ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed among women, despite the fact that it affects men and women equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the capability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the experience or knowledge to detect ADHD among women. This means that many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the proper treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD have trouble coordinating. This condition is difficult to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while you purchase products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can result in missed deadlines and appointments. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to complete an assignment. This can cause you to be unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a good job in your career or in your personal life, particularly if it feels that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also be having trouble controlling your emotions, which can cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. You may also make comments that are not intended to hurt people's feelings. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, since the tendency to be impulsive is common among those with ADHD.
If you have ADHD it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and cultural ideas about how boys, men and women should behave. This could make it difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
You may also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root causes of your disorder. It could take some time to discover the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them can help you feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions, but their brains don't have a way to filter or assess them. They can be overwhelmed by a small event, or have difficulty in assessing the mood of other people. This makes them more prone to being distracted by minor inconveniences like an out of stock book or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD mask 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 have difficulty keeping on top of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They might also struggle with verbal self 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 an abrupt urge to begin, stop, or change activities. They also include being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation and having difficulty reading social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may influence the development of ADHD but it's often difficult to determine if women suffer from these issues. The rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might miss the mark on the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD report that their symptoms are more severe during times of hormonal change like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can trigger emotional symptoms like frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also feel a persistent feeling of discontent with their lives or relationships. This could cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. This is why it's important for women to realize that these signs aren't an indication of their worth or worth as an individual. The positive side is that with a proper treatment strategy, these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Attention
ADHD is characterized by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to concentrate and pay attention at certain times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can disrupt your everyday life. You may make careless mistakes at school or work and forget appointments, or spend many hours putting off work. You're not able to stand in line and interrupt other people in conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also get caught up in projects before fully planning them and researching them. This leads to incomplete results or even subpar ones. You may also be easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could be the vegetable garden that was planted, but not watered, or a brand new organizational system that you assembled and then left on your nightstand for it to rot.
People who have inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. You might have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or keys and also lose items frequently. 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 signs may perform actions or words without thinking about the impact such as yelling at other people or making strange sounds when they are on their own. They may have trouble sitting still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They might have issues working and may have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is particularly true when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD have a myriad of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or minimize the severity of them. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. However, a lot of girls and young woman still aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or anxious from time to the other, persistently high anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might feel a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble keeping calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also feel an underlying sense of danger in situations that you know aren't dangerous. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common among women suffering from ADHD than in men, and tends to get worse at certain times in a woman's life like her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This makes it more difficult to handle everyday activities and social interactions and cause feelings of low self-esteem and general discontent with your life.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a tough time accepting criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even 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. It is possible that you have unpredictable moods or find it difficult to manage them. You may also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal which includes hitting, burning or scratching yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you understand your challenges and give you strategies to improve your quality of living. signs and symptoms of adhd in women can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In some cases your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In certain instances your doctor might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either scenario, it's essential to start making some positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and feel more confident and competent.