ADHD in Young Women
Girls and women with ADHD are often afflicted with different symptoms than boys. Signs of ADHD include forgetfulness, impulsivity and difficulty in understanding social signals can make it difficult to maintain relationships or make friends.
Unfortunately, these variations and an unbalanced treatment referral cause underdiagnosis and undertreatment of adhd in women who are young.
Symptoms
Adhd is characterised by a lack of organization as well as a tendency to forget appointments and bills, and difficulty maintaining friendships. Girls and women can also struggle to maintain relationships, and show impulsivity which can lead to risky behavior, including sexual activity, or be susceptible to emotional volatility. They can be misunderstood by their peers and struggle with anxiety or depression that can co-occur with ADHD which makes it more difficult to get diagnosed and treated.
Certain women and girls don't show conspicuous symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in elementary school or middle school, and then compensate when they enter high school, when academic and social expectations increase. This is why they don't seek help until after they are struggling to cope in college or the workplace.
Research shows that women and girls are frequently misdiagnosed or under-identified as having ADHD when compared to boys and men. This disparity could be due to gender bias, which could often be unintentionally. In particular, females and girls are less likely to be diagnosed for ADHD due to the fact that they tend to camouflage their symptoms, as mentioned above, or because they present with different types of symptoms than males.
A woman or girl is less likely to have ADHD referred to them due to the fact that they are more likely to exhibit mood or emotional symptoms like irritability and depression. They are more likely to be referred to a psychiatrist for anxiety or mood disorders and receive unsuitable treatment, which may exacerbate their issues by hiding the root cause.
The symptoms of the inattentive type of ADHD that are more prevalent in women and girls include trouble staying focused in the midst of deadlines, or making mistakes at school or at work. You are easily distracted by your own thoughts or the things that happen around you. You also lose track of time while doing your work. You find it difficult to relax and you find it difficult to sit for long periods of time. It is difficult to keep your room or desk in order, and you are easily overwhelmed in restaurants or stores. You are more likely to forget important dates or events for example, birthdays of 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 you are constantly interrupting others and have trouble listening to what they are saying. You have a hard time sitting still, and may fumble or do something out of a sense of compulsion like squirming your seat or grabbing your hair. You can't manage your emotions, and you could make hurtful or embarrassing comments.
Diagnosis
For girls and women with ADHD, the right diagnosis is essential. Getting a proper diagnosis will help you understand why some aspects of your life are difficult, and allow you to seek the support and resources that can assist you in feeling more in control. A diagnosis could also be a "lightbulb" moment. Many girls and women feel relief from their diagnosis, since it provides a reason for the difficulties they've been unable to comprehend or blamed on discrimination against women or poor communication, or their own gender stereotypes.
A doctor can test for ADHD by analyzing your symptoms and history tests, using the symptom list or questionnaire to gauge the intensity of these symptoms. They can also ask questions about how your symptoms impact your daily life. They can suggest strategies and medications that can improve your functioning. For example your doctor might suggest strategies for organizing such as planners, post-it notepads, and lists, or they may suggest a medication to help you concentrate and focus. The medications used to treat ADHD contain stimulants that boost your alertness and attention or non-stimulants that aid in staying focused without affecting your heart rate and blood pressure.
ADHD in girls and women is typically diagnosed later than it is in boys and men. This delay is likely due to sexist attitudes, a lack of access to health care and misperceptions about how the disorder manifests for females.
Symptoms can vary across the lifespan and can get worse before, during, and after hormonal changes. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat women and girls with ADHD. Inattention and impulsivity can lead to confusion and frustration with romantic partners, colleagues or even friends. It can also make it difficult for them to keep commitments to social or work. They might also have a difficult time to finish tasks like paying bills, finishing work or school assignments, or completing household chores. This can lead them to feel dissatisfied with their lives and exacerbate emotional problems such as depression or anxiousness.
The distinctions between males and females in ADHD are likely to be due in part to neurological, biological and environmental factors. Gender is the assigned status that a person is given at birth based on chromosomes anatomy, and other factors. This includes people who identify themselves as women, men or non-binary.
Treatment
Many women and girls don't receive a precise diagnosis of ADHD until well into adulthood. Getting an early diagnosis will help people better understand their symptoms and determine the best treatment options. The most effective way to treat ADHD in women and young girls is to employ an approach that is multimodal and includes therapy, medication, counseling, work and home accommodations, and lifestyle plans.
Women and girls with ADHD suffer from more emotional issues and have a harder time navigating relationships. They can be misunderstood or criticized by romantic partners or others and this can lead to anger and feeling of unfairness. They are also at an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety that are co-occurring.
Most of the time, they have more difficulty obtaining or maintaining an employment due to their lack of organization, poor time management and difficulty with executive functions. They often struggle to develop meaningful friendships or maintain relationships because of social difficulties and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more self-critical and can cause them to seek out unhealthy methods of coping like 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)), viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
Women and girls with ADHD could benefit from psychotherapy. It is a form of talking therapy aimed at changing the way an individual thinks and acts. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is focused on changing the way a person interprets or responds to situations. It may also involve taking on lifestyle changes, for example, eating a balanced diet regularly exercising and taking nutritional supplements. It is crucial to remember that removing food items or taking nutritional supplements should only be undertaken under the supervision of health professionals.
People who suffer from ADHD must have a strong support system. This could include family, friends or colleagues as well as mentors. It is also recommended that they join support groups or community groups as these can offer an environment where they can discuss the challenges of living with ADHD, and share tips to manage it effectively.
The following resources are available to you:
Girls with ADHD often struggle to form and keep friendships. They may also suffer from low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. They are more susceptible to impulsive, destructive 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 activity.
A health care provider must conduct a thorough examination to identify the root of the problem and formulate an effective treatment plan efficient. This involves looking at the patient's medical and mental health history, and their current mood. The physician will also examine the person's surroundings to see if they are a factor.
There are many resources for people suffering from ADHD which include support groups and websites that provide information and tools. There are also books that help people manage their condition and be successful in their lives. "The Queen of Distraction" by Terry Matlen, for example it addresses the particular issues girls who suffer from ADHD confront. "Natural Relief for Adult ADHD: Complementary Strategies to Increased Focus, Motivation, and Performance With or Without Medication" by Stephanie Sarkis, PhD offers an array of alternative therapies for people with ADHD.
weblink who suffer from ADHD will find plenty of empathy and support by connecting with other people who share the same diagnosis. ADDitude magazine's forum as well as ADDitude's parenting group are two of the numerous websites and social media platforms that provide support to people with ADHD. Some organizations offer summer or daytime programs that teach executive function and organizing skills.
Many adults suffering from ADHD benefit from working with a counselor or coach to develop new strategies for managing their behavior and achieve goals in their lives. They can also seek advice from a therapist that specializes in treating mental health issues like anxiety or depression or ADHD. Some people also use apps to help them stay focused on their work such as the well-known Wunderlist, as well as software to track their daily activities. There are also a variety of websites that provide virtual collaboration, such as Focusmate which connects people with the same task to work remotely.