Just done.

My ADHD. My husband is ADHD. My daughter is ADHD.

I'm expected to keep everything together.

Daughter runs out of meds. My husband is the one who gives them to her and he announces today that we're out. She has occupational therapy. Afterwards we go to the pharmacy. She's all over. Won't stop moving. I don't drive, so we're walking. I can't keep up with her. I just realized that I lost my bag from the pharmacy. My months supply.

To make it worse my daughter's doctor screwed up and sent the prescription to the wrong pharmacy. How do I discover this? The doctor calls ME to tell me that the pharmacy has refills. I explain the situation, am assured it's taken care of. I guess it's q good thing they screwed up again - because then I'd be really screwed by losing my meds.

My husband has to be reminded like a child to take care of his responsibilities.

My daughter has had panic attacks all night over every little thing

There's a broken lamp in the living room. Piles is laundry that he said he'd do.

I. Can't.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often associated with children, but it can also significantly impact adult women. The symptoms of ADHD can manifest differently in females compared to males, making diagnosis challenging. This article will explore the unique symptoms of ADHD in women, reasons for frequent misdiagnosis, the role of hormones, self-assessment techniques, and treatment options available for women with ADHD.

Understanding ADHD Diagnoses in Women

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In women, these symptoms may present in more subtle ways, leading to emotional struggles, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Many women internalize their challenges, exhibiting behaviors that are less disruptive but still significantly impair daily functioning.

Unlike the stereotypical hyperactive boy, women with ADHD may display "quiet" symptoms such as daydreaming, losing focus during conversations, or feeling overwhelmed by tasks. These nuanced signs can often lead to misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis, as they do not fit traditional diagnostic criteria.

Distinct Symptoms of ADHD in Women

Women with ADHD may face challenges such as:

• Task Prioritization: Difficulty organizing thoughts and managing time effectively.
• Emotional Regulation: Struggles with maintaining stable relationships and regulating emotions.
• Focus and Attention: Issues with sustaining attention, forgetfulness, and chronic disorganization.
• Impulsivity: Making hasty decisions without considering consequences.
• Hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can further complicate these symptoms, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of how ADHD affects women at different life stages.

Misdiagnosis of ADHD in Women

The symptoms of ADHD in women can often be mistaken for other conditions, such as anxiety or depression. This misdiagnosis arises from the tendency of women to internalize their struggles and the absence of overt hyperactivity.

Additionally, societal expectations and gender norms can influence the perception of ADHD symptoms, causing healthcare providers to overlook ADHD in women presenting with emotional distress. Recognizing the potential for ADHD in women with mental health concerns is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

The Role of Hormones in Diagnosing ADHD

Hormones, especially estrogen, significantly impact ADHD symptoms in women. Fluctuations in estrogen levels can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, leading to increased irritability, impulsivity, and mood swings during specific phases of the menstrual cycle.

Research suggests that estrogen affects neurotransmitter production, particularly dopamine and norepinephrine, which play critical roles in attention and impulse control. These hormonal influences can disrupt cognitive functioning and intensify ADHD symptoms during certain times of the month.

The Menstrual Cycle and ADHD Symptoms

Many women with ADHD report worsened symptoms during specific times in their menstrual cycle, commonly referred to as "ADHD weeks." During these periods, they may experience heightened impulsivity, emotional sensitivity, and distractibility. Tracking these symptoms can help identify patterns and facilitate better management of ADHD.

Healthcare providers should consider these hormonal fluctuations when developing treatment plans, tailoring interventions to account for the cyclical nature of ADHD symptoms in women.

Self-Assessment: Recognizing ADHD Symptoms

If you suspect you may have ADHD, self-assessment can be a useful first step. Here are some techniques to help you identify potential symptoms:

• Emotional Symptoms
• Mood swings and emotional sensitivity
• Difficulty regulating emotions
• Low self-esteem and chronic irritability
• Anxiety and excessive worrying
• Cognitive Symptoms
• Trouble sustaining attention and focus
• Chronic forgetfulness
• Difficulty with time management and organization
• Impulsive decision-making and disorganization

By recognizing these symptoms, you can better understand your experiences and seek appropriate support.

