Women With Attention Deficit
Women who suffer from ADHD might have a difficult time navigating their relationships, careers and life in general. They may become irritable easily and minor inconveniences such as waiting in lines or being in a hold for long periods of time can be major irritations.
Many women find it difficult to get an accurate adult ADHD diagnosis. A bias towards gender and the fact that most studies focus on males and children could contribute to this.
Impatience
Women with attention deficits often have difficulty juggling daily obligations. Their frustrations can be misinterpreted by others as irritability, moodiness or a lack of commitment to relationships or work. These issues could be signs of adult ADHD which is a disorder that is often misdiagnosed.
A typical symptom of ADD is being in a hurry. Women suffering from the disorder might be quick to complete tasks or jump into projects without having a solid plan, which could result in errors and feelings of being overwhelmed. They are also easily distracted by events going on around them and find it difficult to finish tasks or keep a conversation.
Women can experience many difficulties with the inattention ADHD symptoms, such as procrastination, apathy, and forgetfulness. They also require assistance in keeping the track of appointments or possessions. Many of these women have an over-confidence in themselves, and their problems may be exacerbated by anxiety and depression that often coexist with the disorder. They have difficulty accepting criticism, and are more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence.
Hormonal fluctuations can either increase or decrease a woman's symptoms of ADD. As women enter puberty, they may have changes in estrogen that can worsen ADD symptoms. These changes can last throughout menstrual cycle and perimenopausal phase as estrogen levels become low. Additionally, a woman's symptoms can be exacerbated due to menopausal, pregnancy or hormonal changes in women with bipolar disorder.
Women with ADHD should consult an expert in healthcare who is familiar with their condition and is trained to recognize and treat it. You should read the recommended books listed in this article before making an appointment to understand ADHD and its signs.
You may want to consider taking part in a clinical study if you can't find a doctor who is specialized in treating ADHD. Clinical trials are research studies that seek for new methods to treat, prevent or diagnose disorders and diseases. Learn adhd symptoms in women test and if they're suitable for you by visiting the NIMH's Clinical Trials webpage.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD often have trouble regulating their emotions and can result in impulsive behaviors which can be extremely damaging. Examples include impulsive purchases that lead to marriage or relationships before they are ready and causing disruptions to others during conversations or shouting out answers without listening. They may also have a rejection sensitivity that could trigger extreme emotional reactions to real or perceived rejection.
The same problems that make it difficult for men to concentrate and stay organized can be seen in women with attention deficit disorder. However, they have unique issues of their own. Their hormones, for instance, can affect how symptoms manifest and how they respond to treatment.
For some women suffering from ADD the task at hand can seem interminable when they are trying to remain focused. Being distracted and lost in her thoughts or imagining things are common among them particularly during boring tasks such as grocery shopping or writing letters, or even doing chores. They can easily become bored and have a hard to focus on different activities, which can hinder their work and school.
Women with ADD have a hard time keeping track of appointments and belongings. They tend to forget things and have a hard recalling the details of conversations or events, which can result in embarrassing mistakes at work, school or social situations. They may also be prone to procrastinate or be overwhelmed by multitasking. This can cause anxiety.
In addition to the issues of impulsivity and inattention, women with ADD might have a combination subtype, which also includes hyperactivity or prefrontal cortex disorder. People with a combined subtype suffer from both inattentive as well as hyperactive symptoms. However, they can be difficult to differentiate from one another particularly when they are young.
Regular exercise can help reduce ADHD symptoms. Physical activity can boost neurotransmitters that enhance mood and attention. It also helps relieve stress, an problem that women with ADHD face. Women who suffer from ADHD are advised to engage in at least four or five times of aerobic or cardio exercise that last for 30 minutes per week, including cycling, swimming, running or participating in team sports.
Lack of Organization
Women with ADHD often have trouble managing their daily activities or events. This can lead to an unorganized home or office as well as financial problems and an overall lack of organization at work or in their daily lives.
They may have trouble completing projects or tasks which are not immediately rewarding. They might also fail to prepare for the obligations of the future. Women with ADHD are also having trouble staying focused and remembering the words of others in conversations. They frequently miss appointments and meetings and have trouble following directions at work or in school and are more likely than other people to have a frustrating miscommunication with their loved ones.
It is essential to consult an expert doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Adult ADD is often misdiagnosed, and a majority of doctors have a poor understanding of the disorder. Consult with the doctors you are considering for recommended reading resources and an agenda of questions to help ensure that they are knowledgeable about the disorder.
ADHD in women is worsened by gender roles. Women are often under pressure to excel in their careers as well as to assume more responsibilities in the home, to keep happy relationships, and to do well in the society. In some instances these pressures from society can make it difficult to identify symptoms of ADHD as the disorder may hinder the ability to meet these expectations.
ADHD symptoms are less apparent in females, adolescents and men than they are in boys or men. This could lead to an underdiagnosis. This is because social and family expectations tend to require that women and girls focus on their appearance and social skills more than recognizing any issues with their performance or in their concentration. Moreover, females with ADHD tend to have more irritable symptoms than hyperactivity and are more likely to suffer from co-existing mood disorders and anxiety which can mask the existence of the disorder.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to manage your symptoms and improve your performance. Regular exercise can help release neurotransmitters that increase the ability to focus and reduce anxiety. Try swimming, jogging or dancing, or joining classes in groups such as yoga or Pilates. Include these types of activities in your daily routine to control ADHD symptoms. It is also beneficial to keep a planner and use checklists or post-it notes to manage your day-to-day tasks. Make sure to take frequent breaks and eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids which can improve mental clarity and regulate attention.
Social Awkwardness
Unlike social anxiety, social awkwardness is not caused by an intense fear of judgement but an inability to navigate the intricacies of social interactions. This could be due to a lack in social experiences, a neurological condition such as autism spectrum disorders, or other personality traits that make it difficult to adjust to social situations.
A person who is socially awkward could be prone to making inappropriate remarks that make them appear out of balance and do not understand non-verbal signals that tell them what to do next. They might also have trouble understanding social conventions such as sarcasm and humor. They might also shy away from social activities or be overly self-conscious about their appearance in social situations. This can lead to feelings of shame and rejection.
People who feel awkward socially tend to withdraw from social activities and resort to self-care methods like eating too much, shopping or watching television to help feel better. These habits can exacerbate the feeling of social awkwardness by further limiting their available social options.
Trauma can cause social awkwardness. Trauma can arise when a child's need for trust, attunement or autonomy is not met in early childhood. They create a rigid behavior pattern to deal with this threat. This can lead to a feeling of social anxiety, in the event that sensory information from the environment triggers trauma.
Children with giftedness can also experience social anxiety because their higher intellectual functioning makes them appear older and more mature than their peers. They might also be focused on their own personal interests and appear to know more than others, which could cause them to speak with an unbalanced or academic tone.
The fear of being judged or criticized by others due to their appearance or behaviour is a different cause of social awkwardness. This can result in poor body language, not making eye contact or adopting a frantic stance that telegraphs the degree of discomfort they feel. The majority of social awkwardness symptoms can be resolved with therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which challenges and alters negative thinking patterns, is one way to aid individuals. Exposure therapy gradually exposes people in anxiety-provoking situations so that they can develop tolerance and confidence.