ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition often isn't recognized by females. This could be due to gender stereotypes and the ability of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD in women. As a result, many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disordered thinking, which can be very difficult to manage. For example, your desk may be a mess of muddled papers, 17 different chapsticks, or a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. While you purchase products that claim to help you stay organized, your home and office are likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can result in missed deadlines and appointments. You might also be struggling with "time blindness," where you don't know or remember how long it takes to complete an assignment. This can cause you to be in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a great job in your professional or personal life, especially when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble controlling your emotions, which could cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your family and coworkers, and you may make comments that hurt the feelings of others without a thought. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since it is common for people suffering from ADHD.
If you have ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and cultural ideas about the ways men, boys and women should behave. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
In addition to being diagnosed, you might benefit from behavioral therapy to tackle the root of your disorder. While it could take some time to find the appropriate strategies for coping Implementing these strategies will help you feel more in control of your life as well as improve relationships with your family friends, coworkers, and other family members.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD frequently experience intense emotions, but their brains don't have a good way to assess or filter them. They may be overwhelmed by a small event, or have difficulty in assessing the mood of other people. It can also make it easier for them to be distracted by small issues like books that are out of stock or a friend who's running late to the spin class.
Many women with ADHD mask their symptoms and come up with coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They could be perfectionists or extremely attentive at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping track of important dates, deadlines, and appointments. They might also struggle with verbal self control and may talk 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 the sudden urge to begin or stop activities. They also include being unable wait for your turn in a conversation, and having difficulty reading social cues.
While gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of ADHD but it's often difficult to recognize when a woman has these issues. Rating scales used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some healthcare experts may be misinformed or underestimate a woman's symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become more severe during times of hormonal changes, such as during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can trigger emotional symptoms such as frustration and 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 unhealthy ways of coping. It is important for women to realize that these signs do not reflect their worth or value as a human being. The good news is that with a well-planned treatment program, these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your day-to-day life. You might make mistakes at work or at school, miss appointments, or spend a great amount of time delaying. You can't wait your turn and interrupt other people in conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also jump into projects without thoroughly planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. You may also get distracted easily 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 gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD have trouble focusing at home and in the workplace. You may have difficulty finding important documents such as keys or bills, and also lose items frequently. You could also forget to keep track of time and be late for work, school or for 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. People with these issues may make decisions or conduct actions without thinking about the consequences. For example they may be rude to other people or make unintentional noises in solitude. They may have trouble sitting still and may move around or get out of their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and manager.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have comorbid conditions, such as 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 underestimate their severity, and gender bias. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have openly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. But, many girls and young woman still don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times Anxiety disorders are defined by a constant high level of anxiety. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. There is also an underlying sense of danger in situations you know aren't risky. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD than in men, and tends to get worse at certain times in a woman's life, such as around the time of her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to deal with everyday tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings such as low self-esteem or discontent.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You might get annoyed by small things that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings are also a sign of adult adhd in women . It is possible that you experience erratic emotions or find it difficult to manage them. You might also be prone to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scratching, burning or hitting yourself.
If adult add in women struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to establish a clear diagnosis. It will help you comprehend 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 physician for an assessment from a professional. In some cases your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other instances they may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case it's crucial to make positive changes as soon as possible. This can help you regain control of your life and make you feel more confident and capable.