We all know the statistic about ADHD being a male dominated disease with ratios as high as of 10 to 1 being bandied around. For this reason many women assume that despite suspecting ADHD symptoms they probably don't have the condition. This is the tricky part of statistics, particularly if you are the one in the equation.
The above paragraph would explain why the biggest challenge that women with ADHD face is finding a doctor to take them seriously, primarily due to the male dominated perception. Combine the male perception with the lack of research concerning female ADHD and you end up with a situation where even if ADHD was suspected it might be difficult to gather enough information to confirm. The good news is that this is changing due to increased awareness combined with well researched information becoming available. There also have been a couple of well written books recently released on the subject of ADHD in women.
Not that long ago the accepted wisdom was that men were ten times more likely be affected by ADHD; currently those number have dropped to 4 or 5 times more likely. Simply put, the probability has been cut in half.
Is the dramatic change in numbers based on better diagnostic procedures or a growing awareness of women's ADHD? It's hard to known for certain but one thing research has uncovered is women who have ADHD have symptoms that are more serious. Many experts believe that the seriousness of ADHD symptoms in women may be explained by the reluctance of many doctors to accept ADHD as a real condition, affecting large numbers of women. Another common assertion is that since women are less prone to be externally hyperactive they are not assumed to have ADHD. An important side note about hyperactivity, as it relates to women, is that women will tend to show their hyperactivity through talking whereas men will show their hyperactivity by moving around.
In summary, if you feel that you are experiencing ADHD symptoms such as lack of focus, inattentiveness, excessive talking, short attention span, or poor organizational skills seek professional help for an evaluation. Keep in mind that inattention must be present for a diagnosis to be confirmed.
Additionally, if you are a woman who feels you have many of the symptoms but are fearful of both the cost and side effects of ADHD prescription medications then perhaps a more natural option may be worth looking into. Among the most effective of these natural treatment options is homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies for ADHD symptoms have proven to be an extremely safe, effective, and affordable option for treating ADHD symptoms such as inattention, lack of focus, and nervousness.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Does ADHD Affect Women Differently Than Men?
Before we explore the subject of "Does ADHD Affect Women Differently than Men" we should refresh our memories as to the three primary symptoms of ADHD along with the three types of ADHD. The primary symptoms of ADHD are inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity with the three basic types of ADHD being the inattentive type, impulsive type, and the combined type. In reviewing these basic guidelines it is easy to pick out the areas where attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity may have a greater affect on a woman than a man.
The most obvious challenge for a woman experiencing ADHD is staying organized. Let's face it a woman must possess extraordinary organizational skills both in the workplace and at home. She must be able to organize both her schedule and her children's schedules. She often is the one who sends out the thank you, holiday, and birthday cards. She also must have the answers to her spouse's inquiries as to where his shirt or pants are located. To add to her already daunting organizational demands is the fact that many women will not ask for help, even though they are being overwhelmed. Lets face it if a man is forgetful or absent minded it is often accepted as normal behavior but if a woman becomes disorganized or forgetful it is looked upon as a problem.
Perhaps these challenges might be illustrated better in a short story about Trish the ADHD working mom.
Trish is a working mom with ADHD who have two wonderful children who also have the ADHD. Trish's children are both boys, which makes them more hyperactive than females with the condition. Trish is faced with the challenge of getting her husband organized in the morning (packing his lunch and locating his briefcase). Once her husband is on his way she then rounds up her elementary school age boys who she drops off at school, on her way to work. Her job deals with insurance which requires a great deal of patience and organizational prowess, leaving her exhausted after each and every day on her job. Once the workday is over Trish must get home in time to straighten up the house and get dinner going before her husband arrives. She also is saddled with the task of helping her very disorganized and hyperactive ADHD boys with their homework. Once she gets her sons started on homework she must check on them every few minutes to make sure they haven't become distracted or let the dog out through the bathroom window. When all of the above is done Trish relaxes with a little television where she is expected to know the television schedule by heart.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Now, let's break this down into specific reasons why ADHD affects women differently than men.
* Women with children face an infinitely larger number of organization challenges than men.
* Women with ADHD may have a husband and/or children with ADHD creating organizational challenges 24/7.
* Women generally have more tasks to do
* Generally, men don't get upset about their lack of organization.
* Men generally are allowed to focus in a narrow area such as work or lawn care.
* Men who are absent minded or disorganized are seen as cute.
* Men regularly have help with their organizational inadequacies such as secretaries and/or assistants.
In summary, women with ADHD must effectively find ways to overcome ADHD symptoms. They generally face a greater number of challenges. Despite these hurdles many ADHD have taken charge of their lives and ultimately overcome their additional challenges.
Also, many women with ADHD have adopted a natural a natural ADHD treatment option known as homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies for ADHD have shown to very safe and effective in treating ADHD symptoms such as inattention, distractibility, and erratic behavior.
The most obvious challenge for a woman experiencing ADHD is staying organized. Let's face it a woman must possess extraordinary organizational skills both in the workplace and at home. She must be able to organize both her schedule and her children's schedules. She often is the one who sends out the thank you, holiday, and birthday cards. She also must have the answers to her spouse's inquiries as to where his shirt or pants are located. To add to her already daunting organizational demands is the fact that many women will not ask for help, even though they are being overwhelmed. Lets face it if a man is forgetful or absent minded it is often accepted as normal behavior but if a woman becomes disorganized or forgetful it is looked upon as a problem.
Perhaps these challenges might be illustrated better in a short story about Trish the ADHD working mom.
Trish is a working mom with ADHD who have two wonderful children who also have the ADHD. Trish's children are both boys, which makes them more hyperactive than females with the condition. Trish is faced with the challenge of getting her husband organized in the morning (packing his lunch and locating his briefcase). Once her husband is on his way she then rounds up her elementary school age boys who she drops off at school, on her way to work. Her job deals with insurance which requires a great deal of patience and organizational prowess, leaving her exhausted after each and every day on her job. Once the workday is over Trish must get home in time to straighten up the house and get dinner going before her husband arrives. She also is saddled with the task of helping her very disorganized and hyperactive ADHD boys with their homework. Once she gets her sons started on homework she must check on them every few minutes to make sure they haven't become distracted or let the dog out through the bathroom window. When all of the above is done Trish relaxes with a little television where she is expected to know the television schedule by heart.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Now, let's break this down into specific reasons why ADHD affects women differently than men.
* Women with children face an infinitely larger number of organization challenges than men.
* Women with ADHD may have a husband and/or children with ADHD creating organizational challenges 24/7.
* Women generally have more tasks to do
* Generally, men don't get upset about their lack of organization.
* Men generally are allowed to focus in a narrow area such as work or lawn care.
* Men who are absent minded or disorganized are seen as cute.
* Men regularly have help with their organizational inadequacies such as secretaries and/or assistants.
In summary, women with ADHD must effectively find ways to overcome ADHD symptoms. They generally face a greater number of challenges. Despite these hurdles many ADHD have taken charge of their lives and ultimately overcome their additional challenges.
Also, many women with ADHD have adopted a natural a natural ADHD treatment option known as homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies for ADHD have shown to very safe and effective in treating ADHD symptoms such as inattention, distractibility, and erratic behavior.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)