ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed among women, even though it affects both men and woman equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capability of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and experience to identify ADHD in women. Many females are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the care they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even if you've invested money in products to help you organize, your home or office is probably still chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your work can lead to missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't know or remember the time it takes to complete a task. This can cause you to feel frustrated and feel like you're not doing a good enough job in your career, or even your personal life.
There is a possibility that you have trouble regulating your emotions. This could cause you to overreact when confronted by stressful situations. You may also make comments without meaning to hurt people's feelings. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since it is common for people suffering from ADHD.
If adhd in adults women suffer from ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and cultural ideas about how boys, men, and women should act. This can make it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You could also benefit from a treatment for behavioral issues to address the underlying causes of your disorder. While it could take a while to discover the appropriate coping strategies using these strategies, they can help you feel more in control of your life and enhance relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD often experience intense emotions however their brains don't have a method to assess or filter them. This means they may be overwhelmed by a single incident or struggle to accurately assess the mood of others. This also makes them more susceptible to being distracted by minor inconveniences such as the availability of a book or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and devise coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping on top of important dates, bills, and appointments. They may struggle with self-talk control and speak 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 urge to begin or stop activities. They can also be characterized by being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation or having difficulty reading social signals.
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD in women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. The rating scales that are used to detect ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD have reported that their symptoms are more severe during times of hormonal change like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This can cause emotional symptoms such as frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with their relationships or life. This can result in depression, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. It is important for women to realize that these symptoms 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. Attention
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD, these symptoms occur often enough that they cause disruption with your life. You might make mistakes at work or at school, or miss appointments or spend a good amount of time putting off tasks. You have a hard time waiting your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by others.
Adults who aren't attentive can be prone to get caught up in projects before having a complete plan and research them. This can lead to poor results or poor ones. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to leave projects unfinished -- from the vegetable garden that was planted but never watered to the new organizational system that was put together and left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents, keys or bills and frequently lose things. You might also keep losing your track of time and end up running late for work, meetings 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 might say or do things without considering the impact. For instance they may speak over other people or make unintentional noises when they are alone. They might be unable to sit still, and fidget in their seats or at a fast pace. They can have trouble keeping their job and could have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In some cases the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have other comorbidities, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD have a myriad of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis, including gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have spoken out about their struggles with ADHD have contributed to raising awareness. But, many girls and young woman still don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by constant anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous from time to time anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, trouble staying calm and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also feel a heightened sense of danger even in situations that aren't likely to be risky for you. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women with ADHD than in men, and it is more likely to become worse during certain times of women's lives for instance, during her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it more difficult to manage daily tasks and social interactions, and can cause feelings of low self-esteem and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a hard time accepting criticism. You easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipated rejection, and you can get angry over minor things that others wouldn't see as to be a problem.
Mood swings are another of the adult female adhd symptoms, and you might find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You may also be prone self-injury that isn't suicidal like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's essential to receive a diagnosis. It will help you understand your challenges and give you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a thorough evaluation. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In some instances, your doctor may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will allow you to gain control over your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.