ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition often isn't recognized by females. This is probably due to gender stereotypes and the capacity females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD in women. This means that many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD often struggle with disordered thinking, which can be a challenge to manage. For instance, your desk may be a mess of muddled papers, 17 different chapsticks, and a ticket for the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. Although you may have spent money on products to help you organize, your home or office is likely still chaotic and messy.
Your inability to stay on top of your work can lead to missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to finish the task. This could leave you feeling unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a good job in your career or personal life, especially when you feel like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions. This can lead you to react excessively when confronted by stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your loved ones as well as your coworkers. You may make comments that hurt feelings of others without meaning to. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, as it is common for those with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and beliefs about how men, boys, and women should act. This can make it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis you may also benefit from behavioral therapy to tackle the root of your disorder. Although it might take a while to discover the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can assist you in feeling 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 are prone to intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of filtering them or assess them. This means they may be overwhelmed by a single incident or have difficulty being able to discern the emotional state of others. This can also make them more prone to being distracted by small inconveniences like a book out of stock or an unreliable friend.
Many women with ADHD conceal their symptoms and devise strategies to cope with their attention problems. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at work or in school but struggle to keep on top 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 desire to start or stop activities. They also include being unable wait for your turn in a conversation or being unable to discern social signals.
While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD for women, it's difficult to recognize these issues. The scales for rating used to detect ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD report that their symptoms worsen during times of hormonal change like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also experience a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with their relationships or life. This can result in substance abuse, low-self-esteem, or unhealthy methods of coping. This is the reason it's so important for women to understand that these symptoms are not a reflection of their value or worth as individuals. The good news is that with a solid treatment plan these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
ADHD is characterized by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to concentrate and pay attention at times, they are so frequent that they can disrupt your daily life. You might make mistakes at work or school and forget appointments, or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You have a hard time waiting to be the first in a conversation and frequently interrupt others.
Adults who are inattention may be accompanied by a tendency to jump into projects without fully planning and analyzing the subject, which results in inadequate or poor results. You could also become easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be a vegetable garden that was planted but never watered, or a brand new organizational system that you assembled and then put on your nightstand to accumulate dust.
People who have inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and lose items on a regular basis. You could also lose track of time and be late for work, school 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. undiagnosed adhd in women with these signs may say or do things without thinking about the impact such as yelling at others or making a nonsensical sound when they are alone. They might be unable to sit still and adjusting their seat or pace. They can have trouble keeping their job and could have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD may 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 are also more likely to have comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or undervalue their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of high-profile women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, however many girls and young women do not know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or anxious from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You may feel an incessant feeling of anxiety or fear, as well as rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations that you are aware are not dangerous. The most frequent forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent among 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 manage daily tasks and social interactions, and lead to feelings of self-doubt and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a difficult time accepting criticism. You're prone to miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You may be upset over small issues that other people do not see as an issue with.
Mood swings are a part of the symptoms of adhd for women in adulthood, and you might be able to notice that your moods are unstable or difficult to control. You might also be prone to self-injury that isn't suicidal like scratching, burning or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you comprehend some of the challenges you're facing, and give you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a thorough evaluation. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In some cases your doctor may suggest an amalgamation 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 competent.