Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women who have ADHD often report misunderstandings or frustrations in their relationships. The signs of ADHD include not remembering appointments, being late for meetings, or being unable to concentrate during conversations could be mistaken by others as lack of interest or boredom.
Due to gender bias, girls and women with ADHD have a difficult time being referred for evaluation. Clinicians must rethink their approaches to identify female patients and treating them.
1. Disorganization
If you are struggling with disorganization it can be difficult to keep on top of your daily tasks at school and at work. You may also lose or misplace important things like keys or your phone. You may struggle to follow a schedule or forget important events, such as birthdays and anniversaries. You may also have difficulty remembering names, which could make it hard to make new acquaintances or maintain relationships.
There are a lot of sources that can assist you if you aren't aware that your apathy is ADHD. Begin by talking to your primary healthcare provider. They might refer you to psychologist or mental health specialist who has experience in treating ADHD.
Women and girls with ADHD are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, which could be because they develop strategies to hide their symptoms. They may be struggling with self-esteem and a tendency to blame their challenges on factors beyond their control, like relationships or gender.
Stereotypes regarding gender, sex and behavior can make it more difficult for women with ADHD to receive the help they require. For instance, impulsive and hyperactive behaviors are typically seen as being more appropriate for boys and men. Women with ADHD hide or suppress their symptoms to be accepted avoid criticism and avoid embarrassment.
While adhd in adult women treatment of ADHD won't fix the social and cultural issues but it can help you to learn to manage your symptoms more effectively. You can improve your living quality by seeking treatment and making changes to your lifestyle, such as adhering to a schedule, practicing meditation, and eating healthy food.
In addition, taking ADHD medication can also boost your ability to focus and accomplish tasks. But, it's essential to talk to your healthcare professional about the medication and any side effects you might have. They can recommend adjustments to your medication like reducing the dosage or altering the time of day that you take them. They can also help you discover ways to improve your daily functioning, including making adjustments at school or work to help you manage your ADHD symptoms.
2. Inattention
If you're a woman with ADHD or ADD, you might struggle with "time blindness." That means you are often late for appointments or have trouble keeping on top of deadlines. You may also have difficulty concentrating or getting started, especially on boring or unchallenging tasks. These signs can be a source of frustration for co-workers and friends. You're not being rude or inconsiderate on purpose. You're just dealing with the challenges that are associated with ADHD.
Inattentive ADHD is more prevalent in girls and women than impulsive or hyperactive symptoms. These symptoms aren't as easily visible, which can make it difficult for women and girls to seek treatment. Women and girls develop coping strategies that can conceal the symptoms of ADHD. This leads to a misdiagnosis or an underdiagnosis. For instance, signs of anxiety or depression could be mistakenly attributed to the inattention of ADHD and these conditions are treated differently.
It's also possible that girls and women have trouble getting diagnosed with ADHD because they blame themselves. They may feel dissatisfied with their absences or not meeting deadlines, and so do not inform a doctor about the symptoms. If they do go to consult with a healthcare professional, it's likely they'll be told that their behavior is normal and it's not their fault, which can cause further stress and shame.
It is essential to find the appropriate medication for your symptoms and your needs. Stimulant drugs are generally the first choice, however if you're unable to tolerate stimulants or they don't have any impact on your symptoms your healthcare professional might recommend antidepressants or medications that aren't stimulant-like. They will also consider whether your symptoms are worsened by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. This is because changes in these hormones may alter the way that your body process medications and impact their effectiveness. It's also important to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible. Medical treatments can help control your ADHD symptoms and improve your performance in the workplace and at home.
3. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently have difficulty regulating their emotions. Symptoms can include feelings of anger, anxiety, depression or mood swings. These feelings can affect relationships and work performance. Women may also have difficulty maintaining relationships and could have a more erratic love life with more rapid romantic relationships and a greater chance of violence from intimate partners.
The impulse-control symptoms of adhd in women can be more difficult to notice and identify than the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms seen in boys and men/people AMAB. This is because women and girls are better at developing strategies to manage or mask their ADHD symptoms in order to meet gendered societal expectations (Quinn & Madhoo 2014). This could lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for adult women with adhd.
Many females with ADHD have difficulty attempting to manage their spending habits, for example as they are unable to resist temptations or act on their emotions. This can result in financial problems, and it can also mean that they not pay their bills or make payments on time. Women who are easily enticed are also more likely to shop when they are bored or want excitement and stimulation, which could lead to issues with their relationship with food. This can result in unhealthy and unbalanced eating patterns and can cause other health concerns.
We know that women are more likely to experience symptoms of adhd than do men however research on this topic is sporadic. It could be due to the fact that early research on ADHD was focused on males and people who AMAB, which made it easier to recognize their symptoms and refer them to diagnosis. It is also possible that the criteria used for diagnosing ADHD is not as useful to identify females suffering from the disorder.
A diagnosis of adhd, especially late in life, can be a game changer. It can help women realize who they are and the reason they behave in the way they do. It could make them feel like a lightbulb went off, giving them an explanation for their problems.
4. Anxiety
Many women with ADHD struggle with anxiety and stress. Anxiety can lead to issues in relationships, at work and at school. It can manifest physically, for example, a rapid heartbeat or breathing that is shallow muscles, tension in the neck, or headaches. It can also impact sleep. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate anxiety, making it more difficult to manage. A vicious cycle can form, with anxiety causing procrastination out of worry that things won't be done correctly and this causing more anxiety.
It's important to be self-aware and be aware of if you suffer from an anxiety disorder. If you are experiencing symptoms that hinder your daily activities, talk to a physician or mental health specialist for help. They will evaluate your condition and utilize established criteria to determine if you have an anxiety disorder. This could include how long you've been experiencing symptoms and how intense they are. They may suggest different tools and tests to rule other illnesses that could be the cause of your symptoms.
It is often more difficult for women suffering from ADHD to be diagnosed than men, as they tend to conceal their symptoms better. They may develop coping strategies to function, but these strategies can become unsustainable or exhausting as time passes. Women who suffer from ADHD are able to manage their impulsiveness by planning ahead for meetings or by using an app to remind them of appointments. However, these strategies might not address the root cause of their ADHD and could lead to difficulties in their private lives and at work or school.
The process of determining a diagnosis may be challenging because many scales of rating for ADHD tend to favor male behaviors and symptoms. Women may also be less likely to seek treatment if they don't believe they suffer from ADHD or think it will negatively impact their career and personal relationships.
If you feel that your ADHD symptoms are hindering your work or studies, it's important to let your voice be heard and seek assistance from supervisors and colleagues. They're likely to to provide accommodations for you to enable you to succeed at work or school.