ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally in adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This is probably due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the experience or knowledge to detect ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD have trouble coordinating. This disorder is challenging to manage. For instance, your desk may be a mess of tangled papers, 17 chapsticks, or a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. And while you spend money on products that promise to keep you organized your office and home are likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your responsibilities can lead to missing deadlines and appointments. In addition, you could struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand how much time it takes to complete a task. This can make you feel frustrated and feel like you aren't doing a good enough job at your job, or even your personal life.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when confronted by stressful situations. You may also say things without meaning to hurt people's feelings. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since it is common for those with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or ideas about how women, men, and boys should behave. This can make it harder for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
You could also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the underlying causes of your disorder. And although it may take some time to find the right coping mechanisms, implementing these strategies can make you feel more in control of your life as well as improve relationships with your family, friends, and coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However, their brains are not capable of filtering them or analyze them. They can be overwhelmed by a tiny event, or have difficulty in assessing the mood of other people. It can also make it easier for them to be distracted by small issues like the book that's out of stock or a friend who's late to spin class.
Many women with ADHD manage their attention problems by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at work or school and have difficulty keeping the track of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. iampsychiatry might also struggle with verbal self control and speak too much 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 urge to start, stop or alter activities and being unable to hold for your turn during a conversation and difficulty in interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
Although gender-based stereotypes can influence the development of ADHD however, it's not always easy to tell if women suffer from these issues. The scales for rating used to detect ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may not be aware of the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD report that their symptoms get worse during times of hormonal change, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also feel an ongoing feeling of discontent with their lives or relationships. This can lead to substance abuse, low-self-esteem or unhealthy ways of coping. It is important for women to realize that these symptoms don't indicate their worth or importance as a human being. If you follow a proper treatment strategy, you can lessen or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times, they are so frequent that they can impede your day-to-day life. You may make careless mistakes at school or work, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You have a difficult time waiting for your turn in conversations and often interrupt others.
Adults who aren't attentive can be prone to get caught up in projects before fully planning them and researching them. This leads to incomplete results or poor ones. You could also become easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could include an unwatered vegetable garden planted, but not watered, or a new organizational system that you assembled and then put on your nightstand for it to rot.
People who have inattention ADHD also struggle with a chronic sense of disorganization in their workplaces and at home. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and misplace things frequently. You might also keep losing the 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. Women with these symptoms might make or do actions without considering the impact including snoozing over others or making nonsensical sounds when they're alone. They are unable to sit still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They may have difficulty working and may be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In certain cases, the mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from other comorbidities, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD have a myriad of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment which include gender discrimination and a tendency to hide their symptoms or underestimate the severity of their symptoms. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. However, many young women and girls don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by persistently excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble keeping calm and having trouble thinking clearly. You might also have an increased fear of danger, even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous to you. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD than men. It is more likely to be exacerbated during certain life events like menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it difficult for women to manage daily tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings of self-esteem loss or discontent.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult to accept criticism. You are prone to interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You might get upset over small issues that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are another of the adult female adhd symptoms and you may find that your emotions are unstable or difficult to control. You may also be susceptible to non-suicidal self-injury which includes hitting, burning or scratching yourself.
It's crucial to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand the issues you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In certain instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In some instances your doctor might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case it's crucial to change your lifestyle as quickly as you can. This will allow you to gain control over your life and feel more productive, confident and capable.