ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, the condition typically is not recognized in females. This could be due to gender stereotyping and the ability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD among women. Many females are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the care they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This disorder can be difficult to manage. Your desk, for example might be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While adhd symptoms in women spend money on products that claim to help you stay organized your office and home may still be messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to complete a task. This can cause you to be in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a good job in your career or personal life, particularly when you feel that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
There is a possibility that you have trouble managing your emotions. This could cause you to react excessively when faced with stressful situations. You might also say things without meaning to hurt people's feelings. And since impulsivity is common for those with ADHD and ADD, you may have trouble stopping yourself from making statements without considering them.
If you suffer from ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas about how women, men and boys should behave. This could make it difficult for you to recognize and treat your ADHD.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root causes of your disorder. While it could take some time to identify the right coping mechanisms using these strategies, they can make 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 are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains don't have a method to filter or assess them. This means they can get overwhelmed by a single setback or struggle to discern the mood of other people. It also makes it easier for them to become distracted by small issues like the book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to the spin class.
Many women with ADHD compensate for their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be perfectionists, or extremely meticulous at school or work but struggle to keep the track of important dates, bills, and appointments. They may also have trouble with self-control in speech and talk excessively, interrupt others often, or dump information 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. These symptoms include an abrupt urge to begin or stop activities. They also include being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation, and being unable to discern social cues.
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD in women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. The rating scales that are used to detect ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, for example during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can lead to emotions such as anger or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This can lead to depression, substance abuse or unbalanced coping strategies. This is why it's crucial for women to understand that these symptoms are not an indication of their worth or worth as individuals. With a well-planned treatment strategy, you can lessen or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD the symptoms can occur so frequently that they interfere with your life. You may make careless errors at work or at school, or miss appointments or spend a good amount of time putting off tasks. You're not able to stand in line and interrupt others during conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also rush into projects before having a complete plan and research them. This leads to incomplete results or subpar ones. You may also be easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted, but not watered, or a brand new system of organization that you built and then put away on your nightstand for it to rot.
People with inattentive ADHD have trouble focusing at home and in the workplace. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or keys and frequently lose things. You could also be unable to keep track of the time and end up running late for work, meetings 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. People with these issues may perform actions or words without considering the consequences. For instance, they might speak over other people or make unintentional noises when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and can be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They might have issues working and may have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause 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 co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are often faced with a range of challenges when seeking treatment and diagnosis that include gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. Famous women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. But, many girls and young woman still don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterized by constant anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous occasionally Anxiety disorders are defined by a constant high level of anxiety. You may experience an incessant feeling of anxiety or fear, as well as a rapid pulse, difficulty staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also have an increased fear of danger even in situations that aren't likely to be risky for you. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than in men, and tends to get worse at certain times in the woman's life like her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This makes it more difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interactions, and lead to feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a difficult to accept criticism. You can easily miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You may be angry about small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are also a symptom of adult adhd in women. It is possible that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or find it difficult to control them. You could also be prone to self-injury that isn't suicidal such as burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis when you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you better identify your issues and give you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your doctor for an expert assessment. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will allow you to regain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and competent.