ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally in adulthood, the condition typically is not recognized in females. This is probably due to gender stereotyping and the capacity of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise and experience to recognize ADHD in women. Many women are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. For example your desk could be a mess of unruly papers, 17 different chapsticks, and a ticket for the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. Even if you've purchased a few items to help you organize, your office or home is likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. Additionally, adhd symptoms for women may be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand how much time it takes to complete the task. This can make you feel frustrated and like you're not doing a good enough job in your career, or even your personal life.
You might also have trouble controlling 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 loved ones and coworkers, and you may make comments that hurt feelings of others without meaning to. And since impulsivity is common for those with ADHD and ADD, you may find it difficult to resist making statements without thinking them through.
If you suffer from ADHD it's possible that a portion of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas regarding how women, men and boys should behave. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
In addition to being diagnosed, you might require a behavioral therapy program to deal with the root cause of your disorder. It might take time to determine the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them will allow you to feel in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD frequently experience intense emotions, but their brains don't have a way to filter or assess them. This means they can get overwhelmed by a single incident or have difficulty being able to discern the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to become distracted by minor issues such as books that are out of stock or a friend who's late to take a spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD mask their symptoms and devise strategies to cope with their attention problems. They might be extremely meticulous or a perfectionist at school or at work, and have trouble keeping on top of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also have trouble with self-control in speech and frequently interrupt others, talk too much, frequently, or info dump 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 desire to stop, start or alter the course of action; being unable to wait for your turn during a conversation and having trouble reading social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of ADHD, it's often difficult to determine if a woman has these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior, and some healthcare experts may be misinformed or misunderstand the symptoms of women.
Many women suffering from ADHD report that their symptoms are more severe during times of hormonal change, such as during menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This can cause emotional symptoms like frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience a persistent feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or life. This could cause depression, substance abuse or unhealthy methods of coping. This is the reason it's so important for women to understand that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. With a well-planned treatment strategy, you can lessen or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention!
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD, these symptoms occur in such a way that they can interfere with your daily routine. You might make mistakes at work or school and forget appointments, or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You have a difficult time waiting to be the first in a conversation and are often interrupted by others.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include the tendency to get involved in projects without fully planning and researching them, which leads to poor or insufficient results. You may also get distracted easily and tend to leave projects unfinishedfrom the garden that was planted but never watered to the new system of organization that was put together and left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and in the workplace. You might have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and may lose items on a regular basis. You could also be unable to keep your track of time and end up late for work, meetings or school.
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 can say or do things without considering the impact. For instance they might talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises in solitude. They are unable to sit still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They can have trouble keeping their job and could have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In some instances, the mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also are more likely to having comorbid conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often faced with a range of challenges when seeking diagnosis and treatment which include gender discrimination and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. The rise of well-known women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their personal struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, but many young women and girls still don't know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous occasionally, anxiety disorders are characterized by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations that you are aware aren't dangerous. The most common kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia as well as panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than men. It tends worsen around certain life events, like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it harder to handle everyday tasks and social interactions, and lead to feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a hard to accept criticism. You're prone to miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You might be annoyed by small things that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you may be able to notice that your moods are unstable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to receive a diagnosis. It can help you understand some of the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online, or talk to your physician for an assessment from a professional. In certain instances, a doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In some cases your doctor might suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to change your lifestyle as quickly as possible. This will allow you to regain control of your life and make you feel more confident and capable.