Women With Attention Deficit
Women with ADHD may experience difficulty navigating relationships, jobs and life in general. They can become easily impatient and minor inconveniences like waiting in line or being placed on hold for an extended duration can cause a huge frustration.
Many women have a hard to get an accurate diagnosis of adult ADHD. This is due to gender bias or the fact many studies are geared towards children and transgender males.
Impatience
Women with attention deficits typically find it difficult to juggle daily obligations. Their frustration can sometimes be misinterpreted by others as irritability or moodiness, or as a lack of commitment to work or relationships. However, these issues may be signs of a common disorder that goes underdiagnosed in adults: adult ADHD.
One of the most common symptoms of ADD is being anxious. People with ADD can be rushed through tasks or projects without a plan, leading to mistakes and a feeling of overwhelming. They are also easily distracted by events going on around them and find it difficult to finish tasks or keep conversations.
Women may experience lots of difficulties due to the inattention ADHD symptoms, such as procrastination, forgetfulness and assistance to keep the track of appointments or possessions. Many of these women have an over-confidence in themselves, and their problems may be exacerbated by anxiety or depression, which often accompany the disorder. They have trouble accepting criticism and are at a greater risk of violence from their intimate partners and aren't able to deal with conflicts or anger in their relationships.
Hormonal fluctuations can alter or even reduce a woman's symptoms of ADD. For example, as girls enter puberty they notice changes in estrogen levels that could make ADD symptoms worse. These changes can persist throughout menstrual cycles and perimenopausal periods when estrogen levels are low. The symptoms of a woman may be exacerbated due to menopausal changes, pregnancy or hormonal fluctuations, specifically for women who suffer from bipolar disorder.
Women suffering from ADHD should consult an experienced healthcare professional who is familiar with their condition and is trained to recognize and treat it. Before scheduling an appointment, you should read some of the books recommended in this article to gain greater understanding of ADHD and its symptoms.
You might consider taking part in a clinical study if you are unable to find a doctor who is skilled in treating ADHD. Clinical trials are research studies that look for new methods to treat, diagnose or prevent diseases and disorders. Visit the NIMH Clinical Trials page to learn more about clinical trials and whether they're right for you.
Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to control their emotions. This can lead to impulsive behavior that can be damaging. Some examples include impulsive spending, jumping into marriage and relationships before they are ready and interrupting other people during conversations and uttering answers before they've finished listening. They might also have an sensitivity to rejection that can trigger extreme emotional reactions to real or perceived rejection.
Women suffering from attention deficit disorder face similar issues as men, but their challenges differ. For example, their hormones can influence the way their symptoms are manifested and how they respond to treatment.
Some women who suffer from ADD struggle to stay focused on just one thing. For them, getting distracted or lost in their thoughts or daydreaming is common, particularly when performing mundane tasks like grocery shopping or writing letters or performing chores. They can easily get bored and have a difficult time switching their attention from one task to another. This can cause problems with school and work.
Women suffering from ADD have trouble keeping the track of their appointments and belongings. They often forget things and aren't able to recall particulars of conversations or events. This can result in embarrassing mistakes in the workplace at school, or in social situations. They may also be prone to procrastinate or get overwhelmed by multitasking. This can lead to anxiety.
Women suffering from ADD can also have several symptoms, including hyperactivity and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. Women who have a combination subtype have both inattentive and hyperactive symptoms, however they can be difficult to differentiate between them, especially when they are young.
Regular exercise can help reduce ADHD symptoms. Physical activity can boost mood and attention by increasing neurotransmitters. It can also relieve stress, an issue that many women with ADHD confront. Women suffering from ADHD are advised to engage in at least four or five times of aerobic or cardio exercise of 30 minutes each week, including cycling, swimming, running or participating in team sports.
Inorganizational issues
Women with ADHD have difficulty keeping the track of their daily tasks and events. This can result in clutter in their home or office, financial issues and lack of organization in their personal or work lives.
They may have trouble completing tasks or projects that don't yield immediate rewards. They may not think ahead of their the obligations of the future. Women who suffer from ADHD are also having trouble focusing and remembering other people's words during conversations. This is why they often miss meetings and appointments, struggle to follow instructions at school or work and are more likely to experience disconcerting miscommunications in their relationships.
To make sure you get a correct diagnosis, it is important to seek out an experienced doctor. Adult ADD is often misdiagnosed, and many doctors have a limited understanding of this disorder. Ask doctors you are considering for recommended reading resources and a list of questions to help ensure that they have a solid understanding of the disorder.
ADHD in women can be exacerbated by gender roles. Women are often under pressure to excel in their careers and to assume more responsibilities in the family, to maintain happy relationships, and to perform well in the society. In some cases the pressures of society can make it difficult to identify the signs of ADHD due to the fact that the disorder can hinder the ability to meet the expectations of society.
Symptoms of ADHD are less evident in girls and adolescent women than men and boys, which can contribute to a lack of diagnosis. This is because social and family expectations tend to insist that women and girls are focused on their appearance and social skills, rather than recognizing any issues with their performance or in their concentration. Females who suffer from ADHD tend to show more inattentive than hyperactive symptoms and may also suffer from anxiety or mood disorders.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce your symptoms and improve your functioning. Regular exercise releases neurotransmitters, which increase attention and reduce anxiety. Try jogging or swimming dancing, or joining group classes like yoga or Pilates. Include these activities in your daily routine to reduce ADHD symptoms. You can make use of planners, checklists or post-it note to organize your daily tasks. Be sure to take regular breaks and eat nutritious foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They can aid in regulating focus and improve mental clarity.
Social Awkwardness
Contrary to social anxiety awkwardness is not a result of a heightened fear of judgement, but rather an inability to navigate the complexity of social interactions. This could be due to a lack of social experience, a neurological condition such as autism spectrum disorders, or personality characteristics that make it hard to adapt to social situations.
A person who is socially awkward might be prone to making inappropriate remarks, appear off-balanced and ignore nonverbal signals that inform what to do next. They might be having a difficult time understanding social conventions like sarcasm or humor. They may also be hesitant to participate in social activities or feel self-conscious about how they perform in social situations, which can lead to feelings of shame and rejection.
People who are socially awkward tend to withdraw from social activities and turn to self-care strategies like eating too much, shopping or watching television to try to feel better. These habits can contribute to the feeling of being awkward in social settings by cutting down on social opportunities.
Trauma can lead to social awkwardness. Trauma can happen 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 could lead to feeling of social awkwardness, especially in the event that sensory information from the environment triggers the trauma.
Gifted children may also feel socially awkward because their higher level of intelligence makes them appear older and more mature. They might also be focused on their own personal interests and act as though they know more than others, which could cause them to speak in an academic or unbalanced tone.
add in women test of being judged by other people for their appearance or conduct is a different cause of social awkwardness. This can result in poor body language, not making eye contact or taking a frantic stance that telegraphs how uncomfortable they are. The majority of social awkwardness symptoms can be resolved through therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which challenges and reframes negative thoughts is a method to aid individuals. Exposure therapy gradually exposes people in situations that cause anxiety so that they can develop tolerance and confidence.