ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed among women, despite the fact that it affects both men and woman equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the ability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise or experience needed to identify ADHD in women. Many women are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While adhd in women signs purchase products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel messy and chaotic.
Your inability to keep track of your responsibilities could result in missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't know or remember the time it takes to complete the task. This can cause you to feel frustrated and feel like you're not doing a great enough job in your career or in your personal life.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions. This could cause you to react excessively when confronted with stressful situations. You might also say things that are not intended to hurt people's feelings. Since impulsivity is a common trait in people with ADHD and ADD, you may be unable to stop yourself from making statements without considering them.
If you have ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas about how women, men and boys should behave. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root cause of your disorder. It could take some time to discover the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them will allow you to feel in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD have intense emotions. However, their brains are not capable of filtering them or evaluate them. This means they can get overwhelmed by one setback or struggle to accurately assess the mood of other people. This can also make them more prone to being distracted by minor issues such as the availability of a book or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention problems by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at work or in school but struggle to keep track of important dates, deadlines and appointments. They may also have trouble with self-control in speech and frequently interrupt others, talk too much, often, or dump information 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 urge to begin, stop, or change activities. adhd in women checklist can also be characterized by being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation or being unable to discern social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may play a role in the development of ADHD however, it's sometimes difficult to tell if women suffer from these issues. Rating scales used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some healthcare experts may be misinformed or misunderstand the symptoms of women.
Many women with ADHD say that their symptoms worsen when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can cause emotions such as anger and irritability, or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or life. This could lead to depression, substance abuse or unbalanced methods of coping. This is why it's important for women to realize that these symptoms aren't an indication of their worth or worth as individuals. With a well-planned treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to concentrate and pay attention at times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your daily life. You might make mistakes at school or work and forget appointments, or spend long hours delaying. You are unable to be patient and not interrupt others in conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also get caught up in projects before fully planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. It is also possible to get lost easily and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -from the garden that was planted but never watered to the new organizational system that was put together and put aside to dust on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD also struggle with a chronic sense of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents such as keys or bills, and frequently lose things. You might also keep losing the 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 signs may make or do actions without thinking about the impact including snoozing over others or making nonsensical sounds when they are alone. They might have difficulty sitting still, and fidget in their seats or at a fast pace. They might have issues maintaining a job and might have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In some cases mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is particularly true in relationships with partners as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD can face a variety of challenges when seeking diagnosis and treatment that include gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. The rise of high-profile women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, yet many girls and young women do not know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by constant anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous occasionally anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant sense of unease or fear as well as an intense pulse, trouble maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. There is also a sense of danger in situations you know aren't risky. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than men. It tends worsen around certain life events like menstruation or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This makes it more difficult to manage everyday activities and social interactions and lead to feelings of self-doubt and general discontent with your life.
You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a tough time accepting criticism. You're prone to interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You may be upset over small issues that other people do not see as an issue with.
Mood swings may also be a sign of adult adhd in women. You may find that you experience erratic moods or find it difficult to manage these. You may also be prone self-injury that isn't suicidal such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It can help you better identify your issues and give you strategies for improving your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In certain cases doctors may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In some cases your doctor may suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as you can. This can help you gain control over your life and feel more productive, confident and capable.