ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, it often goes undiagnosed in females. This is probably due to gender stereotyping and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise or experience needed to detect ADHD in women. Many women are misdiagnosed and do not receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD have trouble coordinating. This condition is difficult to manage. For example, your desk may be a jumble of tangled papers, 17 chapsticks, or a ticket for the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. And while you spend money on products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office are likely to remain chaotic and messy.
Your inability to stay on top of your work can lead to missed deadlines and missed appointments. In addition, you might struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand how much time it takes to finish a task. This can cause you to feel frustrated and like you're not doing a good enough job at your job or in your personal life.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions, which can cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your loved ones and colleagues, and you might say things that hurt the feelings of others without even knowing. And since impulsivity is common for people with ADHD and ADD, you may have trouble stopping yourself from making statements without thinking them through.
If you suffer from ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and beliefs regarding how men, boys, and women should act. adhd in young women makes it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You could also benefit from a treatment for behavioral issues to address the root causes of your disorder. It may take a while to find the best coping strategies, but implementing them will help you feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD often experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a good way to assess or filter them. They may be overwhelmed by a tiny setback, or have difficulty assessing the mood of other people. This makes them more prone to be distracted by minor issues, such as the availability of a book or an unreliable friend.
Many women suffering from ADHD overcome their attention problems by hiding symptoms and developing coping strategies. They could be perfectionists, or extremely meticulous at school or at work but struggle to keep track of important dates, bills and appointments. They might struggle with self-talk control and speak too much or interrupt others often.
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, and being unable to discern social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes can play a role in the development of ADHD however, it's often difficult to recognize when a woman has these issues. The scales of rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). This can cause emotional issues and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They might also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or their lives. This may lead to the use of drugs, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping strategies. It is important for women to realize that these symptoms do not reflect their worth or value as a human being. adhd symptoms in women adults is that with a well-planned treatment strategy these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD, these symptoms occur often enough that they cause disruption with your daily life. You could make a few blunders at work or school or forget appointments or you may spend long hours delaying. You have a difficult time waiting to be the first in a conversation and are often interrupted by others.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can be accompanied by a tendency to jump into projects without properly planning and researching them, which leads to incomplete or subpar results. It is also possible to get lost easily and have a tendency to leave projects unfinished -- from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that was put together and put aside to dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and lose items on a regular basis. You may also lose track of the time and end up over time for meetings, work 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 who suffer from these conditions may say or do things without considering the consequences. For example they may be rude to others or make nonsensical noises in solitude. They may have trouble sitting still, and fidget in their seats or at a fast pace. They may have difficulty maintaining a job and might be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to have comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are often faced with a range of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment which include gender discrimination and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have openly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. However, a lot of young women and girls aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous from time to time, anxiety disorders are characterized by constant high levels of anxiety. You may experience an incessant feeling of anxiety or fear as well as an intense pulse, trouble staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also have an increased sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous for you. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women with ADHD compared to men. It can be worsened by certain life events like menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it more difficult to manage daily tasks and social interactions and cause feelings of self-doubt and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipating rejection and you may get angry over minor things that others wouldn't see as a problem with.
Mood swings are another of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older, and you might be able to notice that your moods are unpredictable or difficult to control. You may also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal which includes striking, burning or scratching yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It can help you understand some of the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional evaluation. In certain instances doctors may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In some cases your doctor might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will help you gain control over your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.