ADHD in Young Women
Girls and women with ADHD are often afflicted with different symptoms than men. The symptoms of inattention, forgetfulness, and difficulty in interpreting social signals can make it difficult for them to make friends or maintain relationships.
These differences and biases in treatment recommendations result in the incorrect diagnosis of adhd and its ineffective treatment in young women.
Symptoms
Adhd is characterized by an inability to organize, forgetting appointments and bills, as well as difficulties maintaining friendships. Women and girls can also have issues with relationships, impulsivity that results in risky behavior, including sexual activities, and a tendency toward emotional instability. They can be misunderstood by their peers and may suffer from anxiety or depression that co-occur with ADHD making it difficult to diagnose and treated.
Some women and girls do not exhibit obvious signs of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) however, they compensate when they enter high school where academic and social demands increase. They don't seek help until they experience difficulties in college or at work.
Research has shown that women and girls are consistently under-identified and underdiagnosed for ADHD as compared to boys and men. This disparity can be attributed to gender bias, which could often be not intentional. Women and girls 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.
Girls and women also are less likely to be referred for ADHD because of their tendency to exhibit emotional or mood-related symptoms, such as irritability, rage and depression. They are more likely to be referred to a psychiatrist for anxiety or mood disorders and to receive inappropriate treatment, which can compound their issues by masking the root causes.
The signs of the inattentive subtype of ADHD that are more common in women and girls include difficulty staying focused, missing deadlines, or making a mistake at school or work. You can easily be distracted by your thoughts or other things happening around you and you often lose track of time when doing your work. You have trouble sitting still and find it difficult to relax. You struggle to keep your desk or room tidy and neat. You can easily get overwhelmed when you go to restaurants or shops. You are prone to overlook important details or events, such as a friend's birthday.
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 you have difficulty listening to what they are saying. You might have difficulty sitting still, fidget in your chair, or even grab your hair. You can't manage your emotions, and you may make hurtful or embarrassing comments.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is crucial for women and girls with ADHD. A correct diagnosis can help you comprehend the difficulties you are facing and help you locate the support and resources you need to feel more in control. In addition, a diagnosis can be a moment of lightbulb: many women and girls find their diagnosis to be an opportunity to feel relieved, and provide them with an external explanation of the difficulties that they've been unable to comprehend or attributed to sexist bias, miscommunication, or their internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care professional can determine if you have ADHD by looking into your symptoms and past history, and using the symptom checklist or questionnaire to assess the severity of your symptoms. They will also ask you questions about how your symptoms impact your daily life. They may suggest strategies and medications that will improve your functioning. For instance your doctor might suggest ways to organize your life, such as planners, post-it notepads, and lists, or they may suggest a medication to help you focus and concentrate. Medications used to treat ADHD could include stimulants that can improve your attention and alertness, or non-stimulants, which help you stay focused without increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.
ADHD is diagnosed later in women and girls, but not in boys. This is likely due to sexist beliefs as well as the lack of access to health care and misperceptions about how the disorder manifests in females.
Symptoms can vary across the years and can become more severe before, during, and after hormonal changes. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat women and girls with ADHD. For instance, impulsivity or inattention can cause frustrations and misunderstandings in relationships with romantic friends, partners or colleagues, and make it difficult for people to keep up with work or social commitments. adhd women uk may also have difficulty to complete tasks such as paying off bills, completing school or work assignments, or doing household chores. This can cause them to be unhappy with their lives, and exacerbate emotional problems such as depression or anxiousness.
The gender and sex differences in ADHD are likely to be the result of neurological, genetic and environmental factors. Gender refers back to a person's birth status in accordance with their chromosomes as well as their anatomy and also includes people who identify as females, men, or nonbinary.
Treatment
Many girls and women are not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. Being diagnosed early can help people understand their symptoms and determine the best treatment options. The most effective way to treat ADHD for women and young girls is to use a multimodal approach that includes therapy, medication, counseling, home and office accommodations, and lifestyle plans.
Women and girls with ADHD suffer from more emotional issues and have a harder time navigating relationships. They are often misunderstood either by romantic partners or other people. This can cause frustration and feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher risk of depression and anxiety that are co-occurring.
In most cases, they have greater difficulties obtaining or keeping a job due to their lack of organization as well as their poor time management and difficulties with executive tasks. They often struggle to develop meaningful relationships or maintain them because of social difficulties and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more critical of themselves and can cause them to look for unhealthy ways to cope 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 atomoxetine (Strattera(r)) and viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and Clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD might benefit from psychotherapy. This is a kind of talking therapy aimed at changing the way an individual thinks and behaves. This could include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which is focused on changing the way a person interprets or responds to situations. It could also involve lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, exercising regularly and taking nutritional supplements. It is important to note that removing food items or supplementing with supplements should only be done under the supervision of a health professional.
It is crucial for people who suffer from ADHD to have a support system in place, which can include friends, family members or colleagues, as well as mentors and colleagues. It is recommended that they take part in support groups or community groups, since they can offer a safe place to discuss the challenges of living with ADHD and share advice on how to manage it effectively.
The following resources are available to you:
Girls who suffer from ADHD have difficulty making and maintaining friendships. They might also be suffering from depression or low self-esteem. They could be more prone to destructive, impulsive behavior that could put them and others at risk. These are behaviors that include not taking safety precautions, drinking alcohol or taking drugs or engaging in risky sexual activities.
A health care provider should conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan. This includes the person's medical and mental history as well as current state of mind. The doctor will also look at the person's environment to see whether it's an influence.
There are numerous sources for people with ADHD which include support groups and websites that offer information and tools. There are also books that can help people manage their condition and achieve success in their daily lives. "The Queen of Distraction" by Terry Matlen, for example, addresses the specific challenges girls with ADHD have to face. "Natural Relief for Adult ADHD: Complementary Strategies to Increased focus, motivation and performance With or Without Medication" by Stephanie Sarkis, PhD offers a range of alternative treatments for those suffering from ADHD.
People with ADHD will find plenty of support and empathy by connecting with others who share the same diagnosis. ADDitude magazine's forum and ADDitude's parenting group are among 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 organizational and executive functions.
Many adults suffering from ADHD benefit from working with a coach or counselor to learn new behavioral strategies and to achieve their goals in their lives. They can also get help from a therapist who specializes in treating people with ADHD or mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. There are also apps to help them stay focused on tasks, such as the popular Wunderlist, as well as software to keep track of their daily activities. There are a number of websites that provide virtual collaboration, such as Focusmate, which pairs people who are working on the same task so that they can work from a distance.