ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition typically goes undiagnosed in females. This is probably due to gender stereotyping and the capacity of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise and experience to recognize ADHD in women. This means that many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disorganization, which can be very difficult to manage. For example your desk might be a jumble of tangled papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. And while you buy products that claim to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Your inability to keep track of your work can result in missing deadlines and appointments. You might also struggle with "time blindness," where you don't know or remember the time it takes to complete an assignment. This can cause you to feel frustrated and feel like you're not doing a good enough job in your profession, or even your personal life.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions, which could cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your family and coworkers, and you might say things that hurt others' feelings without meaning to. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, since impulsivity can be common among people suffering from ADHD.
If you have ADHD it's possible that a portion of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or cultural ideas regarding how women, men and boys should behave. This can make it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from a treatment for behavioral issues to address the underlying causes of your disorder. It could take some time to determine the most effective strategies to cope, but using them will allow you to feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD frequently experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a good way to evaluate or filter them. This means they may be overwhelmed by one setback or have difficulty being able to accurately assess the emotional state of other people. This makes them more susceptible to being distracted by small inconveniences, such as an out of stock book or a shaky friend.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention issues by hiding symptoms and developing coping strategies. They could be perfectionists or highly conscientious at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping on top of important dates, deadlines and appointments. 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. These symptoms include the sudden desire to start or stop activities. They can also be characterized by being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation and having difficulty reading social cues.
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD for women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. The scales for rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also say that their symptoms get more severe during periods of hormonal changes, for example during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can lead to emotional symptoms such as frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also feel an unending feeling of discontent with their relationships or life. This can contribute to depression, substance abuse and unhealthy coping strategies. This is why it's crucial for women to realize that these signs aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. The good news is that with a proper treatment plan these symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Attention!
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to concentrate and pay attention at times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can disrupt your day-to-day life. You might make mistakes at work or school, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You're not able to stand in line and interrupt others in conversations.
Adults who are inattention may also include a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing the subject, which results in incomplete or subpar results. You could also get easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted but not watered, or an system of organization that you built and then put on your nightstand for it to rot.
People with inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You might have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or keys and lose things regularly. You may also lose the track of time and end up late for school, work or even 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 issues might say or do things without considering the impact. For example, they might be rude to others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and might fidget or pace in their seats. They can have trouble working and may have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In some cases the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. inattentive add in women is especially true in relationships with partners as well as at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of 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 and a tendency to conceal symptoms or minimize their severity, and gender bias. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. However, many young women and girls do not know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterized by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous occasionally Anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You may experience a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble keeping at peace and having difficulty focusing. There is also a sense of danger in situations that you are aware are not dangerous. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women with ADHD than in men and it is more likely to become worse at certain times in a woman's life for instance, during her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This makes it more difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and can cause feelings of self-doubt and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult to accept criticism. You easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipated rejection, and you may get angry over minor things that others do not see as to be a problem.
Mood swings are another of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you may find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal like striking, burning or scratching yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand some of the challenges you're facing, and give 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 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 either case it's crucial to make positive changes as soon as possible. This will help you gain control over your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.