ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, even though it affects men and women equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD in women. As a result, many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization, which can be very difficult to manage. For example your desk could be a jumble of unruly papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in the year 2008. While you spend money on products that claim to help you stay organized your office and home probably still feel chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. You might also struggle with "time blindness," where you don't know or remember how long it takes to finish the task. This can cause you to be in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a good job in your work or personal life, particularly if it feels like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also be having trouble controlling your emotions, which could make you overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could cause confusion and miscommunications with your loved ones and coworkers, and you could make statements that hurt others' feelings without meaning to. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, since impulsivity can be common among those with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or ideas regarding how women, men, and boys should behave. This can make it harder for you to recognize and treat your ADHD.
In addition to a diagnosis, you might need a treatment for behavioral issues to address the root causes of your condition. It could take some time to discover the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them can help you feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD often experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a way to evaluate or filter them. This means they can get overwhelmed by one setback or have difficulty being able to accurately assess the mood of other people. This also makes them more susceptible to being distracted by minor inconveniences such as a book out of stock or an unreliable friend.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention issues by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or work but struggle to keep on top of important dates, bills, and appointments. They may also have trouble with self-control in speech and frequently interrupt others, talk too much, frequently, or info dump 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 an abrupt desire to start or stop activities. They also include not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation and experiencing difficulty in interpreting social signals.
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD in women, it is difficult to recognize these issues. The scales for rating used to detect ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can intensify emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also feel a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with their relationships or lives. This could lead to self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. This is why it's important for women to understand that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. The good news is that, with a proper treatment program, these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms can occur in such a way that they can interfere with your life. You might make mistakes at work or school and forget appointments, or spend long hours delaying. You are unable to be patient and not interrupt other people in conversations.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can be accompanied by an inclination to dive into projects without thoroughly planning and researching them, which leads to poor or insufficient results. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that got planted but never watered to the new system of organization which was erected and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You may have difficulty finding important documents such as keys or bills, and lose things regularly. You may also lose your track of time and end up 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 with these issues may say or do things without considering the consequences. For adhd traits in women , they might be rude to others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their chair or move. They might be unable to keep a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and supervisor.
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 romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD can face a variety of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment which include gender discrimination and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or underestimate the severity of them. The rise of famous women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their own struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, however many young women and girls aren't aware of the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterized by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous occasionally, anxiety disorders are characterized by constant high levels of anxiety. You may experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying at peace and having difficulty focusing. You might also feel a sense of danger in situations that you know aren't risky. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen at certain times in a woman's life for instance, during her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and may lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or dissatisfaction.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a hard to accept criticism. You easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipate rejection and you might get angry over small things that others wouldn't see as an issue with.
Mood swings are another of the adult female adhd symptoms and you may be able to notice that your moods are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You might also be prone to self-injury that isn't suicidal like hitting, burning or scratching yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's important to establish a clear diagnosis. It will help you know your issues and offer you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your doctor to get an assessment from a professional. In certain instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any case, it's important to begin making positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This can help you take control of your life and make you feel more productive, confident and competent.