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 stereotyping and the ability of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise or experience needed to detect ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the proper treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 chapsticks, and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even if you've spent money on products to help you manage your clutter, your home or office is likely to remain messy and chaotic.
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 know or remember how long it takes to complete a task. This could leave you feeling in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing an adequate job in your professional or personal life, especially when you feel that other people don't appreciate your efforts.
There is a possibility that you have trouble controlling your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when confronted by stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your family as well as your coworkers. You may make comments that hurt others' feelings 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 possible that a portion of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas regarding how women, men, and boys should behave. This could make it difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
In adhd symptoms for women to being diagnosed, you might need a treatment for behavioral issues to deal with the root cause of your condition. Although it might take some time to find the appropriate strategies for coping Implementing these strategies will assist you in feeling more in control of your life and enhance relationships with family friends, coworkers, and other family members.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains don't have a good way to assess or filter them. This means that they could be overwhelmed by a single incident or find it hard to discern the emotional state of others. This makes them more prone to be distracted by small inconveniences, such as the availability of a book or an unreliable friend.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention problems by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They could be highly organized or a perfectionist at school or work and have difficulty keeping track of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. 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. These symptoms include an abrupt desire to begin, stop or change activities; being unable to wait your turn in conversation; and difficulty interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD in women, it is difficult to recognize these issues. Rating scales used to identify ADHD symptoms are still skewed towards male behavior and some health professionals might misunderstand or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.
Many women with ADHD report that their symptoms worsen during times of hormonal change, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can trigger emotions such as anger or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience an unending feeling of discontent with their lives or relationships. This can cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse, or unhealthy coping strategies. It is important for women to realize that these signs do not show their worth or value as a human being. With a well-planned treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your day-to-day life. You may make careless mistakes at work or school and forget appointments, or spend many hours putting off work. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and often interrupt others.
Adults who aren't attentive can be prone to jump into projects without thoroughly planning them and researching them. This results in a lack of results or poor ones. It is also possible to get lost quickly and tend to leave projects unfinished- from the vegetable garden that got planted but never watered to the new organizational system that was put together and left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD are also plagued by an ongoing sense of disorganization in their workplaces and at home. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and may lose things on a regular basis. You could also forget to keep track of time and be late for school, work 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. Women who suffer from these conditions may perform actions or words without thinking about the impact, like talking over others or making nonsensical sounds when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their seats or at a fast pace. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and their manager.
In some cases the mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD may lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case in relationships with partners as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD have a myriad of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to hide their symptoms or undervalue the severity of them. 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. But, many young women and girls aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by constant anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous at times, anxiety disorders are characterized by persistently high levels of anxiety. You may experience a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble keeping at peace and having difficulty focusing. You might also feel a sense of danger in situations that you are aware are not dangerous. The most frequent forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen during certain times of a woman's life like her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to handle everyday tasks and social interaction and may lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or discontent.
You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a hard to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipating rejection and you might be angry about minor things that others wouldn't see as to be a problem.
Mood swings are also a symptom of adult adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable emotions or are unable to control these. You could also be prone to non-suicidal acts of self-injury 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 can help you understand the issues you're facing, and give you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional evaluation. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other instances they might suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to begin making positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and capable.