ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed in women, despite the fact that it is a problem that affects men and women equally as adults. This is probably due to gender stereotyping and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD among women. Many women are misdiagnosed and do not receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be a challenge to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks, and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while you buy products that claim to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your work can result in missed deadlines and missed appointments. Additionally, you may be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the time required to finish a task. This can leave you in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a good job in your career or personal life, especially when you feel that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also be having trouble regulating your emotions, which can make you overreact in stressful situations. You may also make comments that are not intended to hurt someone's feelings. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, as it is common for those with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and ideas about how men, boys and women should behave. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root causes of your disorder. It may take a while to determine the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them will allow you to feel in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains don't have a way to assess or filter them. This means that they could be overwhelmed by a single setback or have difficulty being able to accurately assess the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to be distracted by minor issues such as books that are out of stock or a friend who's running late to the spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention problems by hiding symptoms and developing coping strategies. They could be perfectionists or extremely attentive at school or work but struggle to keep on top of important dates, deadlines and appointments. They might struggle with self-talk control and talk excessively or interrupt others often.
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 the sudden urge to begin, stop, or change activities. They also include being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation, and being unable to discern social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may influence the development of ADHD, it's sometimes difficult to tell if a woman has these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still skewed toward male behavior and some health experts may be misinformed or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during times of hormonal changes, for example during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can intensify emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also have a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This can cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse, or unhealthy methods of coping. It is crucial for women to understand that these signs do not show their worth or value as human beings. With a well-planned treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms can occur in such a way that they can interfere with your life. You might make mistakes at work or at school, miss appointments, or spend a great amount of time delaying. You have a hard time waiting to be the first in a conversation and are often interrupted by others.
Adults who are inattentive can be prone to get caught up in projects before fully planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. You may also get distracted quickly and tend to leave projects unfinished -from the garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system which was erected and left to rot on your nightstand.
People who have inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and lose things frequently. You could also forget to keep track of time and be late for school, work or even meetings.
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. Women with these symptoms might perform actions or words without thinking about the impact including snoozing over other people or making strange sounds when they are on their own. They might be unable to sit still, and fidget in their seats or at a fast pace. They might have issues keeping their job and could have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In certain cases mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. made my day with ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD can face a variety of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis which include gender discrimination and a tendency to hide their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. The rise of high-profile women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their personal struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, however many young women and girls still don't know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or nervous from time to the other, persistently high anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You may experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, trouble keeping at peace and having difficulty focusing. You might also have an increased fear of danger even in situations that aren't likely be risky for you. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen at certain times in a woman's life, such as around the time of her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult to deal with daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of low self-esteem or unsatisfaction.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough acceptance of criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection and you may get angry over small things that others wouldn't see as an issue with.
Mood swings are a part of the symptoms of adhd for women in adulthood and you could find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal such as scrubbing, burning or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis when you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you better know your issues and offer you strategies for improving your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor for a professional assessment. In some cases a doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In adult add in women might suggest a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to make positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This can help you regain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and capable.