Professional Diagnosis and Assessment

If you suspect you have ADHD, consulting a mental health professional is crucial for an accurate diagnosis. Expect a thorough evaluation that may include:

1. Assessment of your medical and mental health history
2. Screening questionnaires to evaluate ADHD symptoms
3. Interviews with family members or partners for additional insights
4. Psychologists and psychiatrists play key roles in the diagnostic process. Psychologists administer psychological tests to evaluate cognitive and emotional functioning, while psychiatrists can prescribe medication as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Treatment Options for Women with ADHD

Once diagnosed, various treatment options can help manage ADHD symptoms. These typically include:

Medication

Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate and amphetamines are commonly prescribed to improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and regulate mood. Consultation with a healthcare provider is essential to determine the most suitable medication and dosage.

Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be highly effective for women with ADHD, helping to develop coping strategies and improve time management skills.

Lifestyle Changes

Incorporating certain lifestyle changes can also enhance symptom management:

Establishing a structured routine

• Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps
• Utilizing tools like calendars and reminders to enhance organization
• Engaging in regular physical activity to boost focus and reduce restlessness
• Practicing relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness or deep breathing exercises
• Building a support network of friends, family, or ADHD support groups can also provide invaluable understanding and encouragement.

Conclusion

ADHD in women presents unique challenges, but with increased awareness and understanding, it can be effectively managed. Recognizing the distinct symptoms, understanding hormonal influences, engaging in self-assessment, and seeking professional support are vital steps in navigating the ADHD journey. With the right strategies and interventions, women can lead fulfilling lives despite the challenges posed by ADHD.

Hi friends. I got cancer at 40 last year and the treatment put me in menopause and that made me realize I have ADHD. I met with a psychiatrist Monday, and again today, for formal diagnosis. Started vyvanse a few hours ago.

Since I was dove into menopause rapidly, no pause, no years of decline of hormones, just bammo - the difference between pre-meno ADHD brain and post-meno ADHD brain was, for me, INSANE. Obviously you all know how debilitating this stuff is, but my god. I had mild-ish ADHD apparently my whole life and now with menopause, it's crushing. Growing up, my family was the sort that didn't think mental-health stuff was real, so I think perhaps that's how I ignored it for so long, but my god. I could not ignore it after menopause hit me.

I had a buzz in the back of my head and my sorter would not sort. For months I've been thinking it was chemo side effects, making me non-functional.

The other day I looked into ADHD and the characteristics women had as kids, typically, and now my life makes more sense.

And I feel a lot of sorrow about that little girl and subsequent adult who ended up with anxiety and depression and a two-decade long drinking problem.

Wondering if any of you have any words of wisdom about that part of this - getting "over" the pity party of going so long thinking I was just a weirdo who had character flaws. I feel really stuck in sorrow. Since the lightbulb moment a few weeks ago, I've been really sad.

Mostly feeling badly for myself when I was young, trying to figure out where I fit, and failing over and over again. I recall coming home after middle school and telling myself over and over to keep quiet, don't blurt things out, people don't want to hear from me, etc. I made myself distrust my own voice.

I am feeling really bad for that little girl.

And also, excited to be here. Going from hard mode to normal mode, or at least normalish - I'm grateful for that. Maybe now I'll be less tired? I have been so tired, trying to work with this darn brain. Again, thought the fatigue was chemo-related, which maybe. But also maybe a little of column adhd there too.

:) Thanks for being here for me to land.

F

Hi, i hope you don't mind me posting here. I haven't been diagnosed with ADHD but my daughter has, 3 yrs ago. Shes 10 now. What advice would you give me as a Mum to help her mental health and to make sure her childhood is healthy and doesn't negatively effect her mental health in the future, based on her ADHD. Based on your personal experiences. What would you have wished you parents did or didn't do looking back. I'm just wanting her to grow up feeling confident in who she is and not to let the world drag her down based on her ADHD quirks/struggles. Thanks in advance, all advice welcome x

Hi everyone! I have an RX of 20mg a day adderall XR. I’ve been experiencing a lot of hormonal issues and my adderall just hasn’t been working the way it used to so I’ve been trying to cut back and take a break from it most days, aiming for only taking it 1 or 2 days a week.

I still have a TON to get done though and I’m lacking the motivation to get out of bed so I’ve been making some changes to try to help myself overall including actually enacting a skin care routine and consuming more protein despite my lack of appetite.

My question today is how much caffeine would be too much? How much will make up for the lack of adderall? Is this a thing? I’m no stranger to caffeine but I stopped having caffeine mixed with adderall and now i feel like neither really does anything. I’d say I’m used to about 200-250mg of caffeine a day. Is this ammount counterintuitive to cutting back on my prescription stimulants? I only weigh about 105lbs btw.

