Recognizing ADD symptoms in girls and providing suitable treatment can be facilitated by parents, teachers as well as the professionals. For this, it is important to have an appropriate level of patience and knowledge of right strategies. In Part II, you can read on to learn more on ADHD in girls.
Touching upon the Basics on ADHD in Girls
The earlier Part I of this series provided information about the problems associated with diagnosis of ADHD in girls and the additional challenges faced by them. In this article, one can learn about how parents and professionals can play a significant role in making ADHD treatment fruitful for these individuals. Recognizing ADHD symptoms is important. This recognition will help parents and professionals make high school life less challenging for girls with ADHD.
Handling the Emotional Variation
Parents and professional treatment providers must understand that girls with ADHD are bound to show huge variation in their emotional behavior. By understanding the fact that these variations are enhanced during circumstances like stress, tiredness and pre-menstrual syndrome, parents and professionals can start identifying the abnormal reactions of the sufferer. Apart from medications, psychotherapy sessions can constructively contribute towards ADHD treatment for girls with intense emotional variations.
Handling the Sexual and Driving Threats
Girls with ADHD can be helped by parents to avoid sexual risks by encouraging them to participate in variety of activities and hobbies. Moreover, these individuals should be accompanied while car driving during the initial years. The parents and professionals can guide girls with ADHD to avoid driving in areas with heavy congestion and those areas prone to causing accidents.
Handling the State of Depression
The state of depression and anxiety can worsen the situation of ADD in girls. It requires immediate attention and treatment using medications and psychotherapy. For this, the parents need to keep a watch on the girls in teenage years and help them handle the situations like failure on academic examinations and breakups.
Handling Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Considerable change in hormones can complicate the situation in girls suffering from ADD and can force them to show higher levels of frustration and emotional variation. In such situations, the professional therapists and physicians are expected to research and employ various strategies to minimize the impact of PMS in girls with ADD and ADHD. Anti-depressant medications and other ways can also be used to accomplish this task.
Help Them Discover Their Strengths
As soon as the parents recognize ADD symptoms in girls, they can help girls to recognize their strengths. For instance, they can be encouraged to participate in competitions and talent search programs in their schools. Also, girls with ADHD can be encouraged to seek part-time earning employment opportunities after school hours. Teaching them to express their assertiveness and individuality in schools as well as at workplaces can also bring positive results.
The role of a professional like a counselor or therapist is as significant as that of a parent to treat ADD in girls. With the help of a professional intervention, a girl with ADD/ADHD can actually transition to her adult years without facing a high difficulty level of symptoms that could derail that transition.
ADHD in Girls
The series aims at addressing the issues and problems faced by girls with ADD. You can find the reasons why ADD symptoms in girls go undiagnosed and the challenges faced by them. Not just that, the series provides tips to parents and teachers to effectively tackle the problems faced by such girls.