ADHD in Young Women
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may exhibit different signs. Symptoms like impulsivity, forgetfulness and difficulty in interpreting social signals can make it hard to make friends or sustain relationships.
These biases and differences in the treatment process result in the incorrect diagnosis of adhd and its undertreatment in young women.
Symptoms
The most prominent symptoms of adhd include difficulties keeping track of appointments, forgetting appointments or making payments, and having difficulty maintaining friendships. Women and girls may also struggle to maintain relationships, show impulsivity, which can lead to risk-taking behavior which includes sexual activity or be susceptible to emotional volatility. They can be misunderstood and suffer from depression or anxiety disorders that can be co-occurring with ADHD. This makes it more difficult to identify and treat.
Some girls and women don't show conspicuous symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in middle school or in elementary school, and then compensate as they enter high school, when academic and social expectations increase. In the end, they do not seek help until they are struggling to cope in college or in the workplace.
Research has proven that women and girls are frequently misdiagnosed or under-identified as having ADHD in comparison to men and boys. The gender bias, which is typically not intentional, may contribute to this gap. In particular, females and girls are less likely to receive a diagnosis for ADHD because they are more likely to conceal their symptoms, as previously mentioned or they present with different kinds of symptoms than males.
Females and females are less likely to be referred for ADHD due to their propensity to exhibit emotional or mood-related symptoms, such as irritability, rage and depression. They are more likely to be referred for mood disorders or anxiety and to receive inappropriate treatment, which can compound their issues by masking the root causes.
The signs of the inattentive subtype of ADHD - which is more prevalent for women and girls - include trouble staying focused, missing deadlines, or making a mistake at school or work. You are easily distracted by your thoughts or the things that happen around you. You also lose track of time while doing tasks. You find it difficult to relax and find it difficult to sit for long periods of time. It is difficult to keep your room or desk in order and you can easily become overwhelmed in restaurants or shopping. You tend to forget important details or events, 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 always moving and interrupt others, and are unable to listen to what they're saying. You may find it difficult to sit still, or twitching in your chair or grab your hair. You're unable to manage your emotions and may blurt out hurtful, embarrassing or off-color comments.
Diagnosis
A clear diagnosis is essential for women and girls with ADHD. A proper diagnosis can help you comprehend the difficulties you are facing and help you locate the support and resources you need to feel more in control. In addition, a diagnosis can be a moment of clarity that many girls and women are able to experience their diagnosis as an opportunity to feel relieved, and provide them with an external explanation of the difficulties that they have long struggled to comprehend or blamed to sexist biases, miscommunication, or their own internalized gender stereotypes.
A medical specialist can test for ADHD by looking into your symptoms and history as well as using a symptom checklist or questionnaire to assess the severity. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. They may suggest strategies and medications to help improve your functioning. For instance your doctor may suggest ways to organize your life, such as planners, post-it notes and lists, or suggest a medication that can help you focus and concentrate. The medications used to treat ADHD contain stimulants that boost your alertness and attention or non-stimulants that help you stay focused without increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.
ADHD is diagnosed later in women and girls than in boys. It is possible that sexist attitudes, poorer access to healthcare and a misunderstanding of how the disorder manifests in females can contribute to this delay.
The symptoms may change throughout the course of life and can worsen during, before, or after hormonal changes. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat women and girls with ADHD. For treatment for adhd in women , impulsivity and inattention can increase frustrations and misunderstandings in relationships with romantic partners, friends, or colleagues, and make it difficult for them to keep up with their work or social engagements. They might also have a difficult time to complete tasks such as paying bills and working on school or work assignments, or completing household chores. This could cause people to feel unhappy with their lives and can exacerbate emotional issues such as depression or anxiousness.
The differences between men and women in ADHD are most likely to be due to biological, neurological and environmental factors. Gender refers to a person's status at birth, based on their chromosomes as well as their anatomy and also includes people who identify as females, men, or nonbinary.
Treatment
Many girls and women aren't diagnosed with ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. Getting an early diagnosis can help people understand their symptoms and find appropriate treatment options. The most effective way to treat ADHD in young and female girls is to use an approach that is multimodal and includes therapy, medication, counseling, work and home accommodations, and lifestyle plans.
Girls and women with ADHD typically have more emotional problems and a harder time navigating relationships than boys. They may be misunderstood, either by romantic partners or other people. This can lead to frustration as well as a feeling of unfairness. They also have a higher chance of developing co-occurring anxiety and depression.
They typically have a harder time finding work or keeping jobs due to their lack of organization, poor time management skills and problems with executive tasks (planning and organizing, prioritizing). They often have difficulty forming meaningful relationships or maintain them because of social difficulties and emotional dysregulation. They tend to be more self-critical which may lead them to seek out unhealthy ways of coping like excessive drinking 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 the drugs atomoxetine (Strattera(r)) as well as viloxazine (Qelbree(r)) and Clonidine (Kapvay(r)).
Women and girls with ADHD may benefit from psychotherapy. This is a type of talking therapy aimed at changing the way that a person thinks and behaves. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is focused on changing the way the person perceives or reacts to situations. It may also include changes to lifestyles, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly and taking nutritional supplements. It is important to remember that removing foods or taking nutritional supplements should be done under the supervision of health care professionals.
People suffering from ADHD should have a strong support system, which may include friends, family or colleagues as well as mentors. It is recommended that they join in community or support groups, since they can provide a safe environment to discuss the difficulties of living with ADHD and share tips on how to deal with it effectively.
Resources
Girls with ADHD often struggle to make and keep friendships. They might also be suffering from depression or low self-esteem. They could be vulnerable to destructive and impulsive behaviors that could expose them to harming themselves or others. These behaviors can include the lack of safety precautions, drug or alcohol misuse or engaging in sexual activities that are high risk.
A medical professional should do a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of the symptoms and create an effective treatment plan. This includes looking into the patient's medical and mental health history, as well as their current mood. The provider will also take a look at the person's surroundings to see if they are a factor.
There are numerous sources for people with ADHD which include support groups and websites that provide information and tools. There are also books to aid people in managing their condition and achieve success in their lives. For example, "The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD can conquer chaos and Find Focus" by Terry Matlen addresses the specific challenges that girls with ADHD confront. Stephanie Sarkis's doctoral book "Natural Treatment for Adult ADHD: Complementary strategies to improve focus, motivation, and performance, whether or not you take medication" offers a variety of alternative treatment options.
Connecting with people with the same diagnosis could give a lot of support and compassion. ADDitude magazine's forum as well as ADDitude's parenting group are two of the many websites and social media platforms that offer support to people with ADHD. Some organizations also offer summer camps and day programs that teach organization and executive function skills.
Many adults with ADHD are able to benefit by working with a counselor or coach to learn new techniques for managing their behavior and reach their goals. They can also find assistance from a therapist who is specialized in treating patients suffering from ADHD or mental health issues like anxiety or depression. Some people use apps, such as the well-known wunderlist and software, to track their daily activities. There are also a range of websites offering virtual collaboration, like Focusmate which allows people to collaborate who are working on the same task so that they can work remotely.