ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed in women, despite the fact that it affects men and women equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the experience or knowledge to recognize ADHD among women. Many females are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD frequently struggle with disorganization, which can be a challenge to manage. For example your desk could be a mess of tangled papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket for the Kings of Leon concert you went to in the year 2008. And while you spend money on products that claim to help you stay organized, your home and office are likely to remain chaotic and messy.
Inability to stay on top of your tasks can result in missing deadlines and appointments. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't know or remember the time it takes to finish the task. This can cause you to be frustrated and feeling like you're not doing an adequate job in your career or personal life, especially when you feel like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions. This could cause you to react excessively when faced with stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your family and coworkers, and you might say things that hurt feelings of others without even knowing. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think 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 cultural ideas about how men, women and boys should behave. This makes it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root cause of your disorder. Although it might take some time to find the appropriate coping strategies Implementing these strategies will make you feel more in control of your life and improve relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD experience intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of separating them from or evaluate them. They can be overwhelmed by a tiny setback, or have difficulty being able to assess the mood of other people. It can also make it easier for them to get distracted by small issues like a book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to the spin class.
Many women with ADHD conceal their symptoms and come up with strategies to deal with their attention problems. They could be perfectionists, or extremely meticulous at work or in school, but have difficulty keeping 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 a sudden desire to stop, start or change activities and being unable to hold your turn in conversation; and having trouble reading social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
Although gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of ADHD but it's not always easy to determine if women are suffering from these problems. Rating scales used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some healthcare professionals might misunderstand or underestimate a woman's symptoms.
add in women test with ADHD also say that their symptoms get more severe during times of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or perimenopause (the run-up to menopause). This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also experience a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or lives. This may lead to depression, substance abuse and unhealthy coping strategies. It's important that women understand that these signs do not reflect their worth or value as human beings. With a good treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your everyday life. You could make a few blunders at work or school or forget appointments or you may spend a lot of time procrastinating. You are unable to be patient and not interrupt others in conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also have a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning them and researching them. This results in a lack of results or poor ones. You may also get distracted easily and tend to leave projects unfinished -for example, from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that got assembled and then left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and misplace things frequently. You may also lose track of time and be late for school, work or meetings.
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 say or do things without thinking about the consequences, like talking over others or making nonsensical sounds when they are on their own. They might be unable to sit still and adjusting their seat or pace. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent conflicts with their coworkers and their manager.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially the case when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. This includes gender bias and a tendency to conceal symptoms or minimize their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of well-known women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, but many young women and girls do not know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by persistently excessive anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous from time to time Anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also have a heightened sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous for you. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common among women with ADHD than in men and it is more likely to become worse during certain periods of a woman's life for instance, during her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to deal with everyday tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings of low self-esteem or discontent.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection and you might get angry over minor things that others don't find to be a problem.
Mood swings may also be a symptom of adult adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or are unable to control these. You may also be prone self-injury that is not suicidal, like burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to receive a diagnosis. It can help you better know your issues and offer you strategies to improve your living quality. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In certain instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate 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 take control of your life and make you feel more confident, productive and competent.