Symptoms of ADHD in Women Adults
While ADHD symptoms are more prevalent in males and females, women can suffer from the disorder too. The symptoms can change at different times, as hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause can exacerbate them.
Treatment and diagnosis are essential first steps. The treatment of ADHD through medication and therapy improves relationships, work and school performance.
Symptoms
Women with ADHD often have inattentive symptoms rather than the hyperactive/impulsive type more common in boys and men. This could be due to the brain's structure or levels like estrogen. Also, female hormones change during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy and perimenopausal and can impact the way ADHD medications work. Symptoms of ADHD are also covered by a variety of mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. Women with these comorbid conditions tend to feel more embarrassed about their symptoms and don't report them to their doctors, making it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated.
Untreated ADHD can cause many problems in the daily routine of a woman. signs and symptoms of adhd in women can be difficult to maintain a career or manage schoolwork. It can also lead to financial problems, like not paying bills or forgetting appointments and bills. It can result in low self-esteem and negatively impact relationships. Women who suffer from ADHD are also unable to navigate gender roles within society and tend to internalize symptoms, which can increase their distress and difficulty with relationships.
The symptoms of ADHD are likely to worsen as time passes. They can be more apparent when a woman is under stress or going through some major life change. For instance women may experience more issues with symptoms at home or at work following getting divorced, pregnant or having children.
Women can manage their symptoms using the combination of behavioral and therapy strategies. Therapists can help them improve their overall performance by teaching them how to manage their time and organize their lives. They could also benefit from working with an ADHD coach or joining an ADHD support group.
Diagnosis
Due to gender stereotypes, females and girls may be unable to get an accurate diagnosis due to a tendency to conceal ADHD symptoms. Symptoms of ADHD in girls and women tend to be more inattentive, whereas boys and men often have hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Because of this distinction in symptom presentations females and girls are more likely to be misdiagnosed more frequently than boys and men.
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD can manifest as a lack of focus, confusion or difficulty with time management at work and home. This could lead to delayed appointments, difficulty paying bills on time, and struggling to keep up with schoolwork or work tasks. Symptoms of the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD in women can present as restless behavior, frequent need to move around, difficulty staying quiet or talking out loud or saying nonsensical words or phrases. These signs can cause issues in relationships at work, at home, as well as at school.
For many years, ADHD was thought to be a condition that was only affecting boys and men. The early studies of ADHD focused on the behaviors of boys who were hyperactive. This helped define the diagnostic criteria and rating scales still in use today. This led to the assumption that ADHD only impacted male children, and many women and girls weren't diagnosed because their behaviors did not fit the traditional stereotypes of the disorder.
As girls and adolescent girls grow into adults, they may continue to experience difficulties navigating daily life with untreated ADHD. Additionally their struggles to manage their finances, keep a clean house and manage daily routines can lead to feelings of being inadequate. Women may also experience mood disorders like anxiety and depression that can make it more difficult to seek treatment.
Treatment
There are a myriad of treatment options for adults with ADHD, including medications. Stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall(r)) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse(r)) help improve focus and motivation, reduce impulsiveness and hyperactivity, and increase working memory and verbal memory. They also help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. Your doctor will talk with you which medications best suit your situation.
Your doctor may also suggest therapy in addition to medication. Specialists in ADHD can help you learn to manage your symptoms, and can help you build confidence in yourself. They can also help you learn healthy strategies to cope and help your family understand your condition. They can offer cognitive behavior therapy, which teaches to recognize negative thoughts and replace with more realistic ones. They could also offer psychoeducation for your family members that helps your loved one better understand ADHD and develop coping techniques.
Women may experience different ADHD symptoms than men. Women with inattentive ADHD may find it difficult to stay organized both at work and home or forget appointments or bills. In contrast, a woman with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may be more disruptive in social and professional settings. They might feel uncomfortable or misunderstood due to their symptoms.
Changes in hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopausal changes can affect how ADHD symptoms manifest. The treatment plan you choose to follow is based on your current hormone levels as well as your age and stage of life. You may find that your symptoms are more severe when you are pregnant as the increase in estrogen can help balance the chemicals in the brain. Your doctor may recommend taking part in a clinical study. These trials are designed to find new ways to detect, prevent or treat diseases.
Medication
Women with ADHD have their own unique challenges when it comes to managing their symptoms. They must contend with a complex interplay between gender expectations and executive function issues. They must also deal with the sensitivity of rejection which can cause them to feel embarrassed when they don't live up to social expectations. This can cause difficulty in maintaining and establishing relationships. They may develop strategies for coping to cover up their issues and attempt to blend into the crowd, which may mask their ADHD symptoms. Additionally, they struggle to identify their own distressing emotions and often assume their behaviors are "normal."
Due to these reasons this makes it harder for women and girls to get a clear diagnosis than boys and men. Furthermore the symptoms of women tend to be more inactive than hyperactive, and therefore aren't likely to trigger alarm. This can lead to a delayed diagnosis and treatment.
The medications help control the chemical imbalances that cause the symptoms of ADHD for girls and women. These medications are often the first option for patients suffering from ADHD, however they must be monitored because some people can experience a serious reaction to these drugs. Other drugs that do not stimulate are also available, and they can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy or other behavioral treatments to alleviate symptoms.
It's important for these individuals to inform their doctor about any issues they have had prior to being diagnosed to ADHD, because they can use this information when creating the treatment plan. They can also ask for their doctor to refers them to a mental health professional who has experience treating ADHD in girls and women. They can offer counseling and psychotherapy as well as lifestyle management strategies as well as school and job accommodations and other treatments to help them better manage their ADHD symptoms.
Support
Women who suffer from ADHD face a number of challenges, such as misdiagnosis or unrecognized signs. Rating scales for ADHD tend to be biased towards male behaviors, and females with the condition tend to experience more internalized symptoms like anxiety and depression (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). Women tend to have different symptoms, with an inattention presentation being more common than hyperactive or impulse-related symptoms.
First, you should speak with your primary healthcare provider. They can evaluate your symptoms, and refer you to an expert in mental health. Many women find that having a diagnosis can help them face their issues and manage them better.
A doctor may prescribe medications to help regulate brain activity and reduce symptoms. Stimulant medications are most common however, non-stimulants can be an option for a few people. Doctors may prescribe therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to help people overcome negative thoughts and behaviors. They can also provide advice on ways to improve communication and relationships.
Support from family members is crucial to tackling the symptoms of ADHD. Family therapy and marriage counseling can help people to understand the challenges that ADHD creates in their lives. They can also learn how to deal with problems caused by inattention or impulsive behaviors, like inability to make decisions or forgetfulness.
Many people who suffer from ADHD are unable to asking for help or admitting they need assistance. A doctor can help overcome this barrier by explaining how ADHD affects them and teaching them strategies for coping to help them perform better in school and at work. They could also ask their colleagues or teachers for minor adjustments that will allow them to achieve their goals in school or at work.