ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition often goes undiagnosed in females. This is probably due to gender stereotyping and the capacity of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the experience or knowledge to identify ADHD in women. Many females are misdiagnosed and do not receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD often struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While you spend money on products that claim to aid in your organization, your home and office may still be messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your work can result in missed deadlines and missed appointments. In addition, you might be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the time required to complete the task. This could leave you feeling frustrated and feeling like you're not doing an adequate job in your work or in your personal life, particularly if it feels like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions, which may cause you to overreact in stressful situations. You might also say things that are not intended to hurt someone's feelings. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If you have ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or beliefs about how men, women, and boys should behave. This makes it more difficult for you to recognize and treat your ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis it is possible that you will benefit from behavioral therapy to deal with the root cause of your disorder. And although it may take some time to identify the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can help you feel more in control of your life as well as improve relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD have intense emotions. However their brains aren't able to filter them or analyze them. They may be overwhelmed by a tiny incident, or have trouble assessing the mood of other people. It also makes it easier for them to get distracted by small issues like the book that's out of stock or an acquaintance who's late for the spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD cover up their symptoms and develop strategies to deal with their attention problems. They might be extremely meticulous or an obsessive at school or at work, and struggle to keep track of appointments, bills, or important dates. They may struggle with self-talk control and may talk 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 desire to start or stop activities. They also include not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation or being unable to discern social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may contribute to the development of ADHD, it's not always easy to recognize when women suffer from these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, such as during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause (the run-up to menopause). This can cause emotional issues and trigger a lot of feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also feel an unending feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or lives. This may lead to depression, substance abuse and unhealthy coping strategies. It is crucial for women to understand that these signs do not reflect their worth or value as human beings. The positive side is that with a solid treatment plan the symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Attention!
While attention deficit disorder in women struggles with paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms can occur so frequently that they interfere with your life. You might make mistakes at work or in school, or miss appointments or spend a good amount of time delaying. You have a hard time waiting for your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt others.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include the tendency to get involved in projects without fully planning and researching them, which can result in inadequate or poor results. It is also possible to get lost easily and have a tendency to leave projects unfinishedfrom the garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that got assembled and then put aside to dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or keys and lose things regularly. You may be unable to keep the track of time and end up late for work, school 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. People with these signs may perform actions or words without thinking about the impact such as yelling at others or making nonsensical sounds when they're alone. They are unable to sit still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job and might be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is particularly true when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of having comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD are often faced with a range of obstacles when seeking diagnosis and treatment, 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 openly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. However, many girls and young woman still aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or anxious from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an incessant feeling of anxiety, fear, or anxiety and also a rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations you know are not dangerous. The most common kinds of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common among women with ADHD than in men, and tends to get worse at certain times in women's lives for instance, during her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult to manage everyday tasks and social interaction and may lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or unsatisfaction.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You might be upset over small issues that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings are also an indication of adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable moods or find it difficult to control these. You may also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal, such as scratching, burning or hitting yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis when you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand the issues you're facing, and give you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a thorough assessment. In some cases doctors may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In certain instances, your doctor may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any scenario, it's essential to start making some positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This will allow you to gain control over your life and make you feel more productive, confident and capable.