ADHD Expert Presentation: The Emotional Lives of Girls with ADHD

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. L Borg Skogland
  • Specialty: Psychiatry, addiction, family medicine
  • Focus: ADHD
  • Position: Associate Professor at Upsala University
  • Leader of research group: 'Goddess ADHD'
  • Author of 'ADHD Girls to Women'

Key Topics

• Emotional dysregulation in girls with ADHD
  • Manifestations: tantrums, meltdowns, self-harm
  • Hidden symptoms: anxiety, depression, social struggles

Audience Participation

• Polls: ADHD evaluation, impact of including emotional dysregulation in diagnosis, screening for comorbidities

Presentation Overview

• ADHD in girls vs boys
  • Cultural and diagnostic biases
  • Misunderstanding and misdiagnosis
  • Examples with 'Annie' and 'Andy' scenarios

Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment

• Girls often misdiagnosed or diagnosed later
• Higher risk of comorbid conditions in females
• Emotional dysregulation as a central feature
  • Importance of recognizing distinct needs of females

ADHD 247 Model

• Holistic life view
• Basic needs: social community, calling, feeling competent
• Areas of concern:
  1. Brain's control tower (planning and organizing)
  2. Brain's volume button (regulating emotions and energy levels)
  3. Brain's virus filter (filtering stimuli)
  4. Brain's gearbox (shifting thoughts)

Lifestyle Factors

• Impact on mental and physical health
• Importance of healthy routines: diet, exercise, sleep
• Challenges in maintaining moderation

Hormonal Influences

• Hormonal fluctuations impact ADHD
• Vulnerable periods: puberty, menstrual cycle, pre-menopause
• Impact of estrogen and progesterone on emotional regulation

Emotional Intelligence and Resilience

• Building emotional resilience through understanding hormonal influences
• Techniques from CBT, DBT, mindfulness
• Importance of self-awareness and self-compassion

Implications of Research

• Importance of screening for comorbidities
• ADHD medication impact throughout hormonal cycles
• Encouragement to research more on cyclic dosing

Conclusion

• Importance of understanding unique challenges faced by girls with ADHD
• Encouragement to advocate for better diagnosis and treatment

Additional Resources

• 'Women with ADHD' ebook by Attitude
• Dr. Skogland's book and social media for further learning

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Key Takeaways

• ADHD diagnosis in females should be comprehensive, considering emotional dysregulation and comorbidities.
• Awareness and adaptation to hormone-related challenges are essential.
• Building emotional intelligence and resilience can mitigate some ADHD impacts.
• Research and advocacy for female-specific ADHD treatment and understanding is crucial.