Women With ADD - Symptoms and Diagnosis
Women who suffer from ADD have to deal with daily challenges into adulthood. Whether attention deficit disorder in women daydreams at school or has difficulty keeping up with household chores and responsibilities women with ADD often struggles to meet the demands of her family. The symptoms of ADD for women are different and opposite from the symptoms seen in males. This can make diagnosing and treating difficult.
Signs and symptoms
Women suffering from ADD are often unable to work and take care of household chores. This is particularly true during hormonal changes such as menopausal changes, puberty or PMS. Depression, although not a symptom of ADD, frequently coexists with the disorder and is often mistakenly diagnosed by doctors who look for signs that are more common to boys. 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 lines or on the phone can cause them to drift into distraction. They also struggle with managing time, forgetfulness, and a difficult time concentrating on their tasks. They are prone to fidgeting and may sleep poorly. They could be susceptible to anxiety and depression which is often mistakenly referred to as bipolar disorder.
Diagnosis
Since the symptoms of women with ADD are not as well-known as the men's, it can be difficult to be diagnosed. Doctors usually look for a specific set of symptoms that are more common in boys and do not recognize the subtleties of the disorder as it affects girls, especially during puberty, PMS or perimenopausal and menopausal estrogen levels decline. Depression also coexists with ADD in a large number of women and must be treated. Before you see your doctor, you should take a look at a few books on ADD/ADHD to gain a better understanding of the condition and your own symptoms. You will feel more comfortable and confident when you are going through the diagnostic process.