ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally in adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This could be due to gender stereotyping and the ability of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to recognize ADHD in women. Many females are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. For example your desk could be a mess of muddled papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you attended in the year 2008. And while you spend money on products that promise to keep you organized, your home and office may still be chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your responsibilities can result in missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. You might also struggle with "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 a great job in your work or personal life, especially when it seems like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions, which could cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your loved ones and coworkers, and you could make statements that hurt the feelings of others without a thought. And since impulsivity is common for people with ADHD it is possible that you will find it difficult to resist saying things before taking a second to think them through.
If you have ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and beliefs about how boys, men and women should behave. This makes it more difficult for you to recognize and treat your ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis, you might require a behavioral therapy program to tackle the root of your disorder. It might take time to find the best strategies to cope, but using them can help you feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains don't have a way to filter or assess them. They can be overwhelmed by a small incident, or have trouble in assessing the mood of other people. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by minor inconveniences, such as an out of stock book or a shaky friend.
Many women suffering from ADHD conceal their symptoms and devise strategies to deal with their attention issues. They may be highly conscientious or a perfectionist at school or work and struggle to keep track of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They may also have issues with self-control in speech 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. These symptoms include the sudden desire to start, stop, or change activities. They also include being unable wait for your turn in a conversation and being unable to discern social signals.
While gender stereotypes can impact on the development of ADHD in women, it is not always easy to spot these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, for example during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). blog and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also experience a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with their relationships or lives. This can cause substance abuse, low-self-esteem or unbalanced methods of coping. It's important that women understand that these symptoms don't show their worth or value as human beings. If you follow a proper treatment strategy, you can lessen or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your day-to-day life. You might make mistakes at school or work, forget appointments or spend long hours delaying. You have a hard time waiting to be the first in a conversation and are often interrupted by others.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include an inclination to dive into projects without properly planning and researching them, which leads to poor or insufficient results. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to leave projects unfinishedfrom the garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that was put together and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and in the workplace. You might have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and misplace items on a regular basis. You may also lose the track of time and end up running late for work, meetings 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 who suffer from these conditions can perform actions or words without considering the consequences. For example they may talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when alone. They are unable to sit still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job, and have frequent disputes with their coworkers and manager.
In some instances mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD can face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment and diagnosis, including gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or undervalue the severity of their symptoms. The rise of famous women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their personal struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, but many young women and girls aren't aware of the disorder.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or anxious from time to the other, persistently high anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience a constant sense of unease or fear as well as rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. You might also feel a sense of danger in situations you know aren't dangerous. The most frequent types 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 men. It is more likely to be exacerbated during certain life events like menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage everyday tasks and social interactions, and lead to feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough acceptance of criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipated rejection, and you can get angry over minor things that others do not see as to be a problem.
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 could also be prone to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's essential to receive a diagnosis. It will help you know your issues and offer you strategies to improve your living quality. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor to get a professional assessment. In certain cases doctors may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In certain instances your doctor may suggest a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to change your lifestyle as quickly as possible. This will help you get back in control of your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.
