ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, it often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the expertise or experience needed to detect ADHD among women. This means that many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. For example, your desk may be a mess of tangled papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. And while you spend money on products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office may still be 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 know or remember how long it takes to finish an assignment. This can make you feel frustrated and believe that you're not doing a good enough job at your job, or even your personal life.
You may also be having trouble controlling your emotions, which may cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can cause confusion and miscommunications with family members as well as your coworkers. You might say things that hurt the feelings of others without even knowing. In addition, since impulsivity is common for people with ADHD and ADD, you may have trouble stopping yourself from saying things before thinking them through.
If you have ADHD it is possible that some 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.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root cause of your disorder. And although it may take some time to identify the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can assist you in feeling more in control of your life as well as improve 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 method to assess or filter them. This means that they could be overwhelmed by one setback or struggle to assess the mood of their peers. This also makes them more prone to be distracted by small inconveniences such as a book out of stock or a shaky friend.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and come up with coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They could be perfectionists or extremely attentive at school or work however, they have trouble keeping track of important dates, bills and appointments. They may 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 start, stop, or change activities. They can also be characterized by being unable wait for your turn in a conversation or being unable to discern social cues.
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD for women, it is not always easy to spot these issues. The scales used to measure ADHD symptoms are still skewed toward male behavior and some health professionals may misunderstand or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD have reported that their symptoms get worse during times of hormonal change, such as during menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of frustration, irritability, or depression. They may also experience a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or their lives. This could cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse, or unhealthy ways of coping. It's important that women understand that these symptoms don't show their worth or value as human beings. With add and adhd in women -planned treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can impede your day-to-day life. You might make mistakes at work or school and forget appointments, or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You are unable to wait your turn and interrupt other people in conversations.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can include an inclination to dive into projects without fully planning and analyzing the subject, which results in poor or insufficient results. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be the vegetable garden that was planted, but not watered, or an system of organization that you built and then left on your nightstand for it to rot.
People with inattention ADHD also have an ongoing sense of disorganization in their home and workplaces. You may have difficulty finding important documents, keys or bills and lose things regularly. You may also lose your track of time and become 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. Women with these symptoms might say or do things without considering the consequences. For instance they may speak over other people or make unintentional noises when alone. They might have difficulty sitting still and adjusting their chair or move. They can have trouble keeping their job and could have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In some cases, the mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially true in relationships with partners as well as at work. People with ADHD also are more likely to having co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are likely to face many challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender bias, a tendency to hide symptoms or undervalue their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of high-profile women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, however many girls and young women aren't aware of the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times Anxiety disorders are defined by a constant high level of anxiety. You might feel an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble keeping calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You may also experience an increased fear of danger, even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous to you. The most frequent types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD compared to men. It can be worsened by certain life events, like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings such as low self-esteem or unsatisfaction.
You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough time accepting criticism. You can easily miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You may be upset over small issues that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are another of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you could find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You may also be prone self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning or hitting yourself.
It's crucial to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It can help you better know your issues and offer you strategies for improving your living quality. You can take an ADHD test online, or talk to your doctor for a professional assessment. In certain cases, a doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In either situation, it's crucial to make positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This can help you get back in control of your life and feel more confident, productive and competent.