ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, it often goes undiagnosed in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals aren't equipped and experience to recognize ADHD in women. Many women are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD have trouble coordinating. This disorder is challenging to manage. For example, your desk may be a mess of tangled papers, 17 different chapsticks, or a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. As you buy products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your work can result in missed deadlines and missed appointments. You might also be struggling with "time blindness," where you don't know or remember how long it takes to complete the task. This can cause you to be unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a great job in your work or personal life, especially when it seems that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also be having trouble regulating your emotions, which could make you overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your family and colleagues, and you could make statements that hurt the feelings of others without a thought. In addition, since impulsivity is common for people with ADHD it is possible that you will have trouble stopping yourself from making comments without thinking them through.
If you have ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and beliefs about how boys, men and women should behave. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
In addition to being diagnosed you may also require a behavioral therapy program to tackle the root of your disorder. It might take time to determine the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them will help you feel in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However their brains aren't able to filter them or analyze them. They can be overwhelmed by a tiny setback, or have difficulty being able to assess the emotional state of others. This can also make them more prone to be distracted by minor issues like an out of stock book or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD conceal their symptoms and develop strategies to cope with their attention problems. They could be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or at work but struggle to keep the track of important dates, bills and appointments. They might struggle with self-talk control and may talk too much or interrupt others frequently.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. These symptoms include an abrupt desire to start or stop activities. They can also be characterized by not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation, and being unable to discern social signals.
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD in women, it's not always easy to spot these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may not be aware of the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or perimenopause (the run-up to menopause). This can trigger emotional symptoms like frustration and irritability, or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or their lives. This could result in depression, substance abuse, or unhealthy methods of coping. This is why it's important for women to recognize that these symptoms are not a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. With a good treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can disrupt your everyday life. You could make a few blunders at work or school, forget appointments or spend long hours delaying. You have a hard time waiting your turn in conversations and often interrupt other people.
Adults who are inattention may be accompanied by a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning and researching the subject, which results in poor or insufficient results. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted, but not watered, or a brand new organization system you put together and then left on your nightstand to collect dust.
People who have inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and in the workplace. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and may lose things on a regular basis. You might also keep losing your track of time and end up running over time for meetings, work or school.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. People who suffer from these conditions can say or do things without thinking about the consequences. For example they may speak over others or make nonsensical noises when alone. They may have trouble sitting still, and may flitter around in their seat or pace. They might have issues maintaining a job and might have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In certain cases, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is particularly true when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People who suffer from ADHD also are more likely being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD are likely to face many challenges when seeking treatment. This includes gender bias, a tendency to hide symptoms or undervalue their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of famous women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their personal struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, yet many girls and young women still don't know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by constant anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous at times, anxiety disorders are characterized by a constant high level of anxiety. You might feel a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble staying calm and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also feel an underlying sense of danger in situations that you know aren't dangerous. The most common forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD compared to men. It is more likely to be exacerbated during certain life events, such as menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it difficult for women to deal with daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or discontent.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough to accept criticism. You are prone to interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You might be annoyed by small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are also a symptom of adult adhd in women. It is possible that you experience erratic emotions or are unable to control them. adhd in adult women treatment might also be prone to self-injury that isn't suicidal like striking, burning or scratching yourself.
It's important to seek out a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you understand the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In certain instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other cases, they might recommend an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as possible. This will allow you to take control of your life and feel more productive, confident and capable.