Women With Attention Deficit
Women with ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, careers and even life in general. They can be easily annoyed and even minor inconveniences such as waiting in a line or being put on hold for a lengthy duration can cause a huge frustration.
Many women have difficulty to get an accurate adult ADHD diagnosis. This can be due to gender bias and the fact many studies are focused on children and transgender males.
Impatience
Women with attention deficit often struggle to manage the demands of their lives and handle multiple tasks. Their frustration can sometimes be taken as irritability or moodiness, or as a lack of commitment to their work or relationships. However, these issues can be signs of a disorder that goes underdiagnosed in adults such as adult ADHD.
One of the most common symptoms of ADD is being anxious. Women with the disorder may speed through tasks or dive into projects without a thorough plan, which could lead to mistakes and a sense of being overwhelmed. They can be easily distracted by the things that happen around them. This makes it difficult for them to complete their tasks and keep a conversation going.
The inattention-deficit symptoms of ADHD, such as trouble getting things done as well as procrastination, losing track of time, and needing help in keeping things in order with appointments or belongings is a major issue for women. Many of these women have a high level of self-criticism and their problems could be exacerbated by anxiety and depression, which often accompany the disorder. They have a hard time accepting criticism, and are more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence.
Hormonal fluctuations can either increase or decrease a women's symptoms of ADD. For instance, when women enter puberty they are affected by changes in estrogen levels that can make ADD symptoms worse. These fluctuations can continue through menstrual cycles and perimenopausal periods, when estrogen levels are low. The symptoms of women can be exacerbated by pregnancy, menopause, or hormonal fluctuations, especially in women with bipolar disorders.
It is important for women suffering from ADHD to locate a medical professional who understands their condition and is trained in the diagnosis and treatment. Take discover this at the recommended books listed in this article prior to making an appointment to better understand ADHD and its symptoms.
If you're unable find a health care provider who specializes in treating ADHD and related disorders, you may want to consider participating in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that search for innovative ways to treat, prevent or diagnose illnesses and disorders. Visit the NIMH Clinical Trials page to learn more about clinical trials and whether they're the right choice for you.
Impulsivity
Women with ADHD often have difficulty controlling their emotions, which can lead to impulse-driven behaviors which can be extremely damaging. Examples include spending impulsively engaging in relationships and marriage before they are ready and interrupting others during conversations and uttering answers before they've completed listening. In addition, they might be sensitive to rejection that could cause them to feel intense emotional responses to perceived or real rejection.
Women who suffer from attention deficit disorder are faced with the same problems as men, but their issues are different. For example hormones can affect the way their symptoms are manifested and how they respond to treatment.
For some women suffering from ADD one task can seem interminable as they struggle to keep their focus. Being distracted and lost in her thoughts, or even daydreaming are common among them, especially during boring tasks like grocery shopping or writing letters, or even doing chores. They can easily become bored and have a difficult time switching their attention from one task to another. This can cause problems with school and work.
When it is time to organize, women with ADD often have trouble keeping track of appointments or belongings. They tend to forget things and don't remember details of conversations or events. This can result in embarrassing mistakes in the workplace or at school, as well as in social situations. They also tend to procrastinate and get overwhelmed by multitasking, which can lead to more anxiety.
Women suffering from ADD may also experience a combination of symptoms, including hyperactivity and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. Women who have a combination subtype exhibit both inattentive and hyperactive symptoms. However, they can be difficult to differentiate between them, especially when they are young.
Regular exercise can help decrease ADHD symptoms. Physical activity can improve mood and attention by increasing neurotransmitters. Stress, another problem that many women who suffer from ADHD have can be alleviated through physical exercise. Women suffering from ADHD are advised to participate in at least four or five sessions of aerobic or cardio exercises that last for 30 minutes per week, which includes cycling, swimming, running or playing team sports.
Inorganizational issues
Women with ADHD are unable to keep track of their daily tasks and events. This can result in an unorganized home or office, financial issues and lack of organization in their personal or work lives.
They may be unable to finish projects or tasks that aren't immediately exciting or rewarding and may not have a plan to meet their future obligations. Women with ADHD also have trouble in focusing and remembering the words of others in conversations. Because of this, they often miss appointments and meetings, are unable to follow directions at school or at work, and are more likely to have frustrating miscommunications in their relationships.
It is essential to consult a qualified doctor to get a precise diagnosis. Adult ADD is frequently misdiagnosed and many doctors are not aware of this disorder. Consult the doctor you're considering to consult for a list of recommended reading materials, and ask them a series of questions to determine if they're aware of the disorder.
ADHD in women can be caused by gender roles. Women are often under pressure to succeed in their careers, to take on more responsibility in the family, to maintain happy relationships, and to do well in a social setting. These societal pressures may make it difficult for women to recognize symptoms of ADHD because they hinder their ability to meet the expectations of society.
ADHD symptoms are less apparent in girls, adolescent females and males than in males or females. This could lead to being underdiagnosed. This is due to the fact that women and girls are typically expected to focus on their social skills and appearance instead of recognizing any problems in their performance or focus. Females who suffer from ADHD tend to be more irritability than hyperactive signs and may also have mood disorders or anxiety.
The good news is that there are ways to manage your symptoms and improve your performance. Regular exercise can help release neurotransmitters that boost the ability to focus and reduce anxiety. Try jogging, swimming and dancing or attending group classes such as yoga or Pilates. Incorporate these activities into your routine to manage ADHD symptoms. You can use a planner, checklists, or a post-it notepad to keep track of your daily tasks. Be sure to take frequent breaks and eat healthy foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help regulate attention and boost mental clarity.
Social Awkwardness
Social awkwardness, unlike social anxiety, is not caused by a fear of judgement, but rather a lack of ability to navigate the complex social interactions. This could be due to a lack of social exposure, certain neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, or personality traits that make it difficult for people to adjust to social situations.
A person who is socially awkward may 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 may also have difficulty understanding social norms, such as humor and sarcasm. They may also be hesitant to participate in social activities or feel self-conscious about their appearance in social situations, which can lead to feelings of embarrassment and rejection.
People who are socially awkward tend to withdraw from social activities and rely on self-care strategies such as overeating, shopping, watching TV or exercising to try to feel better. These habits can increase the feeling of being socially awkward by restricting social activities.
Sometimes the anxiety of social isolation stems from trauma. Trauma can occur when a child's need to trust attunement, autonomy or trust is not met in early childhood. They create a rigid behavior pattern to cope with this threat. This can lead to a feeling of social awkwardness, especially when sensory information from the surrounding environment triggers the trauma.
Gifted children may also feel socially awkward because their higher intellect makes them appear older and more mature. They might also be focused on their own needs and appear to know more than others, which may cause them to speak with an academic or unbalanced tone.
The fear of being judged by others due to their appearance or behavior is another cause of social awkwardness. This can lead to poor posture, avoiding eye-contact or displaying an angry posture that shows how uncomfortable they feel. The majority of social awkwardness symptoms can be resolved through therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals challenge and change negative thinking patterns, while exposure therapy gradually exposes people situations to build confidence and tolerance.