ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, despite the fact that it affects men and women equally as adults. This is probably due to gender stereotypes and the capability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the knowledge or experience to recognize ADHD in women. Many women are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the 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 might be a mess of muddled papers, 17 chapsticks, or a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. Even though you may have invested money in products to help you manage your clutter, your home or office is likely to remain messy and messy.
Your inability to keep track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and missed appointments. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to finish an assignment. This could leave you feeling unhappy and feeling that you're not doing an adequate job in your career or in your personal life, particularly when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions, which could cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may create misunderstandings and miscommunications with family members and colleagues, and you may make comments that hurt others' feelings without a thought. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, since impulsivity can be common among people suffering from ADHD.
If you have ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and ideas about how boys, men and women should behave. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
You could also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the underlying causes of your disorder. It may take a while to discover the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them can help you feel in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD have intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of separating them from or evaluate them. They can be overwhelmed by a small incident, or have trouble being able to assess the mood of others. It also makes it easier for them to be distracted by small issues like books that are out of stock or a friend who's late to the spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They might be extremely meticulous or an obsessive at school or at work, and have trouble keeping track of appointments and bills or important dates. They might struggle with self-talk control and may talk too much 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. These symptoms include a sudden desire to stop, start or change activities or activities; not being able to wait your turn in a conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender-based stereotypes can influence the development of ADHD however, it's not always easy to determine if a woman has these issues. The scales for rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also say that their symptoms get more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or lives. This can contribute to the use of drugs, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping strategies. This is why it's important for women to realize that these signs aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. With a well-planned treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD, these symptoms occur so frequently that they interfere with your daily life. You could make a few blunders at school or work and forget appointments, or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You can't be patient and not interrupt others during conversations.
Adults who aren't attentive can also jump into projects without having a complete plan and research them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. You may also be easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could include a vegetable garden that was planted, but not watered, or a new system of organization that you built and then put away on your nightstand to accumulate dust.
People who have inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and may lose things frequently. You could also be unable to keep your track of time and end up being over time 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 with these issues may perform actions or words without considering the impact. For instance they might speak over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and may move around or get out of their seats. They can have trouble working and may be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In certain cases, the mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are often faced with a range of difficulties in seeking treatment and diagnosis which include gender discrimination and a tendency to hide their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. The rise of well-known women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their own struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, yet many young women and girls still don't know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous occasionally, anxiety disorders are characterized by constant high levels of anxiety. You may feel a constant sense of unease, fear, or anxiety as well as an intense pulse, trouble staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. There is also a sense of danger in situations that you are aware are not dangerous. The most frequent kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia as well as panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than in men, and it tends to worsen during certain times of women's lives, such as around the time of her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to handle daily tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings of low self-esteem or dissatisfaction.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a hard to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You may be annoyed by small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are a part of the adult female adhd symptoms and you may find that your emotions are unstable or difficult to control. adult add women could also be prone to non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's essential to get a proper diagnosis. It will help you understand the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a professional evaluation. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In some cases your doctor may suggest a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case it's crucial to change your lifestyle as quickly as possible. This will help you gain control of your life and feel more confident and capable.