Five Killer Quora Answers On ADHD In Young Women
ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often afflicted with different symptoms than boys. Symptoms like impulsivity, forgetfulness and difficulty understanding social cues can make it hard to make friends or maintain relationships.
Unfortunately, these variations and the bias in referral to treatment cause ineffective diagnosis and treatment of adhd in young women.
Signs and symptoms
The defining symptoms of adhd include difficulties staying organized, forgetting appointments or paying bills and struggling to maintain friendships. Women and girls may also have trouble maintaining relationships, exhibit impulsivity, which could lead to risk-taking behaviors which includes sexual activity or be susceptible to emotional turbulence. They can be misunderstood by their peers and struggle with depression or anxiety disorders that co-occur with ADHD, making it even more difficult to be diagnosed and treated.
Certain women and girls don't show any obvious signs of adhd adult women of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) however, they compensate when they enter high school where social and academic demands are increased. They don't seek assistance until they experience difficulties at college or at work.
Research shows that women and girls are often not diagnosed and recognized for ADHD in comparison to men and boys. This disparity can be attributed to gender bias, which could often be not intentional. Specifically, girls and women are less likely to be diagnosed for ADHD because they tend to camouflage their symptoms, as described above, or because they present with different kinds of symptoms than males.
Girls and women also are less likely to be referred for ADHD due to their propensity to display mood-related or emotional symptoms, such as anger, rage and depression. They are more likely than males to be referred to a psychiatrist for mood disorders or anxiety, and receive inappropriate treatment that may aggravate their issues.
Attention-deficit ADHD is more prevalent in girls and women. It manifests as a lack of focus, missing deadlines, or committing a few mistakes in school or at work. You are easily distracted by your thoughts or other things happening around you, and you often lose track of time when doing your work. You find it difficult to relax and you are unable to sit still. You have trouble keeping your desk or room clean and organized. You can easily get overwhelmed when you visit restaurants or stores. You're likely to forget important details or important dates, such as the birthday of a 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 frequently busy, interrupting others and have trouble listening to what others are talking about. You have a hard time sitting still, and may fumble or do something out of a sense of compulsion, adhd in young Women such as squirming in your seat or grabbing your hair. You aren't able to manage your emotions, and you might make snide or embarrassing remarks.
Diagnosis
For girls and women with ADHD An accurate diagnosis is key. Accurate diagnosis will enable you to understand why certain aspects of your life are challenging and enable you to find the help 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 because it gives them an explanation for the challenges they've struggled to comprehend, or chalked up with sexist bias or poor communication or internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care provider can test you for ADHD by analyzing your symptoms and history, and by using an inventory of symptoms or a questionnaire to gauge the intensity of those symptoms. They'll also ask you questions about how your symptoms affect your daily life. They may suggest methods and medications to help improve your functioning. Your doctor may suggest methods of organization such as planners, lists, and post-it notes. They may also recommend medication that can help you concentrate and focus. The medications used to treat ADHD include stimulants that increase your alertness and focus or non-stimulants that 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 delay is likely due to sexist attitudes as well as a lack of access to medical care and misinformation about how the disorder manifests in females.
The symptoms can vary throughout life and can get worse before, during, and after hormonal changes. This can cause problems with the diagnosis process and treatment options for women and girls with ADHD. Inattention and impulsivity may cause confusion and frustration with romantic partners, colleagues, or even friends. It can also make it difficult for them to maintain work or social commitments. They may also struggle to complete tasks such as paying off bills, completing school or work assignments, or doing housework. This could lead to feeling dissatisfied with their lives, and can exacerbate mental issues like anxiety or depression.
The gender differences between women and men in ADHD are likely due to biological, neurological and environmental factors. Gender refers to a person's status at birth in accordance with their chromosomes as well as their anatomy, and includes people who identify as females or men, as well as nonbinary.
Treatment
Many women and girls do not get an accurate diagnosis of ADHD until well into adulthood. Being diagnosed early can help people understand their symptoms and identify appropriate treatment options. The most effective method to treat ADHD for women and young girls is to use an approach that is multimodal and includes medication, therapy counseling, home and work accommodations, as well as lifestyle strategies.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD suffer from more emotional issues and a tougher to navigate relationships. They can be misunderstood either by romantic partners or other people. This can lead to anger and feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher chance of developing co-occurring depression and anxiety.
They are often more difficult in finding work or retaining jobs due to their lack of organization, poor time management skills and problems with executive tasks (planning and organizing, prioritizing). They often struggle to develop meaningful relationships or maintain them due to social challenges and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more self-critical, which can lead them to seek out unhealthy ways of coping, such as excessive alcohol and drugs.
The most common medications used to treat adhd in adult women uk 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)) as well as viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
In addition to medications, girls and women with ADHD may benefit from psychotherapy, which is a form of therapy that seeks to change the way someone thinks and behaves. This may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which focuses on changing the way an individual interprets or responds to situations. It could also include taking on lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly 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 experts.
It is important for people who suffer from ADHD to have an established support system which could include friends, family members as well as colleagues and mentors. It is also recommended they join support groups or community groups since they provide an opportunity to talk about the challenges of living with ADHD, and share tips to manage it effectively.
Resources
Girls who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty making and maintain friendships. They may also suffer from low self-esteem or depression. They could be more prone to impulsive, destructive behaviors which could put them or others at risk. These behaviors include not taking safety precautions, drinking alcohol or taking drugs or engaging in high-risk sexual activity.
A doctor must conduct a thorough assessment to determine the cause of symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan. This includes the patient's medical and mental background as well as their current mood. The provider will also look at the environment around the person to determine if they are a factor.
There are many resources available for people with ADHD such as support groups and websites that provide information and tools. There are also books that aid people in managing their condition and find success in their lives. "The Queen of Distraction" by Terry Matlen, for example it addresses the particular issues girls who suffer from ADHD confront. Stephanie Sarkis's PhD book "Natural Treatment for Adult ADHD: Complementary strategies to increase focus, motivation, and performance without or with medication" provides a range of alternatives to treatment.
Connecting with other people with the same diagnosis could provide a lot help and understanding. ADDitude magazine’s forum and ADDitude’s parenting group are two of the many websites and social media platforms that provide assistance to those suffering from ADHD. Some organizations offer summer or daytime programs that teach executive function and organizing abilities.
Many people with adhd symptoms for women could benefit from working with a counselor or coach to master new behavioral techniques and achieve their goals. They can also seek assistance from a therapist who is specialized in treating mental health issues such as anxiety or depression or ADHD. There are apps, such as the well-known wunderlist and software, to keep track of their daily activities. There are also a variety of websites that provide virtual collaboration, like Focusmate which connects people working on the same project to work remotely.
