ADD Symptoms in Women
Women with ADD are often misunderstood or dismissed as being too emotional. For some, minor nuisances like waiting in line or waiting for a call can drive them to distraction or rage.
Gender stereotypes can also camouflage symptoms, making them difficult to detect and diagnose. At Amen Clinics, we use brain imaging to help determine whether a woman has undetected ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD can feel overwhelmed by the daily tasks they have to perform. They may feel like their lives are in constant mess, or chaos. They are also unable to get the help they require from family members and friends. They also have a difficult to deal with stress and criticism and are more susceptible to anxiety and depression. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to engage in risky sexual actions like sexually promiscuous or casual sexual relations. These experiences can lead sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, as well as low self-esteem and feelings of shame.
Some psychologists are working on building up research on ADHD among women of adulthood. Julia Rucklidge is a PhD student from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. She is the head of this research. She and her colleagues are focusing on females who have comorbid conditions, such as anxiety and depression. These co-occurring conditions can mask or exacerbate ADHD, affecting the capacity of a woman to function at work, home, and school.
Rucklidge explains that many of the same biases that affect men and boys also make it difficult to diagnose ADHD in women and girls. Rating scales are biased towards male behavior, and a female might have less effective strategies for coping in the workplace or at college. Women who have hyperactive ADHD are often seen as aggressive or irrational, and they may conceal their symptoms to be accepted into.
All three subtypes of ADHD share a number of behavioral signs. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They could be unruly or fidgety. They may also be in a hurry, disruptive, forgetful, disorganized and impatient inability and unwilling to wait for their turn, and susceptible to mood swings.
symptoms of adhd adults
While the impulsive or hyperactive symptoms of ADHD are more well-known, inattentional ADHD can be equally damaging for adults and children alike. The struggle to organize and effectively manage time and track daily tasks can feel overwhelming. For example children may not be able to meet important deadlines at school or an employee might forget to attend important meetings. Inattention ADHD can also cause relationships problems when other people are annoyed when a partner or colleague is often distracted by thoughts.
It's easy to ignore or dismiss the non-hyperactive signs of ADHD because they are less obvious than typical symptoms. Children who have inattentive ADHD often get mistaken for being lazy or indifferent because they fail to follow instructions from 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.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms include difficulty staying focused, being easily distracted, lacking listening skills, and losing things often. Inattentive ADHD can be aggravated or worsened by anxiety, stress, and other issues like depression, poor sleep nutrition, medication side-effects (especially stimulant medications) and poor diet and nutritional deficiencies.
Attention-deficit ADHD is more common in girls and women than other ADD presentations, but this type of disorder is often overlooked and undertreated. This is due to a number of factors, including the particular symptoms with higher rates of anxiety and affective disorders in females, and rating scales that favor male behavior. Inattention ADHD symptoms are also influenced by hormone fluctuations during menstrual cycle.
Impulsiveness
People who struggle to control their impulses experience a feeling of excitement or tension before they act in response to their impulses. They also have a hard to resist the urges even if they are aware that the behaviour is detrimental or dangerous. They often feel remorse or guilt afterwards, too.
Children are often impulsive as they begin to understand the consequences of their actions. It's also a sign of certain conditions like ADHD as well as antisocial personality disorder, and pyromania (the urge to light fires).
The tendency to be impulsive could be a sign of mental illness, like bipolar disorder, stroke, brain tumor, or diabetes. Alcohol can cause you to act impulsively because it reduces your inhibitions.
Lack of impulse control can impact your relationships, work and daily life. If you have ADHD, for example your impulsive behavior could interfere with your routine and impact your ability to manage your finances or work. Interrupting people when they talk, blurting answers to questions, and having trouble waiting in line are all symptoms. Adults, impulsive behavior can include shopping on a impulse or spending too much money, or watching a lot of television.
It is important to distinguish between impulsive and compulsive behavior. Compulsive behavior is ritualistic and repetitive and impulsive behavior is spontaneous. For instance, placing hands in a flame to check if it's on is an impulsive act while checking the stove repeatedly to ensure it's off is a regular habit. Researchers don't know why males are more impulsive. Researchers speculate that genetics and hormonal changes in adulthood or adolescence, as well as the surrounding environment could be the cause.
Agitation
Stress or a medical issue can cause a feeling of restlessness and irritation. It may cause a person to feel anxious, excited or tense, and could lead to aggression or suicidal behavior. People who are agitated are often unable to sleep and may have issues with their relationships or at work.
If a person feels agitated often, they should speak to their doctor. The doctor may suggest to try a medication or therapy. If they experience chest pain or difficulty breathing, it could be a sign of a heartattack.
Sometimes, agitation can be a sign of depression. Depression can cause feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and despair. People who are depressed may also suffer from agitation. This is often caused by restlessness and anxiety. This is called an agitated depression. Experts are still figuring out the ways in which this type of depression differs from other forms of depression.
Other times, agitation is the symptom of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can make it difficult for someone to discern what is real and what is not. They may be agitated, wring hands or feel like they can't stay still.
Agitation can also be an effect of certain medications, such as antipsychotic drugs. People who take these medicines should consult their physician if they feel agitated regularly. In some instances, doctors will give the patient a different medicine that doesn't cause this effect. Aside from these medicines one can attempt to decrease their anxiety by avoiding situations that can stress them out and eating a healthy diet and getting enough rest.
Here are a few of the ways to decrease your risk of contracting a disease:
Women who suffer from depression are afflicted with an extremely serious mental health issue that can lead to feelings of sadness, despair and a sense of worthlessness. It can also cause issues with eating, sleeping and focusing. Women should seek treatment for depression when they begin to notice symptoms. This can stop symptoms from worsening and even the possibility of a return.
According to research studies, women are more susceptible to depression than men. It is often thought that this is due to the variety of roles that women have in their lives, like being a wife and mother that can cause stress or cause burnout. Women are more likely to experience hormonal changes which can cause depression. This is especially the case when menopausal and pregnancy.
It is also possible that certain women are more at risk for depression due to a previous history of the condition or an ancestor's history of it. This could also be the case for women with an insecure self-esteem or have had issues with sexuality or body image.
Women suffering from depression may be suffering from fatigue, sleep issues and thoughts of suicide or death. Additionally, women who have depression may also feel feelings of guilt or shame. Women are more likely to blame themselves for their depressed mood and this may be increased when they are required to look after their children and loved ones. Antidepressant medications can help alleviate these symptoms. However, it is crucial to seek out professional advice from a medical professional.