ADHD in Young Women
Girls and women with ADHD may exhibit different signs. The symptoms of impulsivity, forgetfulness and difficulty understanding social cues can make it hard to make friends or sustain relationships.
Unfortunately, these differences and a bias in treatment referral result in the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of adhd in young women.
Signs and symptoms
Adhd is characterised by the inability to plan as well as a tendency to forget appointments and bills, and difficulty maintaining friendships. Girls and women may have trouble maintaining relationships, show impulsivity, which could lead to risk-taking behaviors such as sexual activity, or be susceptible to emotional turbulence. They could be misunderstood or suffer from depression or anxiety disorders that can co-exist with ADHD. This makes it more difficult to recognize and treat.
Some girls and women do not exhibit obvious signs of attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), but make up for it when they start high school where social and academic demands are increased. They don't seek assistance until they experience difficulties in college or at work.
Research shows that women and girls are often not diagnosed and recognized for ADHD as compared to boys and men. Gender bias, which is usually unintentional, can contribute to this gap. Girls and women are less likely than men to be recommended to a doctor for ADHD or similar disorders, either because they camouflage symptoms as described above or because they exhibit different symptoms.
A woman or girl is less likely to suffer from ADHD diagnosed due to the fact that they are more likely to show emotional or mood symptoms like irritability and depression. They are more likely to receive referrals to a psychiatrist for anxiety or mood disorders and receive inadequate treatment, which could exacerbate their problems by masking the root cause.
Inattentive ADHD is more prevalent for girls and women. It manifests as a lack of focus, missed deadlines, or making mistakes at school or at work. You are easily distracted by your thoughts or other activities going on around you, and you frequently lose track of time while doing tasks. You have trouble sitting still and find it hard to relax. You can't keep your room or desk in order and you can easily become overwhelmed in restaurants or shopping. You are prone to forgetting 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 in motion, interrupting others and are unable to listen to what people are saying. You have trouble sitting still and may fidget or act on impulse like squirming your seat or grabbing your hair. You are unable to control your emotions and sometimes you make hurtful or embarrassing remarks.
Diagnosis
For women and girls with ADHD An accurate diagnosis is key. Getting a proper diagnosis will enable you to understand why certain aspects of your life are challenging and enable you to seek the support and resources that will help you feel more in control. A diagnosis can be a moment of clarity for many women and girls. find their diagnosis to be a relief, giving them an external explanation for problems that they've struggled to comprehend or blamed to sexist bias, miscommunication, or their internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care professional can determine if you have ADHD by looking at your symptoms and history and using the symptom checklist or questionnaire to determine the severity of your symptoms. They will ask you questions regarding your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. They may suggest strategies and medications that can enhance your performance. Your doctor may suggest methods of organization, such as planners, lists and post-it notes. Also, they could suggest a medication that helps you concentrate and focus. The drugs used to treat ADHD contain stimulants that increase your alertness and focus as well as non-stimulants to help you stay focused without increasing your heart rate or blood pressure.
ADHD in women and girls is typically diagnosed later than in boys and men. It is possible that sexist views, less access to healthcare and a misperception of how the disorder manifests in females contribute to this delay.
Symptoms can vary across the years and can get worse before, during, and after hormonal changes. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat girls and women with ADHD. Inattention and impulsivity may cause anger and miscommunications with colleagues, romantic partners or even family members. It can also make it difficult for them to meet work or social commitments. They may also struggle to complete tasks like paying off bills, completing school or work assignments, or doing housework. This can lead to a sense of dissatisfaction with their lives and exacerbate mental issues like anxiety or depression.
The gender differences between women and men in ADHD are most likely to be due in part to neurological, biological and environmental factors. Gender is the assigned status that a person gets at birth based upon chromosomes, anatomy, and other variables. This includes people who identify themselves as women or men, or even nonbinary.
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 most effective treatment options. The most effective approach to treating ADHD in women and girls involves a multimodal approach, which includes counseling, therapy and medication, workplace and home life accommodations and lifestyle techniques.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often have more emotional issues and have a harder time navigating relationships than boys. They may be misunderstood, either by romantic partners or other people. This can lead to frustration and feeling of unfairness. They are also at a higher risk of co-occurring anxiety and depression.
In most cases, they have greater difficulty obtaining or maintaining jobs due to their lack of organization and poor time management. They also have difficulties with executive functions. They are often unable to form meaningful friendships or maintain relationships due to social challenges and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more self-critical which may lead them to seek out unhealthy ways to cope, such as excessive alcohol and drugs.
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 and viloxazine and clonidine.
In addition to medications women and girls with ADHD may benefit from psychotherapy that is a type of therapy for talking that aims to alter the way a person thinks and behaves. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one form of therapy that aims to change the way someone reacts to and interprets situations. It could also involve changes in lifestyle, like eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and taking nutritional supplements. It is vital to remember that removing foods or taking supplements should be done under the supervision of a health professional.
It is crucial for people with ADHD to have an established support system that includes friends, family members or colleagues, as well as mentors and colleagues. It is also recommended that they participate in support groups or community groups, as these can provide a safe space to discuss the difficulties of living with ADHD and offer tips for managing it effectively.
high functioning adhd in women following resources are available to you:
Girls with ADHD struggle with making and maintaining friendships. They might also be suffering from depression or low self-esteem. They are more susceptible to destructive, impulsive behavior that could put them or others at risk. These are behaviors that include not taking safety precautions, drinking alcohol or taking drugs or engaging in high-risk sexual activities.
A doctor should do a thorough evaluation to determine the root cause of symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan. This involves looking at the patient's medical and mental health history, as well as current mood. The doctor will also examine the surroundings of the person to determine whether they could be a cause.
There are a variety of resources available for people with ADHD, including support groups and websites that offer information and tools. There are books that can help manage the condition and achieve success in life. "The Queen of Distraction" by Terry Matlen, for example, addresses the specific challenges 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" provides a variety of alternative treatments.
Connecting with others with the same diagnosis can give a lot of support and empathy. ADDitude magazine’s forum and ADDitude’s parenting group are two of the numerous websites and social media platforms that provide assistance to people suffering from ADHD. Some organizations offer summer or daytime programs that teach executive function and organizing abilities.
Many people with ADHD can benefit from working with a counselor or coach to master new behavioral techniques and achieve their goals. They can also seek help from a therapist who is specialized in the treatment of mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression or ADHD. There are apps, such as the popular wunderlist and software, to monitor their daily activities. There are a number of websites that allow virtual collaboration. Focusmate is one such website. It connects people with the same task to work together via remote.