ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition typically goes undiagnosed in females. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the capability females to hide their symptoms.
adhd in young women do not have the experience or knowledge to recognize ADHD among women. Many females are misdiagnosed and do not receive the care they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD often struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be a challenge to manage. For example your desk might be a jumble of tangled papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. While you buy products that promise to help you stay organized, your home and office may still be messy and chaotic.
Your inability to keep track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and missed appointments. In addition, you might be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend how much time it takes to finish an assignment. This can leave you in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing an adequate job in your work or in your personal life, particularly when you feel like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions, which could make you overreact in stressful situations. You might also say things without meaning to hurt the feelings of someone else. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since it is common for people suffering from ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it's possible that a portion of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or ideas regarding how women, men, and boys should behave. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
You could also benefit from a treatment for behavioral issues to address the root causes of your disorder. While it could take some time to find the appropriate strategies for coping, implementing these strategies can help you feel more in control of your life and enhance relationships with your family friends, coworkers, and other family members.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD have intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of separating them from or analyze them. This means they can get overwhelmed by one setback or find it hard to discern the mood of other people. It also makes it easier for them to be distracted by minor issues such as the book that's out of stock or an acquaintance who's late for spin class.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and developing coping strategies. They could be highly organized or a perfectionist at school or work and struggle to keep on top of appointments and bills or important dates. They may struggle with self-talk control and talk excessively 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. The symptoms include a sudden urge to start, stop or alter activities or activities; not being able to wait your turn in conversation; and having trouble reading social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD for women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. The rating scales that are used to identify ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD report that their symptoms are more severe during times of hormonal change like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This can intensify emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or life. This can contribute to depression, substance abuse and unhealthy coping habits. It's important that women understand that these symptoms do not show their worth or value as human beings. With a good treatment strategy, you can lessen or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD the symptoms are experienced in such a way that they can interfere with your daily routine. You could make a few mistakes at work or in school, miss appointments or spend a good amount of time delaying. You aren't comfortable waiting your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people.
Adults who are inattentive can also have a tendency to rush into projects before fully planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. You could also become easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could include the vegetable garden that was planted but not watered, or a new organization system you put together and then left on your nightstand for it to rot.
People with inattentive ADHD also struggle with an ongoing sense of disorganization, both at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and may lose items on a regular basis. You may be unable to keep 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. People with these issues might make decisions or conduct actions without considering the impact. For example they might talk over other people or make unintentional noises when alone. They have difficulty sitting still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They may have difficulty working and may have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In some instances, the mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also are more likely to having co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD can face a variety of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis that include gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or minimize the severity of them. The rise of famous women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, but many girls and young women aren't aware of the disorder.
4. Anxiety
While most people feel anxious or anxious from time to moment, a constant and overwhelming anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an uneasy feeling or fear as well as rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. There is also a sense of danger in situations that you know are not dangerous. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women with ADHD than men. It can be worsened by certain life events like menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it harder to handle everyday activities and social interactions and cause feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
adhd symptoms in women adults are extremely sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult time accepting criticism. You easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipating rejection and you might get angry over small things that others don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are a part of the adult female adhd symptoms and you could discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be prone to self-injury that isn't suicidal 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 understand some of the challenges you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your doctor to get an assessment from a professional. In some cases doctors may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In certain instances your doctor may suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either scenario, it's essential to make positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This can help you take control of your life and make you feel more productive, confident and capable.