Women With ADD - Symptoms and Diagnosis

For women with Add Adult Women their daily struggles continue well into adulthood. When she has a tendency to daydream in class or has trouble managing household chores and responsibilities, a woman with ADD often struggles to meet the demands of her family. The symptoms of ADD for women differ from the symptoms seen in males. This can make diagnosis and treatment difficult.

Signs and symptoms

Women suffering from ADD might find it difficult to keep jobs or handle household chores, particularly during times of hormonal changes like puberty, PMS and perimenopause. Depression is not a symptom but it can be a co-symptom with ADD and is misdiagnosed when 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. Minor irritations, such as waiting in line or on the phone can cause them to drift into disorientation. They also struggle with time management, forgetfulness and trouble concentrating on tasks. They are prone to fidgeting and may sleep poorly. They are also susceptible to anxiety and depression, which is often mistakenly referred to as bipolar attention deficit disorder in adult women.

Diagnosis

Since women's symptoms of ADD are less recognized than those of men and therefore, it can be difficult to be diagnosed. Doctors usually look for certain symptoms that are more typical of males and don't recognize the subtleties of the disorder since it affects girls, particularly during puberty, PMS or perimenopausal and menopausal estrogen levels decrease. Depression is also common among women with ADD and should be treated. Before you see a doctor, read a few books on ADD/mild adhd in women to gain a better understanding of the condition and your own adhd symptoms in women adults. You will feel more confident and comfortable when you are going through the diagnostic process.