Women With Attention Deficit
Women with ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, careers and everyday life. They are prone to becoming impatient and minor inconveniences such as waiting in line or on hold for long periods of time can be major irritations.
Many women struggle to obtain an accurate adult ADHD diagnosis. This can be due to gender bias and the fact many studies focus on children and gay males.
Impatience
Women who suffer from attention deficits frequently struggle to manage daily responsibilities and juggle multiple tasks. Their frustration can be misinterpreted by others as irritability, moodiness or a lack of commitment to relationships or work. In fact, these struggles may be signs of a disorder that is often not recognized by adults and adults: adult ADHD.
Impatience is a common characteristic of ADD. People with ADD can be rushed through tasks or projects without a plan, which can lead to mistakes and a feeling of overwhelm. They are also easily distracted by things going on around them which makes it difficult to finish tasks or keep a conversation.
The inattentive symptoms of ADHD, such as trouble staying on task procrastination, apathy, forgetting and needing help to keep track of appointments or belongings is a major challenge for women. Many of these women have an over-confidence in themselves and their problems could be exacerbated by anxiety or depression that often coexist with the disorder. They aren't able to accept criticism and are at greater risk of being a victim of violence in their intimate relationships and have difficulty dealing with conflicts or anger in their relationships.
Hormonal fluctuations can increase or diminish the symptoms of ADD. As girls enter puberty they might be affected by changes in estrogen levels which can aggravate ADD symptoms. These fluctuations can persist through menstrual cycles and perimenopausal periods as estrogen levels become low. The symptoms of women can be exacerbated by menopausal, pregnancy, or hormonal fluctuations, particularly for women who suffer from bipolar disorder.
It is important for women with ADHD to locate a doctor who is knowledgeable about their condition and is trained in the diagnosis and treatment. You should read the recommended books listed in this article before making an appointment to gain a better understanding of ADHD and its symptoms.
You may want to consider taking part in a clinical study if you are unable to find a doctor skilled in treating ADHD. Clinical trials are research studies which seek out new ways to treat, diagnose or prevent diseases and disorders. Learn more about clinical trials and if they're suitable for you by visiting NIMH's Clinical Trials webpage.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions which can result in impulse-driven behaviors that can be damaging. Examples include buying things on impulse, jumping into marriage and relationships before they are ready and causing disruptions to others during conversations or blurting out answers without listening. They may 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 problems as men, but their problems are different. Their hormones, for example, can affect how symptoms are manifested and the way they respond to treatment.
Some women who suffer from ADD struggle to focus on just one thing. For them, being distracted or lost in their thoughts or daydreaming is normal, particularly when performing boring tasks such as shopping for groceries, writing letters, or doing chores. They are prone to becoming bored and have a hard to focus on different tasks, which could disrupt school and work.
Women with ADD have a hard time keeping the track of their appointments and belongings. They are more likely to forget things and have a difficult recalling the details of events or conversations, which can result in embarrassing mistakes at school, work or social situations. They also tend to delay or be overwhelmed by multitasking. This can cause anxiety.
Women who suffer from ADD may also experience multiple symptoms, such as hyperactivity and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. Women with a combined subtype suffer from both inattentive as well as hyperactive symptoms. However, they can be difficult to distinguish from each other, especially when they are young.
Regular exercise can reduce ADHD symptoms. Physical exercise can boost neurotransmitters that improve mood and attention. Stress, a common issue many women who suffer from ADHD have can be cured through exercising. Women suffering from ADHD should try to do at minimum four to five sessions of 30 minutes or more each week of aerobic or cardiovascular exercises, such as cycling, swimming, running, playing team sports or doing yoga.
Inorganizational issues
Women with ADHD often have difficulty keeping track of their daily tasks or events. This can lead to an unorganized home or office, financial issues and a lack of organization in their personal or professional lives.
They may have difficulty completing tasks or projects that are not immediately exciting or rewarding, and they may not have a plan for future obligations. In addition, those who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty focusing on and remembering what other people have said during conversations. They often miss appointments and meetings and are unable to follow instructions at work or school, and are more likely than other people to have miscommunications with their loved ones.
It is important to seek an expert doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Adult ADD is frequently misdiagnosed and many doctors are not aware of this disorder. Ask the doctors you're considering to consult for a list of recommended reading materials, and ask them a series of questions to ensure they understand the disorder.
ADHD in women can be exacerbated by gender roles. It is common for women to feel pressure to excel in their career and take on more family responsibilities, keep happy relationships and perform well in the community. In some instances, these societal pressures can make it difficult to identify the signs of ADHD, because the disorder may hinder the ability to meet these expectations.
ADHD symptoms are less obvious in girls, adolescent females and males than in males or boys. This could lead to an underdiagnosis. This is because social and family expectations often insist that women and girls focus on their appearance and social skills, rather than recognizing any problems with their performance or concentration. Females with ADHD tend to show more irritability than hyperactive symptoms and may also suffer from anxiety or mood disorders.
There are a variety of things you can do to improve your health and manage your symptoms. Regular exercise can help release neurotransmitters that increase the ability to focus and reduce anxiety. Try jogging, swimming or dancing, or joining group classes such as yoga or Pilates. Include these types of activities in your daily routine to reduce ADHD symptoms. You can use a planner, checklists, or post-it note to organize your daily tasks. Finally, be sure to take regular breaks and eat nutritious foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help regulate attention and promote mental clarity.
Social Awkwardness
Social awkwardness is not the same as social anxiety. It is not triggered by fear of judgement, but rather a lack of ability to navigate the complicated social interactions. This may be due to a lack of social exposure as well as certain neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or personality traits that make it difficult to adjust to social situations.
simply click for source who is socially awkward could say or do inappropriate things 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 like humor and sarcasm. They may also avoid social activities or be overly self-conscious about their appearance in social situations. This can lead to feelings like rejection and embarrassment.
Socially awkward people often avoid social activities and instead turn to self-care strategies such as eating too much, watching TV or exercising to feel better. These behaviors can increase the feelings of social awkwardness by further limiting their available social outlets.
Sometimes the feeling of social awkwardness stems from trauma. Trauma can happen when the needs of a person for trust, attunement or autonomy go unmet in early childhood and they develop a rigid behavior pattern to cope with the threat. This may result in an uncomfortable feeling of social isolation when sensory information from the environment triggers the trauma.
Gifted children may also be socially awkward due to their higher level of intelligence makes them appear older and more mature. They could also be focused on their own personal interests and act as though they know more than others, which can cause them to speak with an overly-academic or off-balanced tone.
Another cause of social awkwardness is fear of being judged because of their appearance or behaviour. This can result in poor body language, avoiding eye contact, or adopting an uncontrollable posture that signals the degree of discomfort they feel. Fortunately, the majority of feelings caused by social apprehension can be overcome through therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) assists individuals in overcoming and alter negative thoughts while exposure therapy gradually exposes people to anxiety-inducing situations to increase tolerance and confidence.