ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, even though it affects both men and woman equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capability of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the expertise or experience needed to identify ADHD among women. In the end, many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disordered thinking, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example might be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. As you buy products that promise to help you stay organized your office and home probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Inability to stay on top of your work could result in missing 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 complete the task. This could make you feel frustrated and feel like you aren't doing a good enough job in your profession or in your personal life.
You may also be having trouble regulating your emotions, which may make you overreact in stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may cause confusion and miscommunications with your loved ones as well as your coworkers. You might say things that hurt the feelings of others without even knowing. Since impulsivity is a common trait for people with ADHD, you might 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 beliefs about how men, women and boys should behave. This can make it harder to recognize and treat your ADHD.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the underlying causes of your disorder. While it could take a while to discover the appropriate coping strategies using these strategies, they can assist you in feeling more in control of your life and improve relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
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 that they could be overwhelmed by a single setback or struggle to discern the mood of others. This makes them more prone to be distracted by minor issues such as the availability of a book or a shaky friend.
Many women suffering from ADHD conceal their symptoms and come up with coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping track of important dates, bills, and appointments. They might struggle with self-talk 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. The symptoms include a sudden desire to begin, stop or alter activities and being unable to hold your turn in a conversation; and difficulty interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
Although gender-based stereotypes can influence the development of ADHD, it's sometimes difficult to tell if women are suffering from these problems. The rating scales that are used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD say that their symptoms get worse during times of hormonal change, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can intensify emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also have a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. adhd in women symptoms can contribute to substance abuse, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping habits. It is important for women to realize that these symptoms do not reflect their worth or value as a human being. The good news is that, with a solid treatment plan, these symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Attention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing, with ADHD the symptoms are experienced often enough that they cause disruption with your daily routine. You might make mistakes at work or at school, miss appointments, or spend a great deal of time procrastinating. You can't wait your turn and interrupt others during conversations.
Adults who aren't attentive can also have a tendency to get caught up in projects before having a complete plan and research them. This results in a lack of results or poor ones. You could also become easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted, but not watered, or a new system of organization that you built and then left on your nightstand to collect dust.
People who have inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and at work. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and may lose things on a regular basis. You could be unable to keep your track of time and become late for school, work or even 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 with these symptoms may make decisions or conduct actions without thinking about the consequences. For instance they may be rude to others or make a lot of nonsensical noises in solitude. They may have trouble sitting still and may move around or get out of their seats. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and manager.
In some instances mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially true in relationships with partners as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to have other comorbidities, like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD can face a variety of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis that include gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or minimize the severity of them. The rise of famous women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their own struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, yet many young women and girls do not know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
While most people feel anxious or nervous from time time, persistently outsize anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an uneasy feeling, fear, or anxiety and also rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also feel an underlying sense of danger in situations that you are aware are not dangerous. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia as well as separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women with ADHD compared to men. It tends worsen around certain life events like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to handle daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or unsatisfaction.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a hard time accepting criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipated rejection, and you might get angry over small things that others wouldn't see as a problem with.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms and you may discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to non-suicidal self-injury, such as hitting, burning or scratching yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand your challenges and give you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your physician for an assessment from a professional. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In certain instances 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 you can. This will allow you to regain control of your life, and feel more confident and competent.