ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition typically is not recognized in females. This is probably due to gender stereotyping and the ability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the experience or knowledge to detect ADHD in women. Many females are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization, a condition that can be a challenge to manage. For instance your desk might be a jumble of tangled papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. While you buy products that promise to help you stay organized your office and home are likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep on top of your work can cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. In addition, you could be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand the time required to finish the task. This could leave you feeling unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a good job in your work or in your personal life, particularly if it feels like other people don't value your efforts.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when faced with stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your loved ones as well as your coworkers. You may make comments that hurt the feelings of others without meaning to. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, as impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If you have ADHD it's possible that a portion of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or beliefs regarding how women, men, and boys should behave. This can make it harder to recognize and treat your 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 determine the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them will help you feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or analyze them. They may be overwhelmed by a small event, or have difficulty being able to assess the mood of other people. It also makes it easier for them to become distracted by minor inconveniences like books that are out of stock or a friend who's running late to take a spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD conceal their symptoms and devise strategies to deal with their attention problems. They might be extremely meticulous or a perfectionist at school or work and have difficulty keeping on top of appointments, bills, or important dates. They may struggle with self-talk control and talk excessively 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. The symptoms include a sudden urge to start, stop or change activities; being unable to wait for your turn during a conversation and difficulty interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD for women, it's not always easy to spot these issues. The scales of rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, like during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can cause emotional issues and trigger a lot of feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also feel an unending sense of dissatisfaction with their relationships or life. This could lead to self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unhealthy coping strategies. It's important that women understand that these symptoms do not show their worth or value as human beings. With a well-planned treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention
Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD, these symptoms occur in such a way that they can interfere with your daily life. You could make a few mistakes at work or at school, or miss appointments, or spend a great deal of time procrastinating. You have a difficult time waiting your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by others.
Adults who are inattentive can also have a tendency to jump into projects without having a complete plan and research them. This results in a lack of results or even subpar ones. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could include an unwatered vegetable garden planted but never watered, or an system of organization that you built and then left on your nightstand to accumulate dust.
People with inattentive ADHD have trouble focusing at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and lose things on a regular basis. You may also lose track of the time and end up running late 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. Women who suffer from these conditions may make or do actions without thinking about the consequences such as yelling at others or making nonsensical sounds when they're alone. They might be unable to sit still and adjusting their chair or move. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent disputes with their coworkers and their manager.
In some cases the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. These include gender bias and a tendency to conceal symptoms or underestimate their severity, and gender bias. Famous women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have openly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. However, many girls and young woman still aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterized by persistently excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times Anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant sense of unease 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 to be risky for you. The most frequent 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 tends worsen around certain life events like menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it difficult to manage everyday tasks and social interaction and may lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or unsatisfaction.
You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough acceptance of criticism. adhd symptoms in adult women are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might get annoyed by small things that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings may also be a symptom of adult adhd in women. It is possible that you have unpredictable emotions or are unable to control them. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal such as burning, scrubbing, 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 some of the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a thorough assessment. In certain instances your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In either case, it's important to begin making positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This can help you regain control of your life, and feel more confident and capable.