ADD Symptoms in Women
Women who suffer from ADD often are misunderstood and dismissed as emotionally unstable. For some, small inconveniences like standing in lines or waiting on hold drive them into rage or distraction.
Gender stereotypes can also mask symptoms, making them hard to recognize and identify. Amen Clinics uses brain imaging to determine if a female suffers from undiagnosed ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD are often overwhelmed by the everyday tasks they must complete. They may feel that their lives are a chaotic, or constant chaos. They may also have difficulty to get the help they need from family and friends. They also have a harder dealing with stress and criticism, making them more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. adult female add symptoms with ADHD are also more likely to engage in sexually risky behaviors, such as promiscuous or casual sexual activity. These experiences can lead to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy and low self-esteem as well as feelings of shame.
A few psychologists are currently working on conducting research on ADHD among adult women. Julia Rucklidge, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is leading one such effort. She and her colleagues are focusing on women who have comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression. These co-occurring disorders can mask or exacerbate ADHD symptoms, affecting a woman's ability to perform at school, work and home.
Rucklidge explains that many of the same biases that affect both genders make it difficult to identify ADHD in women and girls. Rating scales are skewed toward male behavior, and a girl's strategies for dealing with stress may not be as efficient in the college setting or in the workplace. Women who have impulsive ADHD are often dismissed as irrational or aggressive, and can hide their symptoms to fit in.
Additionally to that, a lot of the same behavioral signs are found in all three subtypes of ADHD. Women can experience inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or mixed symptoms. They can be fidgety, disorganized or constantly moving, forgetful and disorganized as well as impatient, irritable, unable to wait their turn, and prone to mood swings.
Inattentiveness
Although the hyperactive or impulsive symptoms of ADHD are more well-known, the inattention of ADHD can be just as debilitating for children and adults alike. The struggle to stay organized and effectively manage time and track daily tasks can feel overwhelming. For instance children may not be able to meet important deadlines at school or an employee might forget to attend important meetings. Inattention ADHD can also lead to issues with relationships as others are annoyed when a partner or co-worker is frequently lost in thought.
The non-hyperactive manifestation of ADHD isn't as prominent as the stereotypical symptoms, so it's easy to overlook or dismiss these issues. Children who have inattentive ADHD are often mistaken for lazy or uncooperative kids because they don't follow the instructions of their parents or teachers or do not think about their thoughts during classes. Adults with inattentive ADHD are often overlooked, as their symptoms may be less obvious than their peers who exhibit impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can include difficulty staying focused, getting easily distracted, lacking listening skills, and misplacing things often. Inattentive ADHD can be exacerbated or made more severe by anxiety, stress and other issues like insomnia, depression nutrition, medication side-effects (especially stimulant medications), poor diet, and nutritional deficiencies.
Inattentional ADHD affects more women and girls than other ADD manifestation, but it is often not properly diagnosed and treated. This is due to a variety of factors including the specific symptoms that are present, higher rates of anxiety and affective disorders in females, and rating scales that favor male behavior. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can significantly influence how inattention ADHD symptoms appear.
Impulsiveness
People who have trouble controlling their impulses often experience a sense of excitement or tension before engaging in their desires. They also have a tough to resist the urges even if they know that the actions are dangerous or harmful. Afterward, they may feel guilt or regret.
Children are often impulsive as they learn about the consequences of their choices. It is also a symptom of certain disorders like ADHD and antisocial personality disorder and pyromania.
The tendency to be impulsive could be a sign of mental illness such as bipolar disorder or stroke, brain tumor, or diabetes. Alcohol can also trigger you to be impulsive by reducing your inhibitions.
A lack of control over your impulses can affect your relationships, work and daily life. For instance, if you have ADHD, impulsive behaviors can disrupt your day-to-day routine and affect your ability to manage your money or work. Some of the symptoms include interrupting other people when they're speaking, blurting out answers to questions, and having trouble waiting your turn when you're in the line. Impulsive behaviors in adults can include spending excessive amounts of money in a hurry, shopping on a whim or watching excessive television.
It is important to distinguish between compulsive and impulsive behavior. Compulsive behavior is repetitive and ritualistic, while impulsive behaviour is spontaneous. For instance, placing your hand into the fire to see if it's burning is an impulsive action while constantly checking to make sure the stove is off is a compulsive behavior. Studies have shown that men are more aggressive than women, but researchers don't know exactly why. They speculate that the environment, genetics and hormonal changes that occur during adolescence and adulthood could be the reason for the differences.
Agitation
Stress or a medical condition can trigger a feeling of agitation and irritability. It can cause a person to feel anxious, agitated, or tense, and it can lead to aggression or suicidal behavior. People who are stressed often find it hard to sleep and might have problems with their relationships or at work.
Talk to your doctor if agitated often. The doctor might suggest to try medication or therapy. If they experience chest pain or trouble breathing, it could be a sign of a heart attack.
Sometimes agitation can be a sign of depression. Depression can bring feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. People who are depressed may also experience agitation which is often accompanied with anxiety and restlessness. This is referred to as"agitated depression," and experts are still learning about how this kind of depression differs from other types of depression.
Other times, agitation is a symptom of a mental health issue like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. These conditions can make it hard for someone to discern what is real and what is not. People who have these conditions might feel that they are unable to sit still, and may be agitated or wringing their hands.
Agitation is also a side effect of certain medications, including antipsychotic drugs. Patients taking these medications should consult with their doctor when they experience frequent agitation. In some instances doctors will prescribe the patient a different drug that doesn't have this side effect. In addition to these medications people can also try to reduce their agitation by staying clear of situations that can stress them out and eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep.
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Women who are depressed can experience feelings of despair and sadness. It can also cause problems with sleep, eating and focusing. It is important for women to get treatment for depression as soon as they notice the first symptoms of the disease. This can help prevent the symptoms from getting worse and may even prevent the possibility of a relapse in depression.
Research suggests that women are more likely to experience depression than men. It is thought that this is due to the multitude of roles women fill in their lives, such as being a wife and mother and can cause stress or lead to burnout. Women are more likely to experience hormonal changes which can cause depression. This is especially true during pregnancy and after menopause.
It is also possible that certain women are at higher risk for depression because of a previous diagnosis of depression or an ancestor's history of it. This could also be the case for women who lack self-esteem, or have struggled with body image or sexuality issues.
A few of the symptoms that are common in women suffering from depression include a lack of energy, difficulty sleeping and thoughts of dying or suicide. Women who are depressed may also feel shame or guilt. Women tend to blame themselves for their low spirits and this may be exacerbated because they have to care for their children and other loved ones. Antidepressant medications can ease these symptoms. However, it's crucial to seek out professional advice from a doctor.