, the best method to cope with their ADHD is to use the combination of behavioral strategies and mental health therapies. Therapy can assist women in developing coping strategies and achieve realistic goals for all aspects of their lives. This can be accomplished by cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) which helps her identify and change negative thoughts. It can also be achieved through dialectical behavior 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 meet with other people who understand the disorder.
Self-help
Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed since their symptoms don't look like the boys. They can disguise their ADHD symptoms by implementing coping mechanisms that allow them to appear "normal" and conform to societal norms. These coping strategies are both healthy and unhealthy, but they can prevent women from seeking diagnosis.
It's crucial in addition to self-help techniques, to seek treatment from a healthcare provider who is specialized in treating ADHD for females. They can help diagnose and treat the condition and give a better understanding of its effects on women and girls.
Females suffering from ADHD tend to develop depression and anxiety and may struggle to maintain relationships with their loved ones. This can be made worse by the fact that they are more likely to engage in sexual activity at an early age, putting them at risk of unwanted sexual encounters and violence from their intimate partners. Women who suffer from ADHD are also susceptible to mood swings that makes it difficult for their loved ones understand them or support them.
Psychostimulants and antidepressants are the most commonly used treatments for ADHD. Psychostimulants speed up signals sent to the brain, which can increase attention and focus. Antidepressants alter the way the brain uses certain chemicals, like neurotransmitters, to regulate emotions and moods. A doctor can modify these medications to ensure that they work throughout the life of a woman.
Girls and women with ADHD can benefit from a variety of self-help strategies, such as regular exercise and keeping a daily calendar or reminders, and focusing on mindfulness. add symptoms in women can also find out about accommodations for work or school that can ease their symptoms.
It is essential for girls and women with ADHD to find a professional and therapist who is experienced with the condition, as they can assist with a myriad of symptoms, including emotional distress and low self-esteem, trouble finding or maintaining relationships, and issues at school or at work. They can also teach coping techniques, such as breathing and relaxation techniques to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life. Verywell Health acknowledges that sex is a reference to biology, which includes chromosomes and hormones, but that gender is an internal concept of self, which can be established at birth or by a person's behavior and appearance.