ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This could be due to gender stereotypes and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise and experience to identify ADHD in women. This means that many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization, a condition that can be a challenge to manage. For example your desk could be a mess of unruly papers, 17 different chapsticks, and a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in the year 2008. Even though you may have purchased a few items to help you organize your workspace, your office or home is probably still messy and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend how much time it takes to finish a task. This could make you feel frustrated and believe that you aren't doing a good enough job at your job, or even your personal life.
You might also have trouble controlling your emotions, which can make you overreact in stressful situations. You may also make comments without meaning to hurt the feelings of someone else. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, as it is common for people suffering from ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it is 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 identify and treat your ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis, you might require a behavioral therapy program to tackle the root of your disorder. It may take a while to discover the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them will allow you to feel in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions, but their brains don't have a method to filter or assess them. This means that they could be overwhelmed by a single setback or find it hard to assess the emotional state of other people. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by minor issues such as a book out of stock or a shaky friend.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention issues by hiding symptoms and developing coping strategies. They could be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at work or in school however, they have trouble keeping track of important dates, bills, and appointments. They may also have issues 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 urge to begin or stop activities. They can also be characterized by being unable 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 often difficult to determine if a woman has these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may not be aware of the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can intensify emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also have an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or lives. This can lead to self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unhealthy coping strategies. It is important for women to realize that these symptoms do not show their worth or value as human beings. With a well-planned treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD the symptoms are experienced in such a way that they can interfere with your life. You may make careless errors at work or at school, or miss appointments or spend a large amount of time putting off tasks. You can't stand in line and interrupt others in conversations.
Adults who are inattention may also include an inclination to dive into projects without fully planning and analyzing them, which leads to inadequate or poor results. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that was planted but never watered to the new organizational system which was erected and left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD also struggle with an ongoing feeling of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or keys and frequently lose things. You may also lose your track of time and end up running late for meetings, work 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 who suffer from these conditions may perform actions or words without considering the consequences. For example they may be rude to other people or make unintentional noises when alone. They may have trouble sitting still and can be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They might have trouble keeping their job and may have frequent disputes with their coworkers and their manager.
In some cases the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially true when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD can face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment and diagnosis which include gender discrimination and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have contributed to raising awareness. However, a lot of young women and girls don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times Anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You may experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble staying at peace and having difficulty focusing. You may also feel a sense of danger in situations you know aren't dangerous. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common in women with ADHD than in men, and it tends to worsen during certain times of a woman's life like the time of her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to manage daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or discontent.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a hard to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might be angry about small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings may also be an indication of adhd in women. You might notice that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or find it difficult to manage these. adhd symptoms in women adults could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal, like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's important to establish a clear diagnosis. It can help you understand the challenges you're facing and provide 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 certain cases a doctor might prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In some instances your doctor might suggest a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any scenario, it's essential to begin making positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This will allow you to regain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and capable.