ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capability of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and experience to detect ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the proper treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder can be difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks, and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even though you may have purchased a few items to help you organize, your home or office is probably still chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your tasks may cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the time required to finish a task. This can leave you unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a good job in your professional or personal life, especially when it seems like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also have difficulty regulating your emotions, which may cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can cause confusion and miscommunications with family members and coworkers, and you could make statements that hurt feelings of others without a thought. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, as it is common for people with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or ideas about how men, women, and boys should behave. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis it is possible that you will benefit from behavioral therapy 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 in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or assess them. They can be overwhelmed by a small setback, or have difficulty assessing the emotional state of others. It also makes it easier for them to become distracted by minor issues such as a book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to take a spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD manage their attention issues by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They may be highly conscientious or an obsessive at school or work and struggle to keep the track of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also have trouble with verbal self-restraint and talk excessively, interrupt others often, or ramble 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 influence on the development of ADHD for women, it's difficult to recognize these issues. The rating scales that are used to identify ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
women and adhd suffering from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, for example during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). This can intensify emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of frustration, irritability, or depression. They may also feel a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with their lives or relationships. This can result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. It's important that women understand that these signs do not indicate their worth or importance as human beings. The positive side is that with a well-planned treatment program the symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Attention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD, these symptoms occur often enough that they cause disruption with your life. You could make a few blunders at work or school, forget appointments or spend long hours delaying. You aren't comfortable waiting your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning and researching them, which leads to incomplete or subpar results. You may also get distracted easily and have a tendency to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization which was erected and left to rot on your nightstand.
People who have inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and misplace items on a regular basis. You could also be unable to keep track of the time and end up 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 signs may perform actions or words without thinking about the consequences, like talking over other people or making strange sounds when they're alone. They may have trouble sitting still and can move around or get out of their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job and might have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD may lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially true when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD also are more likely to having comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD might face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination, a tendency to hide symptoms or underestimate their severity, as well as gender bias. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. However, many young women and girls do not know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by constant anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous at times anxiety disorders are defined by a constant high level of anxiety. You might experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, trouble keeping at peace and having difficulty focusing. You may also feel the sense of danger even in situations that you are aware aren't dangerous. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and phobias, separation anxiety and 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 difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interaction, and can lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or discontent.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a difficult to accept criticism. You're prone to miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You may be annoyed by small things that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings are another of the symptoms of adhd for women in adulthood and you may find that your emotions are unstable or difficult to control. You could also be prone to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's important to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you understand the issues you're facing and provide 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 might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other instances, they might recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In either case it's crucial to change your lifestyle as quickly as you can. This will help you get back in control of your life and feel more confident, productive and competent.