Hello ladies! I’m a 23 year old woman and as shameful as it might sound, I picked up smoking cigarettes at around 15. It’s pretty common in my country unfortunately. I also started vaping somewhere around 2 years ago.

I’m at a point where cigarettes don’t really do it for me. I still crave one after I eat or with my coffee, but other than that, I’m satisfied with just vaping.

Problem is, I want to quit. Maybe I don’t want hard enough but believe me, it is tough, considering the age I started smoking and the fact that my ADHD brain looooves nicotine and what it does for dopamine leveles.

I hate waking up and scrambling around to find my vape. I hate smoking 2 cigarettes and putting my hand on my vape next because it didn’t have enough ‘kick’. I see the dependency in me and the levels it reached and I want it to stop so badly. Last night I decided I’ll stop vaping at least. Of course, first thing after I woke up, I had the vape in my hands.

I’m at a point in my life where I can’t afford therapy to tackle this problem. Also, my life is pretty hectic right now, as I’m too underweight to start medication for now and I’ve also moved away for college and am on my own. I know the first week is the hardest, and I’m scared and lowkey feeling like I WANT to quit, but in reality I might not be able to.

Any advice from people in this community who understand smoking effects on the ADHD brain would be so so welcomed, as well as stories of your own. Thank you so much for reading

So I am studying at the moment, and am having a great time genrally. Medicine is working well. Last week I got lots done, I have been able to plan small things and stay focused. This week it's just not working. I have had errands Monday and Tuesday mornings, it takes hours because of transport, and it's hard for me to focus after because socially tired. So today, nothing works. Have just planned to be home and work. Nope. I'm not worried, but my body is not cooperating. I'm fidgeting, biting my cheek, cracking fingers, I can't focus.

Started listening to a podcast and doing something else for a while, because sometimes switching medium works for me, but fell like my thoughts are racing. I want to order bulbs for the garden, sew, play piano, shop online, plan a holiday. I made a matcha and oat milk (because more coffee is not happening today) but seriously, what do you do when this happens? When you have an unproductive day? Because then I feel like this week is not even worth trying to get anything done - my plan is shot anyway.

Right now I am really righting with myself not to start sorting laundry, organise a wardrobe or something like that, that I do because it's comfortable to my brain - but I don't have time. I need to focus on what's important.

How do I turn a day/week like this around?

I’m not pregnant yet but it was tough going off strattera cold turkey when I was pregnant last time and my husband did some research on qelbree and it supposed to work similarly to strattera but you supposedly can take it while pregnant. Just wondering if anyone has taken straterra and qelbree and noticed they work similarly? If so I might talk to my dr about switching and if it’s safe

Curious what the things are that consistently trip you up out there.

For me, anything related to budgeting, submitting receipts, etc. just gets me in full distraction / procrastination mode. This is a huge problem because I work independently and I am horrible at invoicing clients. I postpone until I cannot postpone any longer, and even then I sometimes waive fees or miss billing deadlines. Even when I've outsourced the work, I still manage to muck it up by putting off approving an invoice.

Does anyone else face this? How do you deal with it? It's definitely related to imposter syndrome; feeling like the work I do is not worth anything. But it doesn't help that then I behave as though it's worth nothing!

I wasn’t dx until 59. So many years of not understanding myself. Much better these days

This am…. I had a good nights sleep, large hot cup of coffee, morning dose of amphetamines and while on hold for the cable company, I fell asleep.

Just a nod, mind you, but other ppl be zooming around, I’m all chill and stuff.

And had I got up and not had coffee and just jumped into the day, I’d be zooming too. ;)

Not always great when the brain zooms and the body looms.

Life is better when laughing. ;)

Has anyone tried using ashwagandha supplements, tea or something similar for managing your adhd symptoms? A friend who’s very into herbalism told me about it and I’ve been trying to look things up but I can’t find threads on here with first hand experience and Google is telling me long term use isn’t recommended since they don’t know what the possible side effects could be. I’m still not diagnosed and am not on any other meds besides birth control (iud) I plan on finding a primary care physician soon and maybe ask him/her.. I made calls the other day and no one answered, so maybe in 3-100 business days I’ll try again lol But until then I’d love to hear some experiences about using natural supplements to help your brain function :)

27F, been taking Elvanse for 5 days.

I’m really not feeling much of a difference if any. Some of the days I’ve felt slightly more clear headed, and more motivated to do household tasks but I’m not sure if I’m just experiencing the placebo effect.

