ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is the most common neurological disorder in America. According to some experts, ADHD is just like diabetes. Women may have a higher risk of having ADHD because of hormonal variation.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms in women are often described as normal personality traits more than ADHD. For instance, a female daydreamer may be considered as outgoing, spacey, forgetful, or talkative. Later on in life, she may become depressed or anxious instead, only to seek help for her ADHD.
Children with ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity are more likely to be depressed or anxious by the age of 18. Some children who have hyperactivity-impulsivity also experience asthmatic attacks, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma. ADHD children have an exaggerated response to negative stimulant drug use such as nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol. They can’t handle this stress and do not have any coping mechanism.
Both children and adults with ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity can have serious psychological complications. Children with ADHD are often diagnosed with ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), which means they have a constant disregard for normal social, religious, and other behavioural rules. Children with ODD can be hostile to classmates and teachers. Adults with ADHD symptoms are more likely to resort to criminal activities and substance abuse.
The diagnosis of ADHD can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis of other conditions in addition to ADHD. Because hyperactivity-impulsivity is the most common comorbidity factor with ADHD, it can make the diagnosis of ADHD much more difficult for the treating physician. Females are more likely than males to experience depression as well as other psychiatric disorders, but there is less of a chance that females will be incorrectly diagnosed with ADHD. Researchers have found that the overdiagnosis of females may be due to differences in symptom severity between females and males.
Some researchers believe that women may be particularly prone to self-diagnosis due to the nature of symptoms related to common childhood illnesses, such as urinary tract infections and chickenpox. It’s possible that women with ADHD symptoms may feel differently because their illnesses are not related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and they cannot relate their symptoms to their hyperactive nervous state.
In addition, women with ADHD symptoms may feel different because their symptoms are more severe than those of men. Women with ADHD symptoms may feel low self-esteem because they cannot control their impulsiveness, whereas men with ADHD symptoms may feel high self-esteem because they cannot control their aggression.
Adults with ADHD may also exhibit symptoms of other mental illnesses, such as depression or bipolar disorder, and these illnesses can lead to misdiagnosis of ADHD in adults. Individuals who have these other mental health conditions and are also suffering from ADHD may be incorrectly diagnosed as having ADHD or as having a comorbid disorder with ADHD.
Researchers have identified individuals who have the combined characteristics of ADHD and a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Individuals who are incorrectly diagnosed with ADHD may end up receiving psychiatric treatment for both conditions instead of receiving ADHD treatment for the single symptoms that are causing the problems.
In addition to children, adults with ADHD are likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions, which can complicate the diagnosis of ADHD. Research has shown that there is an increased co-occurrence of mood disorders (such as depression, bipolar disorder, etc. ), substance abuse, nicotine addiction, eating disorders and other related disorders among adults with ADHD.
Because of these factors, it is not surprising that researchers are beginning to identify ADHD in adults with other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Understanding more about how ADHD manifests in adults opens new avenues for treating it, as well as expanding upon the benefits of treatment for this disorder. Further studies are needed to understand why the severity of symptoms in adults is similar to that of children.
If you would like some further guidance and support on managing your ADHD, then please contact us at the ADHD Centre on 0800 061 4276 or via connect@adhdcentre.co.uk for an in-depth ADHD assessment to improve your understanding of the disorder and to know what treatment method is fit for you or them.
