ADHD in Young Women
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD might exhibit different symptoms. Symptoms like inattention, forgetfulness, and difficulty in interpreting social signals can make it difficult for them to make friends or sustain relationships.
Unfortunately, these differences and the bias in referral to treatment cause ineffective diagnosis and treatment of adhd in women who are young.
Symptoms
The most prominent symptoms of adhd are difficulty keeping track of appointments not remembering appointments or paying bills, and having difficulty maintaining friendships. Females and females can also be troubled in relationships, impulsivity that results in risky behavior, including sexual activities, and a tendency toward emotional volatility. They can be misunderstood and suffer from anxiety or depression disorders, which can be co-occurring with ADHD. This makes it more difficult to recognize and treat.
Certain women and girls don't display obvious signs of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in middle school or in elementary school, but they do compensate as they enter high school, where social and academic expectations are raised. In the end, they don't seek help until they are struggling to cope in college or in the workplace.
Research shows that girls and women are often misdiagnosed and not recognized as having ADHD, in comparison to boys and men. The gender bias, which is usually not intentional, may contribute to this gap. Women and girls are less likely than men to be referred to a doctor for ADHD, either because they hide symptoms as described above or because they have different symptoms.
A woman or girl is less likely to suffer from ADHD diagnosed due to the fact that they tend to show 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 in girls and women. It manifests as a lack of concentration, missed deadlines, or committing a few mistakes at school or work. You are easily distracted, either by your thoughts or the events that happen around you. You also lose track of time while working on tasks. You struggle to stay focused and find it hard to relax. You are having trouble keeping your desk or room tidy and neat. You're easily overwhelmed when you visit restaurants or stores. You are prone to forget important details or important dates, such as birthday celebrations for 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 always on the go, interrupt others and find it difficult to pay attention to what people are saying. You have a hard time sitting still, and may fumble or act on impulse like squirming your seat or pulling at your hair. You are unable to manage your emotions and may make snide remarks, embarrassing or off-color.
Diagnosis
For women and girls suffering from ADHD An the right diagnosis is essential. Getting a proper diagnosis will enable you to understand why certain aspects of your life are difficult and help you find the help and resources to make you feel more in control. A diagnosis could also be an "lightbulb" moment. Many women and girls find relief in their diagnosis, as it gives them an explanation for the issues they've struggled to comprehend, or chalked up with discrimination against women, poor communication, or their internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care specialist can test for ADHD by looking at your symptoms and past history as well as 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 recommend strategies and medications that can improve your functioning. For instance your doctor may suggest ways to organize your life, such as planners, post-it notepads, and lists, or suggest a medication to aid in concentration and focus. The medications used to treat ADHD include stimulants that can boost your alertness and attention, or nonstimulants that can help you stay focused, without affecting your heart rate and blood pressure.
ADHD is diagnosed later in women and girls, but not in boys. This 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.
undiagnosed adhd in women can vary across the years and can get worse before, during, and after hormonal changes. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat women and girls with ADHD. For instance, impulsivity and inattention can heighten frustrations and misunderstandings in relationships with romantic friends, partners, or colleagues, and make it hard for people to keep up with work or social engagements. They might also have a difficult time to complete tasks like paying bills and working on school or work assignments, or doing housework. This could lead to feelings of discontent with their lives and exacerbate emotional issues such as anxiety or depression.
The gender and sex differences in ADHD are likely to be the result of neurological, biological, and environmental factors. Gender is the assigned status that a person gets at birth based on chromosomes, anatomy, and a variety of other factors. This includes those who identify themselves as females or men, or even non-binary.
Treatment
Many girls and women aren't diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. Early diagnosis can help people recognize their symptoms and find the best treatment options. The most effective method to treat ADHD in young and female girls is to use an approach that is multimodal and includes medication, therapy, counseling, home and work accommodations, and lifestyle strategies.
Women and girls with ADHD have more emotional issues and have a harder dealing with relationships. They may be misunderstood by romantic partners or others and this can lead to anger and feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher risk of depression and anxiety that are co-occurring.
Most of the time, they have more trouble finding or keeping a job because of their lack of organization as well as their poor time management and difficulties with executive tasks. Social difficulties and emotional dysregulation can make it difficult for them to maintain or develop meaningful relationships. They tend to be more self-critical and this can cause them to seek out 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 drugs atomoxetine (Strattera(r)) and viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and Clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
Girls and women with ADHD may benefit from psychotherapy. This is a kind of talking therapy aimed at changing the way that a person thinks and acts. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that seeks to alter the way a person perceives and responds to situations. It may also involve incorporating lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, as well as taking nutritional supplements. It is important to note that removing foods or supplementing with supplements should only be done under the supervision of a health professional.
It is important for people with ADHD to have a support system in place which could include friends, family members or colleagues, as well as mentors and colleagues. It is recommended that they take part in community or support groups, as these can provide a safe space to discuss the challenges of living with ADHD and share advice for managing it effectively.
Resources
Girls with ADHD struggle with making and maintaining friendships. They may also experience low self-esteem, depression or anxiety. They could be susceptible to destructive and impulsive behaviors that could put them at risk of harming themselves or others. These could include insufficient security measures or the misuse of alcohol or drugs, or engagement in high risk sexual activity.
A health care provider must conduct a thorough assessment to determine the cause and create a treatment plan that is efficient. This includes looking into the person's medical and mental health history, as well as current mood. The physician will also look at the person's surroundings to see whether they may be a contributing factor.
There are a variety of resources available to people suffering from ADHD. These include support groups, websites offering tools and information, and websites that provide information. There are books that can help you manage the disorder and make it more successful in the world of work. For example, "The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD can conquer chaos and Regain Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific problems that girls with ADHD confront. Stephanie Sarkis's book on PhD "Natural Treatment for Adult ADHD: Complementary strategies to increase focus, motivation, and performance with or without medication" offers a variety of alternative treatment options.
Connecting with others with the same diagnosis could give a lot of help and understanding. Many websites and social media platforms offer support for people with ADHD including ADDitude magazine's forum and the ADDitude parent group. Some organizations offer day or summer programs that teach executive function and organizing abilities.
Many people with ADHD could benefit by working with a counselor or coach to learn new techniques for managing their behavior and reach their goals. They can also get assistance from a therapist that specializes in treating those suffering from ADHD or mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. There are also apps to help them stay focused on their 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 allows two people who have the same task to work together remotely.