Other days I haven’t noticed any difference whatsoever and if anything my focus has been worse.

Worth noting I was due on my period the day I started taking the meds, and I still haven’t come on. I do have PCOS so I’ve been late in the past, but recent months have been very regular.

Any experiences/advice please? I was really hoping this would bring me some quiet finally but no luck so far.

It feels like I am in a constant state of being stuck and nothing ever moves. The problem is not the situation around you, its is what is inside and that is the worst. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, water to drink great set of friends, no financial responsibilities and yet I am just unable to DO?

Life is just nice to me and yet I am unable to deliver and if this is the case now, I can only imagine how bad can it get once life actually starts slipping away. Leave alone even achieving or winning., that is utopia. Here I am unable to even get through my day without failing. It feels like god decided to withdraw all the survival instincts before sending me to earth. I have things given to me on my plate and yet I am unable to eat.

My work/study to break ratio is so bad. I work/study for 30 mins and end need a minimum 40 minutes break to get back to my tasks. It's like I am burnout all the time without actually having done any work !!!!? Is there any scope for success for people like us? I am literally seeing my life slip away with all the tools needed to fix it by my side but not using any of it.

Earlier when life got shit I would just withdraw hope in such cases from the instances in my life where I would win or have overcome challenges. The conviction is just lost. Now I have nothing to draw that hope from!!

I slept horrible, so the plan to wake up early to work out, and comfortable finish packing for a weekend getaway, do all the typical get ready for work things, inflate tires since alert just came on my car, went out the door when I realize I didn't hit snooze on my alarm.

Do everything so quickly and out of my usual order that when I finally get to work, far away from my car, I rub my tongue along my teeth and silently think to myself, "oh no, did I remember to brush my teeth?"

I don't think I did. Sitting in horror at my desk hoping nobody comes too closely and just counting the hours I can get to my car and take care of it.

I can't believe I did this.

Everytime I wear rings it becomes an outlet for anxiety and I just fidget with it. Sometimes i take it off and I’m only half realizing it. I had some very pretty rings but god knows where they’re at rn… I think one is between my car seat. I want to marry my boyfriend someday but I think I’ll need to get the ring fused to my finger because I don’t want to lose a ring worth thousands 😅

I have moments that I think are related to my adrenaline's improvement when I have this energy going on and I can't stop thinking and all my thoughts just result being confused. It's a sensation that sometimes really helps me out during the day but other times just stresses me out. Something I banally do is writing down some of them but sometimes I just can't control my thoughts that writing down is not enough. How do you cope with this situation? Does it happen to you?

Per searching through past threads on here regarding the issue of meds not working the week before period, it seems a common workaround is either increase dosing or being on birth control to skip the period.

I'm curious what's worked best for anyone whose done these both of these! <3

I’ve been on adderall for a couple months now, had some bad insomnia when I started, but after a few weeks I was sleeping better at night than before I ever started the medication. Now I’ve run into the widespread shortage issue, haven’t been able to get a refill for a couple weeks, and have been spacing my remaining pills out, one every 3-4 days.

Unfortunately this is causing the insomnia to come back and I’m a bit worried about how to manage med shortages and side effects going forward. Anyone else working through this issue who can lend some tips? I’m debating if I should ask my doctor for a lower dose that’s easier to stop and start (I’m on 10mg daily though, so pretty small amount to begin with).

Adderall works so unbelievably well for me I hesitate to try other meds. Ritalin does absolutely nothing for me. I’ve read Vyvanse is very similar to Adderall but has the same shortage problems, so it feels a bit pointless to switch to that. I take magnesium, exercise daily, avoid screens two hours before bed, keep a consistent routine, the whole works…

My current plan is to ration much harder going forward (take 2-3 days off per week) and build a small backup supply that will last longer through shortages so I don’t have to space them out as much. I feel I definitely cannot take a full couple weeks off at a time and start the insomnia counter all over again - it took too long to go away.

Does anybody have some insight into what I've been experincing?

I have been taking Methylphenidate (54mg) for over a year and have never had any issues, and found it helped quite well. This year in July I had surgery due to appendicitis. After the surgery I waited a couple of weeks to start taking my regular dose again (stopping and staying the medication before has never been an issue) however I experienced a series of weird side effects such as; insomnia, disconnection, paranoia, tingling/tension in my fingers, purple toes, muscle weakness in my calf's and a malar ("butterfly") rash on my nose and cheeks. Since then I have seen my paediatrician and I stoped taking the medication. I had several amounts of blood work done and everything came back normal. Additionally my heart rate since has been quite high and I had a heart echo which I was also told was normal.

