ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, it often goes undiagnosed in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to recognize ADHD among women. As a result, many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while you buy products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office may still be messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your tasks may cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. You might also struggle with "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to complete the task. This could make you feel frustrated and feel like you're not doing a great enough job in your profession or in your personal life.
You may also have difficulty controlling your emotions, which could cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. You might also say things without intention of hurting someone's feelings. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, as the tendency to be impulsive is common among people suffering from ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and ideas regarding how boys, men and women should behave. This makes it more difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis, you might need a treatment for behavioral issues to tackle the root of your disorder. It might take time to discover the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them will allow you to feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of separating them from or evaluate them. This means that they could be overwhelmed by a single setback or have difficulty being able to accurately assess the mood of other people. This also makes them more susceptible to being distracted by minor issues, such as a book out of stock or a shaky friend.
Many women with ADHD manage their attention problems by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or work, but have difficulty keeping the track of important dates, deadlines, and appointments. They may struggle with self-talk control and talk excessively or interrupt others frequently.
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. adhd in adults women include an abrupt urge to begin, stop, or change activities. They can also be characterized by being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation and being unable to discern social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may contribute to the development of ADHD, it's not always easy to tell if women are suffering from these problems. The scales for rating used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD say that their symptoms get worse when hormonal changes occur, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can cause emotional issues and lead to frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This can lead to depression, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. It's important that women understand 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 signs.
3. Attention!
ADHD is defined 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 day-to-day life. You could make a few blunders at school or work or forget appointments or you may spend many hours putting off work. You have a hard time waiting for your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by other people.
Attention deficit symptoms in adults could be accompanied by a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing them, which leads to inadequate or poor results. It is also possible to get lost easily and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization that was put together and left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD also have a chronic sense of disorganization, both at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents such as keys or bills, and lose things regularly. You could also lose 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 issues may say or do things without thinking about the consequences. For example they may talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when alone. They might have difficulty sitting still, and fidget in their chair or move. They may have difficulty maintaining the job they have, and are in frequent conflicts with their coworkers and supervisor.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially true in romantic relationships and at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD might face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination, a tendency to hide symptoms or underestimate their severity, as well as gender bias. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. However, a lot of girls and young woman still do not know they have it.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or nervous from time to moment, a constant and overwhelming anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You may feel an uneasy feeling, fear, or anxiety as well as rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. You may also feel a sense of danger in situations that you are aware aren't risky. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, phobias and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD than in men and tends to get worse during certain times of women's lives for instance, during the time of her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult to handle daily tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or dissatisfaction.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a hard time accepting criticism. You are prone to interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You might get upset over small issues that other people do not see as an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you could find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's essential to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you better understand your challenges and give you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your doctor to get an expert assessment. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case it's crucial to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will allow you to regain control of your life, and feel more confident and competent.