ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed in women, despite the fact that it is a problem that affects men and women equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals aren't equipped and experience to identify ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. Your desk, for instance could be a jumble of papers, 17 chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while adhd symptoms in adult women buy products that promise to help you stay organized your office and home probably still feel chaotic and messy.
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 complete a task. This can leave you unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a good job in your career or personal life, particularly when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions, which could cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could cause confusion and miscommunications with your family and colleagues, and you might say things that hurt feelings of others without meaning to. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, as impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it's possible that a portion of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or beliefs about how men, women and boys should behave. This can make it harder to recognize and treat your ADHD.
You may also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root causes of your disorder. It could take some time to discover the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them can help you feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD have intense emotions. However, their brains are not capable of filtering them or analyze them. This means they may be overwhelmed by one setback or find it hard to discern the mood of other people. This makes them more prone to being distracted by minor inconveniences such as an out of stock book or an unreliable friend.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and come up with strategies to deal with their attention problems. They could be perfectionists, or highly conscientious at school or at work but struggle to keep track of important dates, deadlines, and appointments. They may 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 urge to begin or stop activities. They can also be characterized by being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation and having difficulty reading social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may influence the development of ADHD however, it's often difficult to determine if women are suffering from these problems. The scales of rating used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD say that their symptoms are more severe when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can intensify emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of frustration, irritability, or depression. They may also have an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This could result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unhealthy coping strategies. It is crucial for women to understand that these symptoms do not reflect their worth or value as human beings. The good news is that with a proper treatment program these symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Attention!
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times, they are so frequent that they can disrupt your day-to-day life. You may make careless mistakes at work or school, forget appointments or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by others.
Attention deficit symptoms in adults could include the tendency to get involved in projects without properly planning and researching them, which can result in poor or insufficient results. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to leave projects unfinished -for example, from the vegetable garden that was planted but never watered to the new organizational system that was put together and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD also have an ongoing feeling of disorganization, both at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and misplace things frequently. You may also forget to keep 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. Women who suffer from these conditions may make or do actions without considering the impact such as yelling at other people or making strange sounds when they are alone. They might have difficulty sitting still and adjusting their seats or at a fast pace. They might have trouble keeping their job and may have frequent disputes with their coworkers and their manager.
In some instances, the mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case in romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD also are more likely to being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD are often faced with a range of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis, including gender bias and a tendency to hide their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. However, a lot of girls and young woman still do not know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by constant anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous from time to time anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You might experience an uneasy feeling or fear, as well as an intense pulse, trouble staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also have a heightened sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely to be dangerous for you. The most frequent forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia as well as panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women with ADHD than men. It can be worsened by certain life events like menstruation or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to deal with daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or unsatisfaction.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult acceptance of criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might be angry about small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are also a sign of adult adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or find it difficult to manage them. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's important to receive a diagnosis. It will help you understand your challenges and give you strategies for improving your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor for a professional assessment. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other cases, they might recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any scenario, it's essential to start making some positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This will help you get back in control of your life and make you feel more productive, confident and capable.