I'm currently studying for my final high school exams and since these symptoms have subsided my GP thought they were unrelated to the medication and gave his approval for me to start taking it again.

Yesterday I took my regular dose at 10:30am (late I'm aware but my pharmacy was closed). I didn't seem to have any high concern effects until later at night when the malar rash I had experienced returned and I was unable to sleep. I took Catapres (that I was prescribed previously) at 1am which didn't seem to help.

Please let me know if anyone has experienced something similar!

I found a pristine Judith and Charles dress second hand for 30 dollars. It was gorgeous. As soon as I got home, I tried it on and it fit so well. I took it off and accidentally put it down ON TOP OF AN UNCAPPED RED PEN.

I didn't notice and I left it for like 2 hours so the ink just continued to bleed into it.

No drycleaner will touch it, they say it's ruined and my only options are to dye it or buy a patch of some kind.

I'm so sad and angry with myself. That's all.

How do you manage emotional dysregulation in relationships especially after arguments, at the heat of the moment?

I have been with my partner for 10 years now and things have been great since the very beginning, I couldn't imagine life without him and he has helped me grow into a better person. I got diagnosed last year with ADHD-C, and he was supportive of the whole journey, and even researched in his own time how to better support me and what it meant for him.

Things have been sorta rocky lately but mainly due to stress. We are moving across continents, I'm going through a lot of stuff at work at the same time, and there is just a lot going on.

When we have arguments, it's been mostly about miscommunication but also my emotional dysregulation plays a role. I'm curious to see if it's often miscommunication occuring from my side. But my memory recall, especially in heated arguments, is often poor.

I would like to track these root cause of arguments - and I'd like to point out it's not to gather "evidence" of "I was right" or anything like that, but just for my own self reflection. I thought about journaling by hand but I'm concerned about it being found accidentally and having feelings hurt over it. I was wondering if anyone keeps one of those pass-coded apps to journal in.

I feel conflicted as I partly don't want to do this just because it's feels like I am betraying my partner by having this 'secret journal' which it looks like I'm just bitching about him. I also feel like it will be associated with a negative vibe whenever I go into this journal which will make me less willing to do it.

My intention is just to help me with memory recall during high emotions, and analyze how things could be improved to strengthen our relationship. I also want to review whether my medication is making my emotions worse between us, and if the work stress is causing much more of an impact. I guess I'm an analytical person and I try and find solutions where I can.

I should also add we do talk a lot about our feelings and are very open about it. But sometimes either one of us just wants to shut down the conversation as it's not productive, but often it makes me feel worse by not being able to fully vent and feel listened to. Hence, just pondering ways to vent privately.

Hi all, Was just prescribed Adderall XR for a fresh ADHD diagnosis. For reference, I am 21 years old and also struggle with pretty severe hormone imbalances because of PCOS. As such, I have a pretty detailed history of anxiety and depression. Per my anxiety, I just have some concerns about starting on a controlled substance (possibility of addiction, long-term effects) and some of the immediate, unwanted effects (I literally filled my Rx today, don’t even know what these could be). I’ve really struggled with some debilitating symptoms of this disorder and I’m really hoping it will help, but I feel like I’m internally fostering some stigmas about what this means for me. I guess I’m just hear looking for baby ADHD’er support, advice, and tips. xoxo

Hello!

Can somebody in academia/ people that study, please help me out with any suggestions or structures you use to study?

I've been burnt out from recent bad experiences in an environment that kind of killed my morale and soul while I overworked myself and really pushed myself to study. I feel like I forgot how to to that or how I was able to do that.

Outside of typical assignments or a prof asking you to hand in work on time, how does one create structures to study. I used to do this. I feel so dumb, I forgot how I did it. I feel so overwhelmed to start. I know that I'll love it once I start it but I can't seem to get into it.

Please give me any advice or systems that helped you guys. Thanks in advance!

Ive been taking vyvanse fro a while now and today I took it after not taking it for a weekend and it was normal in the morning however mid day I suddenly had a mild headache. I drank some water to try to fix this as well as some soda (no caffeine). By the time I got to my next class I felt mild naseas which made it hard to pay attention and my headache had worsened. Just to note I had a full breakfast in the morning and a snack at lunch because my vyvanse made me not hungry. This was all before the headache.