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 probably due to gender stereotypes and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and experience to detect ADHD in women. Many women are misdiagnosed and do not receive the care they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD frequently struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While you spend money on products that claim to keep you organized your office and home are likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to stay on top of your work can result in missed deadlines and missed appointments. Additionally, you may struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the time required to finish the task. This could leave you feeling in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a great job in your career or personal life, particularly when you feel like others don't appreciate your efforts.
There is a possibility that you have trouble managing your emotions. This could cause you to react too quickly when confronted by stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with family members as well as your coworkers. You could make statements that hurt the feelings of others without even knowing. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since impulsivity can be common among people suffering from ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and beliefs regarding how men, boys, and women should act. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis it is possible that you will need a treatment for behavioral issues to tackle the root of your disorder. It may take a while to discover the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them will help you feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD have intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or evaluate them. This means they may be overwhelmed by a single setback or struggle to discern the emotional state of their peers. It can also make it easier for them to get distracted by minor issues such as books that are out of stock or an acquaintance who's late for spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention issues by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at school or work and have trouble keeping track of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also have trouble with verbal self-restraint and talk excessively, interrupt others often, or ramble during conversations.
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 urge to start, stop or change activities; being unable to wait for your turn during a conversation and difficulty in interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD in women, it is not always easy to spot these issues. The scales used to measure ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior and some health experts may be misinformed or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also say that their symptoms get worse during times of hormonal changes, for example menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). This can cause emotional issues and lead to frequent feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also have an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or their lives. This can result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unhealthy methods of coping. It is crucial for women to understand that these signs do not reflect their worth or value as human beings. The good news is that, with a proper treatment plan these symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Attention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher 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 impede your everyday life. You might make mistakes at work or at school, miss appointments, or spend a great amount of time putting off tasks. You're not able to be patient and not interrupt others in conversations.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include a tendency to jump into projects without fully planning and researching the subject, which results in poor or insufficient results. It is also possible to get lost easily and have a tendency to leave projects unfinished -for example, from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization which was erected and put aside to dust on your nightstand.
People who have inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and in the workplace. You might have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and may lose items on a regular basis. You could also lose your track of time and become late for work, school 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 might make or do actions without thinking about the impact, like talking over others or making nonsensical sounds when they are on their own. They have difficulty sitting still and might move around or get out of their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job and might have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In certain cases mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can cause frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from other comorbidities, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD have a myriad of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis which include gender discrimination and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. The rise of well-known women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their personal struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, however many young women and girls do not know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
While most people feel anxious or nervous from time time, persistently outsize anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. attention deficit disorder in women might feel a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also have an increased fear of danger, even in situations that aren't likely to be dangerous to you. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common among women with ADHD than men, and tends to get worse at certain times in a woman's life, such as around her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it more difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and can cause feelings of low self-esteem and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a hard time accepting criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might get upset over small issues that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you may be able to notice that your moods are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be prone to self-injury that is not suicidal, like burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
It's crucial to seek out a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It will help you understand the challenges you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In some cases your doctor might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either scenario, it's essential to begin making positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This can help you gain control over your life and make you feel more productive, confident and capable.