ADHD in Young Women
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD typically have different symptoms than boys. The symptoms include inattention, forgetfulness and difficulty in interpreting social signals can make it difficult to keep relationships going or to make friends.
Unfortunately, these disparities and a bias in treatment referral contribute to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of adhd in women who are young.
Symptoms
Adhd is characterised by an inability to organize in which people forget appointments and bills, as well as difficulties maintaining friendships. Girls and women can also have trouble maintaining relationships, show impulsivity, which could lead to risk-taking behaviors, including sexual activity, or be prone to emotional instability. They are often misunderstood their peers and struggle with anxiety or depression that are co-occurring with ADHD which makes it difficult to diagnose and treated.
Some girls and women do not show obvious signs of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in middle or elementary school, and then they compensate when they reach high school, where social and academic expectations are raised. As a result, they don't seek help until after they are struggling to cope in college or in the workplace.
Research shows that girls and women are often not diagnosed and recognized for ADHD as compared to boys and men. This disparity can be attributed to gender bias, which can often be unintentionally. Girls and women are less likely than men to be recommended to a doctor for ADHD, either because they conceal symptoms as mentioned above or because they exhibit different symptoms.
Girls and women also are less likely to be referred for ADHD due to their tendency to display mood-related or emotional symptoms, such as anger, rage and depression. They are more likely than men to be referred to a psychiatrist for anxiety or mood disorders, and receive treatment that could exacerbate their problems.
Attention-deficit ADHD is more common among women and girls. It manifests as a lack of focus, missed deadlines, or careless mistakes at school or at work. You are easily distracted, either by your thoughts or the things that happen around you. You also lose track of time while doing tasks. You are unable to sit still and find it difficult to relax. You can't keep your room or desk tidy and you're easily overwhelmed in restaurants or shopping. You are prone to forgetting important dates or events such as your friend's birthday.
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 in motion, interrupting others and are unable to listen to what others are saying. You may have trouble sitting still, or twitching in your chair or grab your hair. You aren't able to control your emotions, and you might make snide or embarrassing comments.
Diagnosis
For women and girls with ADHD an the right diagnosis is essential. A proper diagnosis can help you understand the difficulties you are facing and assist you in finding the resources and support you need to feel more in control. In addition, a diagnosis could be a moment of clarity that many girls and women find their diagnosis to be a relief, giving them an external explanation for challenges that they've struggled to understand or chalked up to sexist bias or miscommunication. Or, they blame their own internalized gender stereotypes.
A health care professional can test for ADHD by looking at your symptoms and history as well as using a symptom checklist or questionnaire to assess their intensity. They can also ask you questions about how your symptoms impact your daily life. They can suggest methods and medications to improve your functioning. Your doctor may recommend methods of organization such as lists, planners, and post-it notes. Also, they could suggest medication that helps you concentrate and focus. The medications that treat ADHD include stimulants that boost your alertness and attention, or nonstimulants that help you stay focused without increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.
ADHD is diagnosed later in women and girls, but not in boys. It is likely that sexist beliefs, a lack of access to healthcare and a misperception of how the disorder manifests in females can contribute to this delay.
The symptoms can change throughout life and may worsen during, before, or after hormonal changes. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat girls and women with ADHD. Inattention and impulsivity can cause confusion and frustration with colleagues, romantic partners or even friends. It can also make it difficult for them to maintain commitments to work or social obligations. They might also have a difficult time to finish tasks like paying bills as well as working on school or work assignments, or even doing household chores. This could lead to feelings of discontent with their lives and may exacerbate emotional issues such as depression or anxiety.
The gender differences between women and men in ADHD are most likely to be due to neurological, biological and environmental factors. Gender refers to the person's assigned status at birth according to their chromosomes and anatomy and also includes people who identify as women or men, as well as nonbinary.
Treatment
Many women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. Being diagnosed early will help people better understand their symptoms and identify appropriate treatment options. The most effective way to treat ADHD in women and young girls is to employ multimodal treatment that includes medication, therapy counseling, home and work accommodations, and lifestyle plans.
Girls and women with ADHD are more prone to emotional issues and a tougher to navigate relationships. They may be misunderstood by romantic partners or others and this can lead to frustration and a feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher risk of having co-occurring anxiety and depression.
Often, they have more difficulty obtaining or maintaining a job due to their lack of organization and poor time management. They also have difficulties in executive functions. They often struggle to develop meaningful friendships or maintain relationships due to social issues and emotional dysregulation. undiagnosed adhd in women tend to be more self-critical which can cause them to look for unhealthy ways of coping with stress, including 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 are atomoxetine, viloxazine and clonidine.
Women and girls with ADHD could benefit from psychotherapy. This is a kind of therapy that focuses on changing the way a person thinks and behaves. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talking therapy that aims to change the way an individual reacts to and interprets situations. It can also include lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, exercising regularly and taking nutritional supplements. It is important to note that removing foods or taking supplements should only be done under the supervision of a health care professional.
People suffering from ADHD should have a strong support system. This could include family members, friends or colleagues as well as mentors. It is recommended that they take part in community or support groups, since they can offer a safe place to discuss the challenges of living with ADHD and offer tips on how to manage it effectively.
The following resources are available to you:
Girls with ADHD have difficulty making and maintaining friendships. They may also suffer from low self-esteem or depression. They could be susceptible to destructive and impulsive behaviors which could expose them to harming themselves or others. These can include a lack of safety precautions, drug or alcohol misuse or engaging in high risk sexual activity.
A medical professional should do a thorough evaluation to determine the root cause of symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan. This includes looking into the person's medical and mental health history, and current mood. The doctor will also take a look at the surroundings of the person to determine whether they may be a contributing factor.
There are many sources for people with ADHD which include support groups and websites that offer information and tools. There are many books that can help manage the disorder and make it more successful in the world of work. For example, "The Queen of Distraction: How women with ADHD can overcome chaos and Regain Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific problems that girls with ADHD face. 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 alternative treatment options.
People suffering from ADHD will find plenty of help and understanding by connecting with others with the same diagnosis. ADDitude magazine's forum as well as ADDitude's parenting group are just two of the many websites and social media platforms that provide support to people with ADHD. Some organizations offer day or summer programs that teach executive function and organizational abilities.
Many adults with ADHD benefit from working with a counselor or coach to develop new strategies for managing their behavior and reach their goals in their lives. They can also seek advice from a therapist that specializes in the treatment of mental health issues like depression, anxiety or ADHD. Many people also use apps to help them stay focused on tasks, such as the popular Wunderlist, as well as software to monitor their daily activities. There are a number of websites that allow virtual collaboration. Focusmate is one such website. It allows two people with the same task together via remote.