ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, it often is not recognized in females. This is probably due to gender stereotypes and the capability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and experience to recognize ADHD in women. This means that many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization, a condition that can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 chapsticks, and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even if you've purchased a few items to help you manage your clutter, your home or office is likely to remain chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand how much time it takes to complete the task. This could leave you feeling unhappy and feeling that you're not doing an adequate job in your work or personal life, particularly if it feels like other people don't value your efforts.
There is a possibility that you have trouble regulating your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when confronted by stressful situations. You might also say things without intention of hurting people's feelings. Since impulsivity is a common trait for those with ADHD and ADD, you may be unable to stop yourself from making statements without thinking them through.
If you have ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or beliefs about how men, women and boys should behave. This can make it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You could also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root cause of your disorder. It could take some time to determine the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them can help you feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains don't have a way to assess or filter them. adhd symptoms for women can be overwhelmed by a minor incident, or have trouble assessing the mood of others. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by minor issues like the availability of a book or an unreliable friend.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They might be extremely meticulous or an obsessive at school or work and struggle to keep on top of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also have issues with self-control in speech and 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 an abrupt urge to begin or stop activities. They also include being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation, and having difficulty reading social signals.
While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD in women, it is difficult to recognize these issues. The scales used to measure ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior, and some healthcare professionals might misunderstand or misunderstand the symptoms of women.
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 during perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can cause emotional symptoms like frustration and irritability, or depression. They may also have an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or their lives. This can result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced ways of coping. This is the reason it's so important for women to recognize that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as individuals. If you follow a proper treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
ADHD is characterized 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 interfere with your everyday life. You could make a few blunders at school or work, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You have a hard time waiting your turn in conversations and often interrupt others.
Adults who are not attentive may also jump into projects without fully planning them and researching them. This results in a lack of results or subpar ones. You could also become easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could include a vegetable garden that was planted but never watered, or an organizational system that you assembled and then put on your nightstand to collect dust.
People who have inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You might have difficulty finding important documents, keys or bills and lose things regularly. You may also lose the track of time and end up 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. Women who suffer from these conditions may perform actions or words without considering the impact including snoozing over other people or making strange sounds when they're alone. They might be unable to sit still, and may flitter around in their seat or pace. They may have difficulty maintaining their job and may have frequent conflicts with their coworkers and supervisor.
In some cases the mood swings or emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case in romantic relationships and at work. People who suffer from ADHD also are more likely having 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 minimize their severity, as well as gender bias. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have spoken out about their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. However, many young women and girls aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous occasionally anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, trouble staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You may also experience a heightened sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely to be risky for you. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men, and it is more likely to become worse at certain times in the woman's life for instance, during the time of her menstrual period and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage everyday tasks and social interactions, and cause feelings of low self-esteem and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a hard time accepting criticism. You easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipated rejection, and you may be angry about minor things that others don't find to be a problem.
Mood swings may also be a sign of adult adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or find it difficult to manage these. You may also be prone self-injury that is not suicidal, such as burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you better understand your challenges and give you strategies to improve your living quality. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor for an assessment from a professional. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In some cases your doctor may suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to start making some positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This can help you gain control over your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.