ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, it often isn't recognized by females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge or experience to identify ADHD among women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be a challenge to manage. Your desk, for example might be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while you buy products that claim to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep on top of your work can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to complete the task. This could make you feel frustrated and like you're not doing a great enough job at your job, or even your personal life.
There is a possibility that you have trouble managing your emotions. This could cause you to react too quickly when confronted by stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your family and colleagues, and you may make comments that hurt feelings of others without a thought. Since impulsivity is a common trait in people with ADHD it is possible that you will find it difficult to resist making comments without considering them.
If you have ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and cultural ideas about the ways men, boys, and women should act. This could make it difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis you may also benefit from behavioral therapy to address the root causes of your disorder. It might take time to find the best coping strategies, but implementing them will allow you to feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not capable of separating them from or assess them. This means they can get overwhelmed by one setback or find it hard to assess the mood of others. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by minor inconveniences such as an out of stock book or a shaky friend.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention problems by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They might be extremely meticulous or an obsessive at work or school and have trouble keeping on top of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They might also struggle with self-control and verbal control. They may also frequently interrupt others, talk too much, 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 the sudden desire to start, stop, or change activities. Recommended Resource site include not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation, and having difficulty reading social signals.
Although gender-based stereotypes can play a role in the development of ADHD however, it's sometimes difficult to tell 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 may miss the mark on the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, for example during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause (the period leading up to menopausal). This can trigger emotional symptoms like frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also feel an ongoing feeling of discontent with their relationships or life. This can lead to depression, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. It's important that women understand that these signs do not reflect their worth or value as human beings. With a well-planned 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 times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your day-to-day life. You could make a few mistakes at work or in school, or miss appointments or spend a good amount of time delaying. You can't wait your turn and interrupt others during conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also have a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. You could also get easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could include a vegetable garden that was planted but not watered, or an organization system you put together and then left on your nightstand to collect dust.
People with inattentive ADHD are also plagued by a chronic feeling of disorganization, both at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and misplace things on a regular basis. You may be unable to keep your track of time and become late for school, work or for 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 who suffer from these conditions may make decisions or conduct actions without considering the impact. For instance they might talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their seats or at a fast pace. They may have difficulty keeping their job and could have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are likely to face many challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender bias and a tendency to conceal symptoms or undervalue their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of famous women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their personal struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, but many girls and young women still don't know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or nervous from time moment, a constant and overwhelming anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You may experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and having trouble thinking clearly. There is also a sense of danger in situations you know aren't risky. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia and panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than in men, and it is more likely to become worse during certain times of a woman's life for instance, during the time of her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. adult adhd symptoms women can make it harder to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and can cause feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a tough time accepting criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You may be annoyed by small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms and you could find that your emotions are unstable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It will help you understand your challenges and give 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 help alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any scenario, it's essential to make positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and feel more confident and competent.