ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD typically have different signs than boys. Signs of ADHD include impulsivity, forgetfulness, and difficulty interpreting social signals can make it difficult to keep relationships going or to make friends.
These biases and differences in the treatment process can lead to misdiagnosis of adhd and its undertreatment in young women.
Symptoms
The most prominent symptoms of adhd include difficulty staying organized, forgetting appointments or paying bills and having difficulty maintaining friendships. Girls and women also may experience difficulty with relationships, impulsivity that leads to risk-taking behaviors including sexual activity and a tendency to emotional volatility. They are often misunderstood their peers and suffer from anxiety or depression that co-occur with ADHD making it difficult to diagnose and treated.
Certain women and girls don't show conspicuous symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in middle or elementary school, and then compensate when they reach high school, where academic and social expectations increase. They don't seek help until they have trouble coping in college or at work.
Research has shown that women and girls are often not diagnosed and recognized for ADHD as compared to men and boys. This disparity can be attributed to gender bias, which can often be unintentionally. In particular, females and girls are less likely to be referred for ADHD because they are more likely to camouflage their symptoms, as mentioned above or they present with different types of symptoms than males.
A woman or girl is less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD referred to them because they are more likely to exhibit emotional or mood symptoms like irritability or depression. They are more likely than men to be taken to a psychiatrist for depression or anxiety and receive treatment that may aggravate their problems.
Inattentive ADHD is more common for girls and women. It manifests as lack of focus, missing deadlines, or careless mistakes at school or work. You can easily be distracted by thoughts or other activities happening around you and you can easily lose track of time when doing your work. You find it difficult to relax and you have difficulty sitting still. You are having trouble keeping your desk or room tidy and neat. You can easily get overwhelmed when you visit restaurants or shops. It is easy 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 constantly busy, interrupting others and find it difficult to pay attention to what people are talking about. You may find it difficult to sit still, fidget in your chair or grab your hair. You're not able to manage your emotions and may make snide or embarrassing remarks.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is crucial for women and girls with ADHD. Accurate diagnosis will aid in understanding why certain aspects of your life are difficult, and allow you to get the help and support that will make you feel more in control. Additionally, a diagnosis can be a moment of lightbulb for many women and girls. experience their diagnosis as a relief, giving them an external explanation for challenges that they have long struggled to comprehend or attributed to sexist biases or miscommunication. Or, they blame their internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care professional can determine if you have ADHD by examining your symptoms and past history and using the symptom checklist or questionnaire to gauge the severity of your symptoms. They will ask you questions regarding your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. They can suggest strategies and medications that can help you function better. For example your doctor may suggest strategies for organizing such as planners, post-it notes and lists, or they may suggest a medication to aid in concentration and focus. The medications used to treat ADHD contain stimulants that increase your alertness and focus, or nonstimulants that help you stay focused without affecting your blood pressure and heart rate.
ADHD is more often diagnosed in girls and women than in boys. It is possible that sexist beliefs, a lack of access to healthcare, and a misperception of the way the disorder manifests in females are the main reasons for this delay.
The symptoms can be different across the years and can become more severe before, during, and after hormonal changes. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat girls and women with ADHD. For example, impulsivity and inattention can cause tensions and misunderstandings with romantic partners, friends or colleagues. It can also make it difficult for people to keep up with their work or social obligations. They may also have difficulty to complete tasks like paying off bills, completing school or work assignments, or doing housework. This can cause people to feel unhappy with their lives, and exacerbate emotional problems like anxiety or depression.
The sex and gender differences in ADHD are most likely the result of neurological, biological and environmental factors. Gender refers back to a person's birth status in accordance with their chromosomes and anatomical features and includes those who identify as females males, nonbinary, or men.
Treatment
Many girls and women are not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. A diagnosis early can help people recognize their symptoms and identify appropriate treatment options. The most effective method of treating ADHD in women and girls involves a multimodal approach, which includes counseling, therapy, and medication, workplace and home life accommodations and lifestyle plans.
Girls and women with ADHD are more prone to emotional issues and have a difficult to navigate relationships. They may be misunderstood by their partners or others and this can lead to frustration and a feeling that life is unfair. They are also at a higher risk of depression and anxiety co-occurring.
They often have more difficulty finding work or retaining jobs due to their inability to organize and poor time management skills and difficulty with executive tasks (planning or organizing, prioritizing). They often have difficulty forming meaningful friendships or maintain relationships due to social challenges and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more critical of themselves, which can lead them to seek out unhealthy ways to cope with stress, including excessive drinking and adolescent 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 could benefit from psychotherapy. It is a form of therapy that focuses on changing the way that a person thinks and behaves. This could include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing the way the person perceives or reacts to situations. It could also involve lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and taking nutritional supplements. It is crucial to remember that removing food items or taking nutritional supplements should only be done under the supervision of health care experts.
People with ADHD should have a strong support system, which may include family members, friends or colleagues as well as mentors. It is also recommended that they participate in support groups or community groups, as they can provide a safe space to discuss the difficulties of living with ADHD and share advice for managing it effectively.
The following resources are available to you:
Girls with ADHD struggle with making and keeping friendships. They may also suffer with depression or low self-esteem. They could be vulnerable to impulsive and destructive behaviors that could expose them to harming themselves or others. These can include insufficient safety precautions or the misuse of alcohol or drugs, or engagement in sexual activities that are high risk.
A health professional must conduct a thorough assessment in order to identify the root of the problem and formulate an effective treatment plan efficient. This includes looking into the person's medical and mental health history, as well as the current state of mind. The doctor will also look at the surroundings of the person to determine if they are a factor.
There are many resources available for people with ADHD, including support groups and websites that offer information and tools. There are also books that can help manage the condition and help you achieve success in the world of work. For instance, "The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD Can Conquer Chaos and Regain Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific challenges that girls with ADHD face. Stephanie Sarkis's PhD book "Natural Treatment for Adult ADHD: Complementary strategies to boost focus, motivation and performance, whether or not you take medication" provides a range of alternative treatment options.
Connecting with people with the same diagnosis can give a lot of support and empathy. 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 or day programs that teach organization and executive functions.
women and adhd with ADHD are able to benefit by working with a counselor or coach to master new behavioral techniques and achieve their goals. They can also seek help from a therapist that specializes in the treatment of mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, or ADHD. Many people also use apps to help them stay focused on their work, such as the popular Wunderlist, as well as software to track their daily activities. There are also a range of websites that offer virtual collaboration, like Focusmate, which pairs people working on the same project so that they can work from a distance.