ADHD in Young Women

Girls and women who suffer from ADHD might exhibit different symptoms. Symptoms like impulsivity, forgetfulness and difficulty understanding social cues can make it hard to make friends or maintain relationships.

Unfortunately, these differences and a bias in treatment referral result in the ineffective diagnosis and treatment of adhd in young women.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptoms of adhd include difficulty keeping track of appointments, forgetting appointments or making payments, and struggling to maintain friendships. Girls and women may struggle to maintain relationships, and show impulsivity which can lead to risky behavior such as sexual activity, or be susceptible to emotional instability. They may be misunderstood by their peers and suffer from depression or anxiety disorders that can co-occur with ADHD making it more difficult to get diagnosed and treated.

Certain women and girls do not exhibit obvious signs of attention-deficit disorder (ADHD) However, they do overcome it when they enter high school where social and academic demands are increased. They don't seek assistance until they have trouble coping in college or at work.

Research shows that women and girls are frequently misdiagnosed or under-identified as having ADHD, in comparison to boys and men. This is due to gender bias, which could often be unintentionally. Particularly, women and girls are less likely to be referred for ADHD due to the fact that they tend to camouflage their symptoms, as previously mentioned or because they are diagnosed with different symptoms than males.

Girls and women also are less likely to be referred for ADHD because of their tendency to exhibit emotional or mood-related symptoms, such as anger, rage, and irritability. They are more likely than males to be referred to a psychiatrist for depression or anxiety and receive inappropriate treatment that may aggravate their problems.

The add symptoms in women of the inattentive type of ADHD - which is more prevalent in girls and women - include trouble staying focused, missing deadlines, or making mistakes at work or school. You are easily distracted, either by your own thoughts or the things that occur around you. You also lose track of time when doing your work. It is difficult to relax and you are unable to sit still. It is difficult to keep your room or desk organized and you can easily become overwhelmed in restaurants or stores. You are more likely 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 frequently busy, interrupting others and find it difficult to pay attention to what people are saying. You have a hard time sitting still and may fidget or do something out of a sense of compulsion, such as squirming in your seat or grabbing your hair. You're unable to control your emotions, and can you make hurtful remarks, embarrassing or off-color.

Diagnosis

For add women and girls with ADHD, the right diagnosis is essential. A correct diagnosis can help you understand the difficulties you are facing and help you locate the support and resources you need to feel more in control. A diagnosis could also be a "lightbulb" moment. Many women and girls are relieved by their diagnosis because it provides a reason for the difficulties they've been struggling to understand, or chalked up with sexist bias or poor communication or their internalized gender stereotypes.

A health care professional can test for ADHD by looking at your symptoms and background and using a symptom checklist or questionnaire to gauge their intensity. They will ask you questions regarding your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. They can recommend strategies and medications that can enhance your performance. Your doctor may recommend methods for organizing such as planners, lists and post-it notes. Or, they may suggest a medication that helps you focus and concentrate. The drugs used to treat ADHD include stimulants that increase your alertness and focus as well as non-stimulants to help you stay focused without increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.

ADHD is diagnosed later in girls and women than in boys. It is likely that sexist beliefs, a lack of access to healthcare, and a misperception of the way the disorder manifests in females contribute to this delay.

Symptoms can vary across the years, and they can worsen in the midst of, or after hormonal changes. This makes it difficult to identify and treat women and girls with ADHD. For instance, impulsivity and inattention can increase the frustrations and miscommunications in relationships with romantic partners, friends, or colleagues, and make it hard for people to keep up with their work or social obligations. They may also struggle to complete tasks like paying off bills, completing school or work assignments, and doing housework. This could lead to feeling dissatisfied with their lives and may exacerbate emotional difficulties such as anxiety or depression.

The gender differences between women and men in ADHD are likely to be due in part to neurological, biological, and environmental factors. Gender is the status a person receives at birth based upon chromosomes, anatomy, and other factors. This includes people who identify themselves as females, men or non-binary.

Treatment

Many women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. Early diagnosis can help people know their symptoms and determine the best treatment options. The most effective approach to treating ADHD in girls and women is to use a multimodal approach that includes medication, therapy and counseling as well as home and work accommodations and lifestyle plans.

Girls and women with ADHD have 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 greater risk of having co-occurring depression and anxiety.

They often have more difficulty finding work or maintaining jobs due to their lack of organization in their lives, lack of time management skills and problems in executive functions (planning and organizing, prioritizing). They are often unable to form 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 to cope with stress, including 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 the drugs atomoxetine (Strattera(r)) as well as viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and Clonidine (Kapvay(r)).

Women and girls with ADHD could benefit from psychotherapy. It is a form of talking therapy aimed at changing the way a person thinks and acts. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one form of therapy that aims to change the way someone interprets and responds to situations. It can also involve incorporating lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and taking nutritional supplements. It is vital to remember that removing foods or supplementing with supplements should only be done under the supervision of a health professional.

It is important for people who suffer from ADHD to have an established support system that includes family members, friends or colleagues, as well as mentors and colleagues. It is also recommended they join support groups or community groups as these can offer a safe place to discuss the challenges associated with living with ADHD, and share tips for managing 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 susceptible to destructive and impulsive behaviors that could expose them to harming themselves or others. These behaviors include not taking safety precautions, drinking alcohol or taking drugs, or engaging in high-risk sexual activity.

A medical professional should conduct a thorough examination to determine the root cause of symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan. This includes the person's medical and mental history as well as their current mood. The doctor will also look at the person's environment to see if it's a factor.

There are numerous resources available for those suffering from ADHD. These include support groups, websites that provide information and tools, as well as websites that offer information. There are also books that can help you manage the disorder and make it more successful in everyday life. "The Queen of Distraction" by Terry Matlen, for example it addresses the particular issues girls with ADHD face. "Natural Relief for Adult ADHD: Complementary Strategies to Enhance focus, motivation and performance with or without medication" by Stephanie Sarkis, PhD offers an array of alternative therapies for people suffering from ADHD.

Connecting with other people who have the same diagnosis can give a lot of support and empathy. A variety of websites and social media platforms provide assistance for those suffering from adhd in adult women including ADDitude magazine's forum and the ADDitude parent group. Some organizations offer day or summer programs that teach executive function and organizational abilities.

Many adults suffering from ADHD can benefit by working with a counselor or coach to develop new strategies for coping and achieving their goals. They can also get help from a therapist that specializes in treating patients suffering from ADHD or mental health issues like depression or anxiety. There are apps, such as the well-known Wunderlist and software, to monitor their daily activities. There are also a variety of websites that provide virtual collaboration, like Focusmate which allows people to collaborate working on the same project to work from a distance.