ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects both genders equally in adulthood, it often 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 expertise or experience needed to recognize ADHD among women. Many women are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This disorder can be difficult to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Although you may have purchased a few items to help you manage your clutter, your home or office is likely still messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your tasks may lead to missed deadlines and 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 finish a task. This can leave you unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a great job in your professional or in your personal life, particularly when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions, which could make you overreact in stressful situations. You may also make comments without meaning to hurt people's feelings. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, since impulsivity can be common among those with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it's possible that a portion of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas about how women, men and boys should behave. This makes it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You could also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root cause of your disorder. While it could take a while to discover the appropriate strategies for coping, implementing these strategies can help you feel more in control of your life and enhance relationships with family friends, coworkers, and other family members.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD experience intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of filtering them or assess them. They can be overwhelmed by a minor event, or have difficulty being able to assess the emotional state of others. It also makes it easier for them to get distracted by minor inconveniences like a book that's out of stock or a friend who's late to the spin class.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and devise strategies to deal with their attention issues. They could be highly organized or a perfectionist at school or work and have difficulty keeping track of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They may also struggle with verbal self 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 a sudden desire to begin, stop or alter the course of action and being unable to hold your turn in conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
Although gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of ADHD but it's sometimes difficult to recognize when a woman has these issues. The scales for rating used to detect ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during times of hormonal changes, for example during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also feel an ongoing feeling of discontent with their lives or relationships. This could result in depression, substance abuse, or unhealthy ways of coping. It's important that women understand that these symptoms don't reflect their worth or value as a human being. With a good treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to concentrate and pay attention at times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can impede your daily life. You could make a few mistakes at work or in school, forget appointments or spend a large amount of time putting off tasks. You have a difficult time waiting for your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by other people.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include the tendency to get involved in projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing them, which can result in inadequate or poor results. You might also get side-tracked easily and have a tendency 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 who have inattention ADHD also have a constant sense of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. You may have difficulty finding important documents such as keys or bills, and lose things regularly. You might also keep losing the 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. Women with these symptoms might say or do things without thinking about the impact including snoozing over other people or making strange sounds when they are alone. They are unable to sit still and may fidget or pace in their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job and might have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are often faced with a range of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis that include gender bias and a tendency to hide their symptoms or underestimate the severity of them. The rise of well-known women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, but many girls and young women aren't aware of the disorder.
4. Anxiety
Although many people feel anxious or nervous from time the other, persistently high anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You may feel a constant sense of unease, fear, or anxiety, as well as rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. You may also feel an increased sense of danger even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous for you. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia as well as panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common among women suffering from ADHD than men, and it is more likely to become worse during certain periods of the woman's life for instance, during her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage everyday tasks and social interactions, and cause feelings of low self-esteem and general discontent with your life.
You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a hard time accepting criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. add and adhd in women might get angry about small things that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings can also be a symptom of adult adhd in women. It is possible that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or find it difficult to manage these. You may also be prone non-suicidal acts of self-injury such as burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
It's crucial to seek a diagnosis when you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand the challenges you're facing, and give you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor to get an assessment from a professional. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In read this article may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any case, it's essential to change your lifestyle as quickly as you can. This can help you get back in control of your life and feel more confident, productive and competent.