ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, it often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals aren't equipped and experience to identify ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls who suffer from adhd in adult women symptoms are often plagued by disordered thinking, which can be a challenge to manage. Your desk, for example might be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Although you may have purchased a few items to help you organize, your home or office is probably still chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can result in missed deadlines and appointments. In addition, you might be struggling with the concept of "time blindness," which means you cannot remember or comprehend the time required to finish an assignment. This can leave you frustrated and feeling like you're not doing an adequate job in your career or personal life, especially if it feels that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions. This could cause you to overreact when faced with stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can cause confusion and miscommunications with your loved ones and colleagues, and you might say things that hurt others' feelings without a thought. And since impulsivity is common in people with ADHD and ADD, you may be unable to stop yourself from saying things before taking a second to think them through.
If you have ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or ideas regarding how women, men 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 causes of your disorder. While it could take a while to discover the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can make you feel more in control of your life as well as improve relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from adhd in women diagnosis are prone to intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of separating them from or analyze them. They can be overwhelmed by a small incident, or have trouble in assessing the emotional state of other people. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by small inconveniences like an out of stock book or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women suffering from ADHD manage their attention problems by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. 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 also struggle with verbal self control and talk excessively 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 a sudden desire to stop, start or alter the course of action and being unable to hold your turn in a conversation; and difficulty interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can impact on the development of ADHD for women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. The rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during times of hormonal changes, for example menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can cause emotions such as anger, irritability or depression. They may also experience a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or lives. This can contribute to substance abuse, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping strategies. It's important that women understand that these symptoms do not show their worth or value as a human being. The good news is that with a solid treatment strategy, these symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can disrupt your everyday life. You might make mistakes at school or work or forget appointments or you may spend a lot of time procrastinating. You're not able to stand in line and interrupt other people in conversations.
Adults who are not attentive may also have a tendency to get caught up in projects before fully planning them and researching them. This leads to incomplete results or even subpar ones. It is also possible to get lost quickly and tend to leave projects unfinished- from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that got assembled and then left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You might have difficulty finding important documents such as keys or bills, and also lose items frequently. You may be unable to keep the track of time and end up late for work, school or meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive adhd in men and women are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. Women with these symptoms might perform actions or words without thinking about the consequences such as yelling at others or making a nonsensical sound when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their seat or pace. They might have trouble keeping the job they have, and are in frequent disagreements with their colleagues and their manager.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is particularly true in 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 who suffer from ADHD are likely to face many challenges when seeking treatment. This includes gender bias as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or undervalue their severity, and gender bias. The rise of famous women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their personal struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, but many young women and girls do not know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
While most people feel anxious or anxious from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience a constant sense of unease or fear and also a rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. You may also experience an increased sense of danger even in situations that aren't likely to be dangerous to you. The most frequent kinds of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD compared to men. It can be worsened by certain life events, such as menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it harder to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and can cause feelings of self-doubt and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a tough time accepting criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipated rejection, and you might be angry about minor things that others do not see as to be a problem.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms and you could discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to control. You might also be prone to non-suicidal self-injury like hitting, burning or scratching yourself.
It's crucial to seek out a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you know your issues and offer you strategies to improve your living quality. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor to get a professional assessment. In certain instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other instances they may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and competent.