ADD Symptoms in Women
Women with ADD are often misunderstood or dismissed as being overly emotional. For some, small inconveniences such as waiting in lines or waiting on hold drive them into rage or distraction.
Gender stereotypes can also camouflage symptoms, making them difficult to detect and identify. Amen Clinics uses brain imaging to determine if a woman suffers from undiagnosed ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD often feel overwhelmed by their daily tasks. They might feel that their lives are in constant mess, or chaos. They are also unable to receive the support they require from family members and friends. They also have a tougher time handling criticism and stress, making them more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Women with ADHD are also more likely to engage in sexually risky behavior, like promiscuity or casual sexual activity. These experiences can lead to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, and low self-esteem and feelings of shame.
A few psychologists are currently working on developing research on ADHD in adult women. Julia Rucklidge, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is leading one of these efforts. She and her colleagues are focusing on women who have comorbid conditions like depression and anxiety. These co-occurring illnesses can mask or exacerbate ADHD and affect the ability of a woman to perform at home, work, and school.
Rucklidge says that many of the same biases that affect men and boys make it hard to diagnose ADHD in girls and women. Rating scales are skewed toward male behavior, and a girl's coping strategies may be less efficient in the college setting or in the workplace. Women who have impulsive ADHD are often viewed as being irrational or aggressive and they may conceal their symptoms to fit in.
In addition to that, a lot of the same behavioral symptoms are present in all three types of ADHD. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They could be unruly and fidgety, or on the go, disruptive, forgetful, disorganized and impatient not able and unwilling to wait for their turn, and prone to mood swings.
Inattentiveness
Inattentional ADHD is just as debilitating to adults and children. It can be difficult to try and remain organized, manage your time well and keep track of all the daily tasks. For instance, a child may not be able to meet important deadlines at school or a worker can forget about important meetings. Inattention ADHD can also lead to issues with relationships as others become frustrated when a partner or co-worker is frequently lost in thought.
The non-hyperactive form of ADHD isn't as prominent as the typical symptoms, and therefore it is easy for people to overlook or dismiss these challenges. Children who have inattentive ADHD are often viewed as uncooperative or lazy children due to the fact that they do not follow the instructions of their parents or teachers or daydream in class. Adults with inattentive ADHD can also be overlooked because their symptoms may not be as obvious as their peers with impulsivity or hyperactivity.
Inattentional ADHD can include trouble staying focused, easily distracted and having difficulty paying attention to small details, poor listening skills, and frequent misplacing of belongings. Attention deficit ADHD can be aggravated or worsened by stress, anxiety and other issues like depression, poor sleep and nutrition, side effects of medication (especially stimulant medications), poor diet, and nutritional deficiencies.
Attention-deficit ADHD affects more females and girls than any other ADD presentation, but it is often misdiagnosed and not treated. This is due to a variety of factors, including the specific symptoms, higher rates of anxiety and affective disorders in females and rating scales that favor male behavior. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are also influenced by hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual period.
Impulsiveness
People who have difficulty controlling their impulses feel a sense of tension or excitement before they decide to act in response to their impulses. They also struggle to resist urges, even when they know that the behaviour is harmful or untrue. Afterward, they may feel regret or guilt.
Children often act impulsively as they begin to understand the consequences of their choices. It's also a symptom of certain disorders like ADHD as well as antisocial personalities disorder and pyromania.
The tendency to be impulsive could be a sign of a mental illness, like bipolar disorder or stroke, brain tumors or diabetes. Certain substances, like alcohol can break down your inhibitions and cause you to act impulsively.
A lack of impulse control can impact your relationships, career and everyday life. For instance, if suffer from ADHD the impulsive behavior can interfere with your daily routine and affect your ability to manage your finances or work. Interrupting others while they talk, blurting answers to questions, and having difficulty waiting in line are all signs. Adults, impulsive behavior can include shopping on a whim, spending too much money or watching too much television.
It is essential to distinguish between impulsive and compulsive behavior. While impulsive behavior is spontanious, compulsive actions are routine and ritualistic. For instance, placing a hand in a fire to see if it's still on is an impulsive action while checking the stove repeatedly to ensure that it is off is a regular habit. Research has shown that men are more impulsive than women, however researchers aren't able to pinpoint the reason. They suggest that the environment, genetics and hormonal changes that occur during the adolescent years and into adulthood could contribute to the differences.
what are the symptoms of adhd in adults is a feeling of agitation and irritability that could be caused by stress or an illness. It can cause a person to feel anxious, excited or nervous. It can also lead to aggressive or suicidal behaviors. People who are agitated frequently have trouble getting to sleep and might have issues with their relationships and work.
Speak to your doctor if you feel agitated often. The doctor may suggest they try a medication or therapy. If they feel chest pain or have trouble breathing, this could be a sign of a heartattack.
Sometimes, agitation may be a sign of depression. Depression can trigger feelings of sadness, hopelessness and feeling of helplessness. People with depression may also have agitation that is usually accompanied with restlessness and anxiety. This is called"agitated depression," and experts are still learning about the ways in which this kind of depression differs from other types of depression.
Sometimes, agitation can be a symptom of a mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can make an individual unable to discern between the real and fake. People with these conditions may sway or shake hands or feel like they can't stay still.
Certain medications, like antipsychotics, can cause agitation. If you experience agitation on a regular basis, talk to your doctor. Doctors may prescribe a medicine that doesn't have this side-effect. In addition to these drugs, a person may also reduce their agitation through avoiding stressful situations, eating a healthy food, and getting enough rest.
Depression
Depression in women can cause feelings of despair and sadness. It can also lead to difficulties with eating, sleeping and thinking clearly. Women should seek treatment for depression as soon as they begin to notice signs. This can help prevent the symptoms from becoming worse and could even stop the relapse of depression.
Research indicates that women are more likely to be affected by depression than men. It is believed that this is due to the number of roles that women have in their lives, such as being a mother and spouse that can cause stress or cause burnout. adhd in women symptoms are more likely to experience hormonal changes which can cause depression. This is especially the case during pregnancy and after menopause.
It is possible that some women are at a greater risk of depression because of previous history of the condition or a family history of it. This can also be the case for women who have low self-esteem or who have faced issues with sexuality or body image.
Some of the specific symptoms that can be seen in women suffering from depression include a lack of energy, difficulty sleeping and thoughts of death or suicide. Women who are depressed might be prone to feeling guilt or shame. Women tend to blame themselves for their low spirits, and this can be made worse by having to care for their children and other loved ones. The use of antidepressants can help with these symptoms however, it is crucial to get professional advice and guidance from a specialist.