ADD Symptoms in Women
Women with ADD often get misunderstood or dismissed as overly emotional. For some, minor nuisances such as waiting in lines or waiting for a call can drive them to distraction or rage.
Gender stereotypes can also camouflage symptoms, making them hard to detect and diagnose. At Amen Clinics, we use brain imaging to help determine whether a woman has undiagnosed ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD can feel overwhelmed by the daily tasks they must complete. They might feel that their lives are a chaotic, or constant chaos. They may also have difficulty to get the help they need from family and friends. They are also more susceptible to anxiety and depression because they have difficulty dealing with criticism and stress. Women with ADHD are also more likely to engage risky sexual behaviors such as sexually explicit or casual sexual activity. These experiences can lead to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and low self-esteem as well as feelings of shame.
A few psychologists are working to build up the 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 coworkers focus on females who suffer from comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression. These co-occurring disorders can mask or exacerbate ADHD symptoms, which can affect a woman's ability to perform at work, school, and home.
Rucklidge explains that many of the same biases that affect both genders make it difficult to recognize ADHD in women and girls. Rating scales are skewed towards male behavior and a girl might have less effective coping strategies in the workplace or at college. Women with impulsive ADHD are often dismissed as irrational or aggressive, and can hide their symptoms to be accepted into.
Additionally to that, a lot of the same behavioral symptoms can be observed in all three types of ADHD. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They may be restless, fidgety or constantly moving around, disruptive or forgetful, unorganized and impatient inability and unwilling to wait for their turn, and prone mood swings.
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Although the hyperactive or impulsive symptoms of ADHD are more well-known, inattentive ADHD can be just as damaging for adults and children alike. The struggles to stay organized, manage time effectively and track everyday tasks can be overwhelming. For example a child might not be able to meet important deadlines at school or an employee might forget to attend important meetings. Inattentive ADHD can also lead to relationship problems as other people get annoyed when a friend or co-worker is frequently distracted by thoughts.
It's easy to dismiss or ignore the non-hyperactive symptoms of ADHD because they are less obvious than stereotypical symptoms. Children who have inattentive ADHD are often mistaken for 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 are also often overlooked because their symptoms may not be as apparent as their peers' hyperactivity or impulsivity.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms include difficulty staying focused, becoming easily distracted, lacking listening skills, and misplacing things often. Inattentional ADHD can be exacerbated or made more severe by stress, anxiety and other disorders like depression, poor sleep nutrition, medication side-effects (especially stimulant medications) as well as poor eating habits and nutritional deficiencies.
Inattentive ADHD affects more women and girls than any other ADD presentation, but it is often not properly diagnosed and treated. This is due to a variety of factors, including the specific symptoms presented as well as the higher prevalence of anxiety and affective disorder in females, and rating scales that favor male behavior. Inattention ADHD symptoms can also be affected by hormone fluctuations during the menstrual period.
Impulsiveness
People who are unable to control their impulses feel a sense of excitement or tension prior to acting on their urges. They also have a tough to resist their urges, even when they know the behavior is dangerous or harmful. Afterward, they often feel regret or guilt.
It's common for young children to act impulsively, but they grow out of it as they mature and begin to understand the consequences of their actions. It's also a symptom of certain conditions such as ADHD, antisocial personalities disorder and pyromania.
Impulsivity can be a sign that you have a mental health condition, like bipolar disorder, stroke or brain tumor or a chronic medical issue, such as diabetes or heart disease. Alcohol can also trigger you to be impulsive because it reduces your inhibitions.
Insomniacs can affect your relationships, work and your daily life. If you suffer from ADHD, for example an impulsive attitude can affect your routine and impact your ability to manage money or work. Interrupting other people while they are talking, blurting answers to questions, and having trouble waiting in line are all symptoms. Adults who are impulsive can include spending excessive amounts of money in a hurry, shopping on a whim or watching excessive television.
It is crucial to differentiate between impulsive and compulsive behavior. Compulsive behaviour is repetitive and ritualistic and impulsive behavior is spontaneous. For instance, sticking your hand in the flame to see if it's burning is an impulsive behavior and checking it over and over again to make sure the stove is off is a habitual behavior. Research has shown that men are more aggressive than women, but researchers aren't able to pinpoint the reason. They believe that genetics, environment and hormonal changes that occur during adolescence and adulthood could be the reason for the differences.
Agitation
Agitation is a feeling of restlessness and irritability that can be triggered by stress or a medical condition. It can make someone feel anxious, stressed or nervous. It can also trigger suicidal or aggressive behavior. People who are stressed often find it hard to sleep and might have problems with their relationships and work.
Talk to your doctor if you feel frequently agitated. The doctor may suggest that they try medication or therapy. If they feel chest pain or difficulty breathing, it could be a sign of a heartattack.
Sometimes, agitation may be an indication of depression. Depression can bring feelings of hopelessness, sadness and feeling of helplessness. People who are depressed may also feel agitated. This is often caused by restlessness and anxiety. This is known as agitated depressive disorder, and doctors don't know what makes it different from other kinds.
Sometimes, agitation could be a sign of a mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can make it difficult for someone to discern what is real and what is not. People with these conditions may feel as if they can't stay still, and they might move around or shake their hands.
Certain medications, such as antipsychotics, may cause anxiety. If you feel agitated frequently, talk to your doctor. In certain instances doctors will prescribe the patient a different medication that doesn't have this side effect. In addition to these medications one can also reduce their anxiety by staying clear of stressful situations, eating healthy food, and getting enough rest.
Depression
Women who are depressed can experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It can also cause problems with sleeping, eating and focusing. It is essential for women to get treatment for depression as soon as they notice the first symptoms of the disease. This can prevent symptoms from becoming worse and could even prevent the possibility of a relapse in depression.
Research suggests that women are more likely to suffer from depression than men. It is thought that this is due to the number of roles that women have in life, such as being a wife and mother, which can create stress or lead to burnout. Women are also more likely to have hormonal changes that can lead to depression, for instance during pregnancy or after menopause.
It is also possible that certain women are more prone for depression because of an earlier diagnosis of depression or a family history of it. This can also apply to women who have low self-esteem or who have had issues with sexuality or body image issues.
Women suffering from depression may suffer from sleep issues, fatigue and thoughts of suicide or death. Women who are depressed might be prone to feeling guilt or shame. This is because women are more likely to blaming themselves for their moods, which can be exacerbated by the fact that they bear more responsibility for caring for their children and other loved ones. Antidepressant medications can ease these symptoms. However, it is important to seek professional advice from a specialist.