ADD Symptoms in Women
Women suffering from ADD frequently are misunderstood or dismissed as overly emotional. For some, even minor inconveniences like waiting in line or waiting in line can lead them into rage or disorientation.
Gender stereotypes can also camouflage symptoms, making them difficult to identify and diagnose. At Amen Clinics, we use brain imaging to help determine whether a woman has undetected ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD may feel overwhelmed by the tasks they are required to complete. They may describe their lives as like a constant mess or chaos and find it difficult to get the support they need from family and friends. They also have a difficult time handling criticism and stress, making them more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to engage in risky sexual actions like casual or promiscuous sex. These behaviors can result in sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and low self-esteem and 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. She and her colleagues focus on females who suffer from comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression. These co-occurring disorders can mask or exacerbate ADHD and affect the ability of a woman to perform at home, work, and school.
Rucklidge explains that many of the same biases that affect men and boys make it difficult to identify ADHD in girls and women. Rating symptoms of add are biased towards male behavior, and a girl's strategies for dealing with stress may not be as effective in the classroom or workplace. Women who exhibit an impulsive ADHD symptoms are often viewed as aggressive or irrational, and they can be more likely to hide their symptoms to be accepted by.
The three different subtypes of ADHD share many behavioral symptoms. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They can be fidgety, restless or on-the-go, disruptive and unorganized and impatient in their ability to wait for their turn, and susceptible to mood swings.
Inattentiveness
Attention-deficit ADHD is just as debilitating for adults and children. It can be overwhelming to stay organized, manage your time effectively and keep track of all your daily tasks. A child might be late to school for important deadlines or a worker could not remember important meetings. Inattention ADHD can also cause issues in relationships as others become annoyed by a partner or colleague who frequently gets lost in thoughts.
It's easy to dismiss or ignore the non-hyperactive signs of ADHD because they are less visible than the typical symptoms. Children with inattentive ADHD often are mistaken for being uncooperative or lazy because they fail to follow instructions given by parents or teachers or even ponder their thoughts in classes. Adults with inattentive ADHD are often overlooked because their symptoms are less obvious than their peers who exhibit impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Inattentional ADHD can include having trouble staying focused, getting easily distracted and unable to pay attention to small details, poor listening skills, and frequent misplacement of belongings. Attention deficit ADHD can be aggravated or worsened by anxiety, stress and other issues like insomnia, depression nutrition, medication side-effects (especially stimulant medications), poor diet, and nutritional deficiencies.
Inattentive ADHD is more common in girls and women than other ADD manifestations, yet this type of ADD is often not diagnosed and undertreated. This is largely due to a mix of factors, including specific symptoms presentations, higher rates of co-existing anxiety disorders and affective disorders in females, and ratings scales that tend to be biased towards male behavior. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations throughout menstrual cycles can greatly influence how inattention ADHD symptoms appear.
Impulsiveness
People who struggle to control their impulses feel a sense of excitement or tension before they decide to act on their urges. They also have a tough time resisting the urges, even if they are aware that the behaviour is harmful or problematic. They may feel regret or guilt afterward, too.
Children tend to act in impulsive ways when they are learning about the consequences of their actions. It's also a symptom of some conditions like ADHD and antisocial personality disorder and pyromania.
Impulsivity may be a sign of a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or stroke, brain tumors or diabetes. Certain substances, like alcohol, can reduce your inhibitions and cause you to act in a impulsive manner.
An inability to control your impulses can affect your relationships, career and daily life. If you suffer from ADHD, for example an impulsive attitude can disrupt your routine and impact your ability to manage money or work. Symptoms include interrupting others when they're talking, blurting out answers to questions, and struggling to wait for your turn when you're in line. Adults who are in a state of impulsive behavior include spending excessive amounts of money in a hurry, shopping on a whim or consuming too much TV.
It is essential to distinguish between compulsive and impulsive behavior. Compulsive behavior is repetitive and ritualistic, while impulsive behaviour is spontaneous. As look here , putting hands in a flame to check if it's on is an impulsive act while checking the stove repeatedly to make sure it's off is a routine behavior. Studies have shown that men are more impulsive than women, but researchers aren't able to pinpoint the reason. Researchers speculate that genetics and hormonal changes during adolescence and adulthood as well as the environment could be significant factors.
Agitation
Stress or a medical condition can trigger a feeling of agitation and anger. It can cause a person to feel anxious, agitated or tense. It could also lead to aggressive or suicidal behavior. People who are stressed often find it hard to sleep and might have issues with their relationships or at work.
If someone is agitated frequently, they should talk to their doctor. The doctor might suggest to consider therapy or medication. If they experience chest pain or trouble breathing, this could be an indication of a heartattack.
Sometimes, agitation may be a sign of depression. Depression can trigger feelings of despair, sadness and despair. People with depression may also have agitation, which is often combined with anxiety and restlessness. This is known as"agitated depression," and experts are still learning about the ways in which this kind of depression differs from other types of depression.
In other instances, agitation may be the symptom of a mental health condition like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions can render an individual unable to discern between what is real and not. Patients with these conditions may feel as if they can't stay still, and they may move around or shake their hands.
Some medications, such as antipsychotics, may cause agitation. People who are taking these drugs should consult with their doctor when they experience frequent agitation. Doctors can prescribe a medication that isn't prone to this side-effect. In addition to these medications they can reduce their anxiety by avoiding stressful situations, eating healthy diet, and getting enough sleep.
The following are the ways to decrease your risk:
Women who suffer from depression are afflicted with a serious mental health problem that can lead to feelings of despair, sadness and worthlessness. It can also lead to problems with eating, sleeping and focusing. Women should seek treatment for depression as soon as they notice symptoms. This can help prevent the symptoms from becoming worse and may even prevent the possibility of a relapse in 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 mother and wife which can cause stress or burnout. Women are more likely to experience hormonal changes which can lead to depression. This is particularly true during menopausal cycles and after pregnancy.
It is possible that some women are at a greater chance of developing depression due to an earlier history of the condition or a family history of it. This can also be the case for women with low self-esteem or who have faced issues related to body image or sexuality.
Some of the specific signs that are present in depression in women include fatigue, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping and thoughts of dying or suicide. People who are depressed may also feel shame or guilt. Women are more likely to blame themselves for their moods and this may be increased when they are required to care for their children and loved ones. Antidepressant medication can ease these symptoms. However, it is important to seek professional advice from a doctor.