ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition typically isn't recognized by females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capability of women to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD among women. As a result, many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD have trouble coordinating. This disorder is challenging to manage. For instance, your desk may be a jumble of unruly papers, 17 chapsticks, and a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in the year 2008. Even though you may have purchased a few items to help you organize, your home or office is probably still chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your tasks could result in missed deadlines and missed appointments. Additionally, you may be struggling with the concept of "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the amount of time it takes to complete an assignment. This can make you feel frustrated and believe that you're not doing a great enough job in your profession, or even your personal life.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions, which could make you overreact in stressful situations. You may also make comments that are not intended to hurt someone's feelings. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, as it is common for people suffering from ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and beliefs about the ways men, boys, and women should act. This could make it difficult for you to recognize and treat your ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis you may also need a treatment for behavioral issues to deal with the root cause of your disorder. While it could take a while to discover the appropriate coping strategies, implementing these strategies can assist you in feeling more in control of your life as well as improve relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains don't have a way to filter or assess them. This means they can get overwhelmed by a single setback or find it hard to discern the mood of other people. This can also make them more prone to be distracted by minor inconveniences, such as the availability of a book or an unreliable friend.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and come up with coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They could be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or work, but have difficulty keeping the track of important dates, deadlines and appointments. They might also struggle with self-control and verbal control. They may also frequently interrupt others, talk too much, often, or dump information during conversations.
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 or stop activities. They also include being unable wait for your turn in a conversation and being unable to discern social cues.
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD for women, it is difficult to recognize these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior, and some healthcare experts may be misinformed or underestimate a woman's symptoms.
Many women with ADHD have reported that their symptoms worsen when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can intensify emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or lives. This can contribute to the use of drugs, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping strategies. This is why it's important for women to understand that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as individuals. If you follow a proper treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing, with ADHD, these symptoms occur often enough that they cause disruption with your daily routine. You could make a few blunders at work or school and forget appointments, or spend many hours putting off work. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by other people.
Adults who are inattention may include the tendency to get involved in projects without fully planning and researching them, which can result in incomplete or subpar results. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could include a vegetable garden that was planted but not watered, or a new organizational system that you assembled and then put away on your nightstand to accumulate dust.
People with inattentive ADHD also have an ongoing feeling of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or keys and frequently lose things. You may also lose your track of time and become 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 who suffer from these conditions may say or do things without thinking about the impact such as yelling at other people or making strange sounds when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their chair or move. They may have difficulty working and may be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In some cases mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from other comorbidities, like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD might face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender bias as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or undervalue their severity, and gender bias. The rise of famous women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their own struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, however many young women and girls aren't aware of the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous from time to time anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You may experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and having trouble thinking clearly. There is also the sense of danger even in situations that you know aren't risky. The most frequent forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
add symptoms in adult women is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD as compared to men. It is more likely to be exacerbated during certain life events like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to deal with daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or dissatisfaction.
You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a difficult to accept criticism. You are prone to miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You may be annoyed by small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are another of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older, and you might find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be susceptible to non-suicidal self-injury like striking, burning or scratching yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you understand some of the challenges you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an ADHD test online, or talk to your doctor for an assessment from a professional. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate 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 you can. This can help you get back in control of your life and make you feel more confident, productive and competent.