7 Simple Strategies To Totally Enjoying Your ADD Symptoms In Women
ADD Symptoms in Women
Women suffering from ADD often are misunderstood and dismissed as emotionally unstable. Some people are triggered to distraction or rage by minor inconveniences like waiting in line or being on hold.
Stereotypes about gender can also obscure symptoms making it difficult to recognize and diagnose. Amen Clinics uses brain imaging to determine if a woman suffers from undiagnosed ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD may feel overwhelmed by the tasks they are required to complete. They might describe their lives as feeling like a constant chaos and are unable to receive the support they require from friends and family. They also have a harder to deal with stress and criticism and are more susceptible to depression and anxiety. Women with ADHD are also more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, such as promiscuous or casual sexual activity. These situations can lead to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and low self-esteem, as well as feelings of shame.
Some psychologists are building up research on ADHD in adult women. Julia Rucklidge, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is leading one such endeavor. She and her coworkers are focusing on females who suffer from comorbid conditions like depression and anxiety. These co-occurring conditions can mask or increase ADHD symptoms, affecting a woman's ability to function at school, work, and home.
Rucklidge discusses how many of the same biases that affect boys and men also make it difficult to recognize ADHD for girls and women. Rating scales tend to favor male behavior, and girls might not have the most effective coping strategies in college or at work. Women who have an impulsive ADHD are often seen as aggressive or irrational, and they may conceal their symptoms in order to make themselves more acceptable to.
The three different subtypes of ADHD share many behavioral symptoms. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They may be fidgety disorganized or constantly moving and unorganized, talkative, impatient and unable to wait their turn, and prone to mood swings.
Inattentiveness
Although the hyperactive or impulsive symptoms of ADHD are more well-known, inattentive ADHD can be just as destructive for adults and children alike. It can be difficult to stay organized, manage your time effectively and manage all the daily tasks. For example a child might not be able to meet important deadlines at school or a worker can forget about important meetings. Inattentive ADHD may also cause relationship problems as other people get annoyed when a friend or colleague is often distracted by thoughts.
The non-hyperactive presentation of ADHD is less visible than the typical symptoms, and so it's easy to overlook or dismiss these issues. Children who have inattentive ADHD often are portrayed as being uncooperative or lazy because they fail to follow the instructions of parents or teachers or even daydream in classes. adhd symptoms in women with inattentive ADHD are often overlooked since their symptoms might be less apparent than their peers' hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD can include trouble staying focused, easily pulled off task and unable to pay attention to details and listening skills that are not as good, and frequent misplacement of belongings. Inattentional ADHD can be exacerbated or made more severe by anxiety, stress and other conditions such as depression, poor sleep nutrition, medication side-effects (especially stimulant medications) and poor diet and nutritional deficiencies.
Attention-deficit ADHD is more common in women and girls than other ADD presentations, but this type of disorder is often overlooked and not treated. This is due to a variety of factors, such as specific symptom manifestations, higher rates of co-existing anxiety disorders and affective disorders among females, and ratings scales that tend to be biased towards male behavior. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle may significantly affect how irritable ADHD symptoms manifest.
Impulsiveness
People who struggle to control their impulses experience a feeling of excitement or tension before they decide to act on their impulses. They also struggle to resist urges, even when they are aware that their behavior is harmful or problematic. They often feel guilt or guilt afterward, too.
It's common for young children to behave impulsively but they become aware of it as they grow older and learn more about the consequences of their actions. It's also a characteristic of certain disorders, such as ADHD and antisocial personality disorder, and pyromania (the urge to light fires).
The tendency to be impulsive could be a sign of mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, stroke, brain tumors or diabetes. Alcohol can cause you to act impulsively because it reduces your inhibitions.
An inability to control your impulses can impact your relationships, career and daily life. If you have ADHD for instance, impulsive behavior can interfere with your daily routine and impair your ability to manage money or work. Some of the symptoms include interrupting other people when they're talking, blurting out answers to questions, and struggling to wait for your turn in line. In adults, impulsive behaviors can include shopping on a decision and spending too much money, or watching too much television.
It's crucial to understand the difference between compulsive and impulsive behavior. While impulsive behaviors are spontanious, compulsive actions are repetitive and ritualistic. For example, putting your hand into the fire to see if it's burning is an impulsive act and checking it over and over again to ensure that the stove is not on is a habitual behavior. Studies have shown that men are more aggressive than women, but researchers don't know exactly why. They speculate that genetics, environment and hormonal changes that occur 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 irritability. It can cause someone to feel anxious, agitated, or tense, and it can lead to aggression or suicidal behavior. People who are agitated might have trouble sleeping and experience problems in their relationships and at work.
If someone feels anxious often, they should speak to their doctor. The doctor may suggest to try medication or therapy. If they feel chest pain or have trouble breathing, it could be a sign of a heart attack.
Sometimes agitation can be a sign of depression. Depression can lead to feelings of despair, sadness and hopelessness. People who are depressed may also feel agitated. This is often accompanied by anxiety and restlessness. This is called agitated depressive disorder, and experts still aren't certain of what makes it different from other kinds.
Sometimes, agitation can be a symptom of a mental health issue like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can make it hard for a person to tell what is real and what is not. Patients with these conditions might feel that they are unable to sit still, and they may pace or wring their hands.
Certain medications, like antipsychotics, can cause agitation. Patients taking these medications should talk to their doctor whenever they feel frequently agitated. 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 avoidance of stressful situations, eating healthy diet, and getting enough rest.
Depression
Women who suffer from depression can experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It can also cause problems with eating, sleeping and thinking clearly. Women need to seek treatment for depression when they begin to start to notice signs. This can help prevent the symptoms from getting worse and could even prevent a relapse of depression.
According to research, women are more susceptible to depression than men. This is believed to be due to the numerous roles women have in their lives, like being a wife and mother, which can lead to stress or burnout. Women are more likely to experience hormonal changes which can cause depression. This is particularly true during menopausal cycles and after pregnancy.
It is possible that some women have a higher chance of developing depression due to a prior history of the condition or a family history of it. This could also be the case for women who have low self-esteem or who have had issues with sexuality or body image issues.
A few of the signs that are present in women who suffer from depression include fatigue, lack of motivation as well as sleeplessness and thoughts of suicide or suicide. Women who are depressed may also feel shame or guilt. Women are more likely to blame themselves for their depressed mood, and this can be made worse by having to take care of their children and other loved ones. Antidepressant medications can help alleviate these symptoms. However, it is essential to seek advice from a professional from a specialist.