ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, it often isn't recognized by females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise or experience needed to identify ADHD among women. Many women are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. For instance your desk could be a mess of unruly papers, 17 different chapsticks, and a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. As you buy products that promise to keep you organized your office and home probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your work could result in missed deadlines and missed appointments. In addition, you could struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you cannot remember or comprehend the time required to finish a task. This can cause you to be frustrated and feeling like you're not doing a good job in your professional or in your personal life, particularly if it feels that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions, which can cause you to overreact in stressful situations. You may also say things without meaning to hurt people's feelings. Since adhd in adults women is a common trait for those with ADHD it is possible that you will find it difficult to resist saying things before considering them.
If you have ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or ideas regarding how women, men, and boys should behave. This can make it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis it is possible that you will benefit from behavioral therapy to tackle the root of your disorder. It may take a while to discover the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them can help you feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD often experience intense emotions however their brains don't have a method to filter or assess them. This means they may be overwhelmed by a single setback or find it hard to assess the emotional state of their peers. It also makes it easier for them to get distracted by minor issues such as the book that's out of stock or an acquaintance who's late for take a spin class.
Many women with ADHD compensate for their attention problems by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at school or work and have difficulty keeping on top of appointments, bills, or important dates. They may also have issues with verbal self-restraint and speak too much, interrupt others often, or ramble 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. The symptoms include a sudden desire to stop, start or change activities or activities; not being able to wait for your turn during a conversation and difficulty in interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
Although gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of ADHD but it's often difficult to determine if a woman has these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during times of hormonal changes, for example during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They might also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or their lives. This could cause depression, substance abuse or unbalanced coping strategies. It is crucial for women to understand that these symptoms do not show their worth or value as human beings. If you follow a proper treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these signs.
3. Attention
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD the symptoms can occur often enough that they cause disruption with your daily routine. You could make a few blunders at work or school, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You have a hard time waiting for your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can include the tendency to get involved in projects without properly planning and analyzing them, which leads to inadequate or poor results. It is also possible to get lost easily and tend to leave projects unfinishedfrom the garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization which was erected and put aside to dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD also struggle with a constant sense of disorganization in their workplaces and at home. You might have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or keys and lose things regularly. You could be unable to keep your track of time and become late for work, school or 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 make or do actions without thinking about the consequences such as yelling at others or making a nonsensical sound when they're alone. They have difficulty sitting still and might be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent disputes with their coworkers and supervisor.
In certain instances, mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also have a higher likelihood of having comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. This includes gender bias as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or underestimate their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of well-known women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their personal struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, but many young women and girls still don't know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by constant anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous at times anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You may experience an uneasy feeling, fear, or anxiety, as well as an intense pulse, trouble staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. There is also an underlying sense of danger in situations that you know aren't dangerous. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than in men and it is more likely to become worse at certain times in the woman's life, such as around her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This makes it more difficult to manage everyday activities and social interactions and cause feelings of low self-esteem and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a hard acceptance of criticism. You can easily interpret feedback incorrectly, 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 adult female adhd symptoms and you could find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be prone to non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis when you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you comprehend the issues 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 expert assessment. In certain instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In certain instances your doctor might suggest a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case, it's important to make positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This can help you regain control of your life and make you feel more confident and competent.