ADD Symptoms in Women

Women with ADD frequently are misunderstood or dismissed as overly emotional. For some, even minor inconveniences like standing in lines or waiting for a call can drive them into rage or disorientation.

Gender stereotypes can also mask symptoms, making them hard to detect and diagnose. Amen Clinics uses brain imaging to determine if a female suffers from undiagnosed ADHD.

Hyperactivity

Women with ADHD often feel overwhelmed by their everyday tasks. They might feel that their lives are a constant mess, or chaos. They are also unable to get the help they need from family and friends. They are also more vulnerable to anxiety and depression because they are unable to cope with managing stress and criticism. Women with ADHD can also be more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, like promiscuity or casual sexual activity. These to sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, as well as low self-esteem, and feelings of shame.

Some psychologists are developing research on ADHD among women of adulthood. Julia Rucklidge, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is leading one of these efforts. She and her coworkers focus on females suffering from comorbid disorders such as depression and anxiety. These co-occurring conditions can cause or worsen ADHD, affecting the ability of a woman to function at work, home, and school.

Rucklidge discusses how many of the same biases that affect boys and men also make it difficult to diagnose ADHD in women and girls. Rating scales are biased towards male behavior and a girl might not have the most effective coping strategies at school or at work. Women with hyperactive ADHD symptoms are often viewed as being irrational or agressive and are more likely to hide their symptoms in order to fit in better.

In addition, many of the same behavioral symptoms are present in all three subtypes of ADHD. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They might be agitated or fidgety. They may also be in a hurry or distracted, forgetful, disorganized and impatient not able and unwilling to wait for their turn, and susceptible to mood swings.

Inattentiveness


Although the hyperactive or impulsive symptoms of ADHD are more well-known, the inattention of ADHD can be equally debilitating for children and adults alike. The struggle to stay organized, manage time efficiently and stay on top of everyday tasks can be overwhelming. For example a child might miss important deadlines at school or workers may forget about important meetings. Inattentive ADHD can also cause issues in relationships as others become annoyed by a friend or coworker who is often lost in thoughts.

The non-hyperactive form of ADHD is less visible than the stereotypical symptoms, so it's easy to overlook or dismiss these problems. Children who have inattentive ADHD often are mistaken for being lazy or indifferent because they don't follow the instructions of teachers or parents or even ponder their thoughts in class. Adults with inattentive ADHD are often overlooked as their symptoms may be less evident than those of their peers who exhibit impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Inattentional ADHD can include trouble staying focused, being easily pulled off task, difficulty paying attention to small details, poor listening skills, and frequent misplacement of belongings. Inattentional ADHD can be exacerbated or made more severe by stress, anxiety and other conditions such as depression, poor sleep and nutrition, side effects of medication (especially stimulant medications) as well as poor eating habits and nutritional deficiencies.

Inattentive ADHD is more prevalent in females and girls than other ADD manifestations, yet this subtype is often under-diagnosed and untreated. This is due to a mix of factors, including specific symptoms manifestations, higher prevalence of co-existing anxiety disorders and affective disorders in females, and rating scales that are biased toward male behavior. In addition, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may significantly impact how inattentive ADHD symptoms appear.

Impulsiveness

People who struggle to control their impulses experience a feeling of tension or excitement before they decide to act on their impulses. They also have trouble resisting urges, even when they know that the behaviour is harmful or untrue. They often feel remorse or guilt afterwards, too.

It's common for young children to be impulsive but they become aware of it as they mature and begin to understand the consequences of their actions. It can also be a sign of some conditions like ADHD as well as antisocial personalities disorder, and pyromania.

Impulsivity could be a sign of a mental illness, like bipolar disorder or stroke, brain tumors or diabetes. Certain substances, like alcohol can cause inhibitions to be broken and cause you to behave impulsively.

A lack of control over your impulses can impact your relationships, career and daily life. If you have ADHD, for example, impulsive behavior can interfere with your daily routine and impair your ability to manage money or work. Interrupting other people while they are talking, blurting answers to questions, and having difficulty waiting in line are all signs. Adults, impulsive behavior could include shopping on a impulse, spending too much money or watching too much television.

It's crucial to understand the difference between compulsive and impulsive behavior. Compulsive behavior is ritualistic and repetitive and impulsive behavior is spontaneous. For instance, sticking your hand in the fire to check if it's burning is an impulsive action while constantly checking to ensure that the stove is off is a compulsive behavior. Research has shown that men are more aggressive than women, but researchers aren't sure why. They believe that environmental factors, genetics and hormonal changes during the adolescent years and into adulthood could contribute to the differences.

Agitation

Stress or a medical condition can cause a feeling of restlessness and irritation. It can cause a person to feel anxious, excited, or tense, and it can lead to aggression or suicidal behavior. adhd in women symptoms who are agitated might have trouble sleeping and experience problems in their relationships or at work.

If someone feels anxious often, they should speak to their doctor. The doctor may want them to consider therapy or medication. They should also visit the hospital if they experience chest pain or breathing problems, which could indicate heart attacks.

Sometimes agitation can be an indication of depression. Depression can trigger feelings of sadness, helplessness and despair. People who are depressed may also have agitation, which is often combined with restlessness and anxiety. This is referred to as agitated depression disorder, and doctors aren't certain of what makes it different from other kinds.

Other times, agitation is the symptom of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can make it hard for people to determine what is real and what is not. People who have these conditions might feel that they are unable to sit still, and may move around or shake their hands.

Agitation can also be an effect of certain medication, such as antipsychotics. People who are taking these drugs should consult their physician when they experience frequent agitation. In some instances doctors may prescribe the patient a different medicine that doesn't have this side effect. Apart from these medications one can attempt to decrease their anxiety by avoiding situations that stress them out and eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep.

Depression

Women who are depressed can experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It can also cause problems with eating, sleep and thinking clearly. It is important for women to get treatment for depression as early as the first sign of the illness. This can prevent symptoms from getting worse, and could even stop the relapse of depression.

Research indicates that women are more likely to suffer from depression than men. It is often thought that this is due to the variety of roles women play in their lives, such as being a mother and spouse that can cause stress or cause burnout. Women are also more likely to experience hormonal changes that could lead to depression, for example during menopausal or pregnancy.

It is also possible that certain women are more prone for depression because of a previous experience with the condition or an ancestor's history of it. This could also be the case for women who lack self-esteem, or have had issues with sexuality or body image issues.

The most prominent symptoms that are common in women suffering from depression include fatigue, lack of motivation sleeplessness, insomnia and thoughts of dying or suicide. In Home Page , women who have depression may also feel feelings of guilt or shame. This is due to the fact that women are more susceptible to blame themselves for their low moods and this can be made worse by the fact that they are entrusted with more responsibility for caring for their children and other family members. The use of antidepressants can ease these symptoms however, it is crucial to seek out professional advice and guidance from a specialist.