Rates of ADHD in Adult Women Rises

A recent study shows that the number of women, ages 20-44 years old, taking ADHD medication has increased by more than 250%.  A possible reason for this is the fact that as children, girls show less external symptoms such as hyperactivity than boys do.  Girls who have ADHD are usually just thought of as being lazy and uncaring.  This study points to the fact that marriage and parenthood usually help a woman see that they have a problem, a problem that they or their parents didn't see when they were younger.  As a parent, it is important to be calm and organized, many parents dealing with the stresses of both work and taking care of their children.  When a woman realizes that she is having extreme trouble doing these tasks, it is a tell tale sign that she should go in for help and see what is going on.  Another fact that this study presents is that mothers are much more likely than fathers to come clean about the problems they are having and are much more likely to go to a psychiatrist to get help.  I think this is a relevant study to being a college student because you hear about many students taking ADHD medication when they have an exam the next day or a major project when they have not been diagnosed with this condition.  I think that it's important to listen to your body and your mind and if you feel that you have to take medication that you haven't been prescribed to pass a test, then maybe it is time to go see a psychologist and get referred to a psychiatrist for medication purposes.