adhd symptoms in adult women With ADD - Symptoms and Diagnosis
Women who suffer from ADD have to deal with daily challenges into adulthood. When she has a tendency to daydream at school or has difficulty keeping up with household chores and responsibilities, a woman with ADD often has a hard time meeting the needs of her family. The symptoms of ADD in women differ to those seen in men. This can make diagnosing and treating difficult.
Signs and symptoms
Women suffering from ADD are often unable to keep a job and handle household chores. This is especially the case during hormonal changes such as puberty, menopause, or PMS. Depression is not a sign of but it can be a co-symptom with ADD and is misdiagnosed if doctors are looking for signs that are more common to men. Women with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADD are impatient visibly or internally, jump into activities without thinking and speak and act impulsively. Small irritations such as standing in line or waiting for the phone can lead them to disorientation. They also have problems with time management, forgetfulness, and trouble focusing on tasks. They are prone to fidgeting and have trouble sleeping. They are also susceptible to anxiety and depression, which is often misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder.
Diagnosis
Women's symptoms are less well-known than men's, making it difficult to diagnose. Doctors often look for a specific set of symptoms that are more common in boys and do not recognize the subtleties of the disorder as it is affecting girls, particularly during puberty, PMS, or perimenopause and menopause when estrogen levels decrease. Depression can also be a co-occurring condition with ADD in a large number of women and needs to be treated. Before seeing your doctor, you should take a look at a few books on ADD/ADHD to gain a better understanding of the condition and personal symptoms. You will feel more confident and comfortable while going through the process of diagnosing.
