ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often afflicted with different symptoms than men. For example, symptoms like inattention, forgetfulness, and difficulty interpreting social cues can make it difficult for them to establish friendships or maintain relationships.
These biases and differences in treatment referral can lead to misdiagnosis of adhd as well as its undertreatment in young women.
Symptoms
The most prominent symptoms of adhd include difficulties keeping track of appointments, forgetting appointments or paying bills and having trouble maintaining friendships. Women and girls can also be troubled in relationships, impulsivity that results in risky behavior, including sexual activities, and a tendency toward emotional volatility. They may be misunderstood and suffer from depression or anxiety disorders that can be co-occurring with ADHD. This makes it harder to identify and treat.
Some girls and women don't show conspicuous symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in middle school or in elementary school, and then they compensate when they reach high school, when social and academic expectations are raised. This is why they don't seek help until after they struggle to manage in college or the workplace.
Research shows that girls and women are often misdiagnosed and not recognized as having ADHD in comparison to boys and men. This disparity could be due to gender bias, which can often be not intentional. Girls and women are less likely than men to be diagnosed with ADHD due to the fact that they conceal symptoms as mentioned above or because they have different symptoms.
Girls and women also are less likely to receive referrals for ADHD due to their tendency to show mood or emotional symptoms, such as anger, rage and depression. They are more likely to receive referrals to a psychiatrist for anxiety or mood disorders and receive unsuitable treatment, which can compound their problems by masking the root cause.
Inattentive ADHD is more prevalent among women and girls. It manifests itself as a lack of concentration, missed deadlines, or making mistakes at school or work. You are easily distracted, either by your own thoughts or the events that occur around you. You also lose track of time when doing your work. You struggle to stay focused and find it difficult to relax. You aren't able to keep your space or desk organized and you can easily become overwhelmed in restaurants or stores. It is easy to forget important dates or events, like the birthday of your friend.
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 may find it difficult to sit still, fumbling around in your chair, or even grab your hair. You're not able to control your emotions and sometimes blurt out hurtful remarks, embarrassing or off-color.
Diagnosis
For girls and women with ADHD an getting a correct diagnosis is crucial. A correct diagnosis can help you comprehend the issues you face and assist you in finding the support and resources you require to feel more in control. In addition, a diagnosis could be a moment of lightbulb that many girls and women find their diagnosis to be an uplifting experience, providing them with an external explanation of the difficulties that they've struggled to comprehend or blamed to sexist bias, miscommunication, or their own internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care provider can test for ADHD according to your symptoms and history, and by using a symptom list or questionnaire to assess the severity of the symptoms. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. They can recommend strategies and medicines that could help you function better. For instance, your doctor may recommend ways to organize your life, such as planners, post-it notes, and lists, or they may recommend a medication that will help you concentrate and focus. The medications used to treat ADHD could include stimulants which can increase your focus and alertness, or non-stimulants, which can help you stay on task without increasing your heart rate or blood pressure.
ADHD in girls and women is typically diagnosed later than in men and boys. This is probably due to sexist views as well as the lack of access to healthcare and misunderstandings about how the disorder manifests itself in females.
The symptoms can be different across the years, and they can worsen prior to, during, and after hormonal changes. This can complicate the diagnosis process and treatment options for women and girls with ADHD. For example, impulsivity and inattention can heighten tensions and misunderstandings with romantic partners, friends or colleagues, and make it hard for people to keep up with their work or social engagements. They may also have difficulty to complete tasks such as paying bills, finishing school or work assignments, and doing housework. This can cause feeling dissatisfied with their lives and exacerbate emotional difficulties such as anxiety or depression.
The gender differences between women and men in ADHD are likely due to biological, neurological and environmental factors. Gender refers back to a person's assigned status at birth, based on their chromosomes as well as their anatomy, and includes people who identify as women males, nonbinary, or men.
Treatment
Many girls and women are not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. Getting an early diagnosis will help people better understand their symptoms and identify appropriate treatment options. The most effective method to treat ADHD in women and young girls is through an approach that is multimodal and includes medication, therapy, counseling, home and work accommodations, and lifestyle strategies.
adhd in women adults iampsychiatry and women with ADHD have more emotional issues and a tougher time navigating relationships. They can be misunderstood either by their romantic partners or by other people. This can cause anger and a feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher risk of co-occurring anxiety and depression.
They are often more difficult in finding work or keeping jobs due to their inability to organize and poor time management skills and difficulty in executive functions (planning, organizing prioritizing). Problems with social interaction and emotional dysregulation can make it difficult for them to maintain or form meaningful relationships. They tend to be more self-critical which may lead them to look for unhealthy ways to cope like excessive drinking and drug 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 atomoxetine, viloxazine, and clonidine.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD might benefit from psychotherapy. It is a form of talking therapy aimed at changing the way a person thinks and acts. This could include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which is focused on changing the way the person perceives or reacts to situations. It can also involve incorporating lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet regularly exercising and taking nutritional supplements. It is important to remember that removing food items or taking nutritional supplements should only be undertaken under the supervision of health care experts.
It is important for people who suffer from ADHD to have an established support system which could include family members, friends, colleagues and mentors. It is recommended that they join in support or community groups, since they can provide a safe space to discuss the challenges of living with ADHD and offer tips for managing it effectively.
Resources
Girls who suffer from ADHD often struggle to form and keep friendships. They may also have low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. They could be more prone to destructive, impulsive behavior which could put them or others at risk. These can include a lack of security measures or the misuse of alcohol or drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are high risk.
A medical professional must conduct a thorough assessment to determine the cause of the symptoms and create an effective treatment plan. This includes looking at the person's medical and mental health history, as well as current mood. The provider will also examine the person's surroundings to see whether they could be a cause.
There are numerous resources available for people with ADHD which include support groups and websites that offer information and tools. There are also books to aid people in managing their condition and find success in their daily lives. For instance, "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. Stephanie Sarkis's book on PhD "Natural Treatment for Adult ADHD: Complementary strategies to improve focus, motivation, and performance with or without medication" offers a variety of alternative treatments.
People suffering from ADHD will find plenty of support and empathy by connecting with other people who have the same diagnosis. ADDitude magazine’s forum and ADDitude’s parenting group are among the many websites and social media platforms that provide assistance to those suffering from ADHD. Some organizations provide day or summer programs that teach executive function and organizing skills.
Many people with ADHD benefit from working with a coach or counselor to develop new strategies for managing their behavior and reach their goals in their lives. They can also find assistance from a therapist who is specialized in treating those suffering from ADHD or mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. Many people also use apps to keep them focused on tasks such as the well-known Wunderlist, as well as software to monitor their daily activities. There are many websites that allow collaboration via virtual networks. Focusmate is one such website. It connects people with the same task to work together via remote.