ADD Symptoms in Women
Women suffering from ADD are often misunderstood or dismissed as being excessively emotional. For some, even minor inconveniences like waiting in line or waiting on hold drive them into rage or disorientation.
Gender stereotypes can also mask symptoms, making them hard to recognize and diagnose. Amen Clinics uses brain imaging to determine if a woman has undiagnosed ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD often find themselves overwhelmed by their daily tasks. They might feel like a constant chaos, and they are unable to receive the help they require from friends and family. They also have a harder dealing with stress and criticism, making them more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors such as sexually explicit or casual sex. These behaviors can result in sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and low self-esteem as well as feelings of shame.
Some psychologists are working on advancing the research on ADHD in women who are adults. Julia Rucklidge, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is leading one such effort. Her and her colleagues are focusing on women who have comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression. These co-occurring conditions can mask or increase ADHD symptoms, which can affect a woman's ability to function at school, work and home.
Rucklidge explains that many of the same biases that affect boys and men make it difficult to recognize ADHD in girls and women. Rating scales are biased towards male behavior, and girls might have less effective strategies for coping in college or at work. Women who have impulsive ADHD symptoms are often dismissed as being irrational or agressive and are more likely to hide their symptoms in order to fit in better.
Additionally to this, a variety 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 could be unruly and fidgety, or constantly moving around or distracted, forgetful, disorganized and impatient inability and unwilling to wait for their turn, and prone to mood swings.
Inattentiveness
Inattentional ADHD is equally debilitating to adults and children. The struggle to organize, manage time efficiently and stay on top of everyday tasks can be overwhelming. For example, a child may not be able to meet important deadlines at school, or an employee might forget to attend important meetings. Inattention ADHD can also cause problems with relationships when others are frustrated by a partner or colleague who is frequently lost in thoughts.
It's easy to ignore or dismiss the non-hyperactive symptoms of ADHD because they aren't as visible as the typical symptoms. Children who have inattentive ADHD often are mistaken for being uncooperative or lazy because they don't follow the instructions of parents or teachers or even daydream in class. Adults with inattentive ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms may not be as obvious as their peers with impulsivity or hyperactivity.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms include difficulty staying focused, being easily distracted, having poor listening skills, and losing belongings frequently. Attention deficit ADHD can be exacerbated or made more severe by anxiety, stress and other conditions such as insomnia, depression and nutrition, side effects of medication (especially stimulant medications) as well as poor eating habits and nutritional deficiencies.
Inattentional ADHD affects more women and girls than other ADD manifestation, but it is often not properly diagnosed and treated. This is due to a variety of factors, including the specific symptoms presented, higher rates of anxiety and affective disorder in females and rating scales that favor male behavior. Furthermore, hormonal fluctuations throughout menstrual cycles can greatly influence how inattention ADHD symptoms appear.
Impulsiveness
People who are unable to control their impulses feel a sense of tension or excitement before they decide to act in response to their impulses. They also have a hard to resist their urges, even if they know that the behavior is harmful or problematic. Afterward, they may feel guilt or regret.
Children often act impulsively as they begin to understand the consequences of their choices. It's also a symptom of certain diseases, such as ADHD as well as antisocial personality disorder, and pyromania (the compulsion to set fires).
The tendency to be impulsive could indicate that you have a mental health condition, like bipolar disorder, stroke or brain tumor or a chronic medical problem like diabetes or heart disease. Alcohol can also trigger you to act impulsively by reducing your inhibitions.
Lack of impulse control can impact your relationships, career and daily life. If you have ADHD, for example an impulsive attitude can disrupt your daily routine and impair your ability to manage money or work. Symptoms include interrupting others when they're talking, uttering answers to questions and struggling to wait for your turn when you're in the line. In adults, impulsive behaviors could include shopping on a impulse and spending too much money or watching too much television.
It is important to distinguish between compulsive and impulsive behavior. While impulsive behavior is spontanious, compulsive actions are repetitive and ritualistic. For instance, placing hands in a flame to see if it's still on is an impulsive act while checking the stove frequently to ensure it's off is a habitual behavior. Researchers don't know why men are more impulsive. Researchers suggest that hormonal changes and genetics in adulthood or adolescence, and also the environment could be contributing factors.
Agitation
Agitation is a feeling of restlessness and irritability which can be caused by stress or an illness. It can cause someone to feel anxious, excited, or nervous, and it could lead to aggression or suicidal behavior. People who are agitated often find it hard to sleep and may have issues with their relationships or at work.
If someone is agitated often, they should talk to their doctor. The doctor might suggest to try a medication or therapy. They should also visit the hospital if they experience chest pain or trouble breathing that could indicate a heart attack.
Sometimes, agitation may be a sign of depression. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. Some people who suffer from depression may suffer from agitation. This is often accompanied by anxiety and restlessness. This is known as agitated depression, and experts are still learning about how this kind of depression differs from other types of depression.
Sometimes, agitation could be an indication of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can make it difficult for people to determine what is real and what is not. People with these conditions might feel that they can't sit still, and may move around or shake their hands.
Certain medications, such as antipsychotics, may cause agitation. If you feel agitated on a regular basis consult your physician. In certain instances, doctors will give the patient a different medicine that doesn't have this side effect. Aside from these medicines, a person can try to decrease their anxiety by abstaining from situations that cause stress and eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep.
Depression
Women who suffer from depression are afflicted with an extremely serious mental health issue that can lead to feelings of sadness, despair and despair. It can also lead to issues with eating, sleeping and thinking clearly. adults adhd symptoms is essential for women to seek treatment for depression as early as the first indication of the illness. This can prevent symptoms from worsening and even a Relapse.
Research suggests that women are more likely to experience depression than men. This is believed to be due to the many roles women have in their lives, for example being a wife and mother, which can lead to stress or burnout. Women are more likely to experience hormonal changes which can lead to depression. This is especially true when menopausal and pregnancy.
It is possible that certain women have a higher chance of developing depression due to a prior history of the condition, or a family background of it. This can also be the case for women who have a low self-esteem or have had issues related to sexuality or body image.
Some of the specific symptoms that can be seen in women suffering from depression include a lack of energy sleeplessness, insomnia and thoughts of dying or suicide. People who are depressed may be prone to feeling guilt or shame. Women tend to blame themselves for their moods, and this can be exacerbated because they have to care for their children and family members. Antidepressant medication can ease these symptoms. However, it's crucial to seek out professional advice from a medical professional.