ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD can face difficulties at work or in relationships. It's crucial to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and seek an effective treatment for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Having a proper diagnosis can assist you in improving your life by managing your symptoms and focusing on what is important most.
1. Difficulty paying attention
Women can be troubled by their inability to pay attention to specifics, remember appointments and deadlines or underestimate how long it will take to complete a task. They may also have difficulty managing their time at work or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to follow through on promises. They may also have a tendency to be impulsive, have trouble controlling their emotions, and may blurt out ideas without taking the time to think them through.
It's important to be aware of and treat symptoms of ADHD in adult women. Inability to focus can lead to difficulties with friendships and relationships. Women may find it difficult to make new friends, or may have difficulty in their relationships, with recurring fights and missed opportunities for fun and being neglected. They can also face difficulties balancing the demands of work, home and childcare.
ADHD adult symptoms can be difficult for health professionals and therapists alike to diagnose ADHD in a lot of people. This doesn't mean it's not real, or that a person has to work harder to stay focused. symptoms of ADHD in adults are based on the symptoms and how they affect the daily activities in a variety of areas.
It's more common for females to exhibit inattention symptoms - as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive symptoms and that could help explain why this group of people often go undiagnosed. Many women suffering from ADHD are also embarrassed by their symptoms since they don't fit the stereotypes of ADHD. This makes it harder for people who suffer from ADHD to seek help or receive treatment.
In some instances women with ADHD remain undiagnosed for a long period of time because they are trying to cope and conceal their symptoms. They are also more likely to have disorders that are comorbid, like depression or anxiety which may mask the symptoms of ADHD. They are also more likely to suffer from hormonal fluctuations that may cause their symptoms to flare or fade away, for instance during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and perimenopause.
2. Problems with Organization
Forgetfulness, disorganization, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can make it difficult for women to manage everyday tasks, keep up with their responsibilities, and maintain relationships. They may also experience low self-esteem or be anxious. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often feel that they're not achieving the expectations of society and have a harder time keeping up with their peers in terms of academic success as well as job performance and social connections.
In addition to forgetfulness and disorganization, ADHD in adult women can manifest as procrastination or hyperfocus. These problems can cause women to skip appointments, not pay bills on time, and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can result in a lack of focus on other things that are important and a shaky sense of time, which could make it difficult to shift from one task to another. Procrastination can also lead to a buildup of anxiety, stress and a constant feeling of being lagging behind.
Another symptom that is often associated with ADHD is trouble communicating verbally and nonverbally. This can include talking excessively, interrupting others or saying inappropriate words. This could be due to the inability to be patient or having difficulty understanding social boundaries. It is important to remember that these behaviors don't necessarily mean the absence of intelligence or capabilities.
Many women with ADHD come up with strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can have both positive as well as negative consequences. Some of these coping mechanisms might be healthy. For example, using a daily calendar or making reminders for important dates. Some of these strategies for coping could be healthy, such as making reminders for events or using alcohol and drugs to mask symptoms. As a result, it is essential for women who suspect they have ADHD to seek assistance from a mental health professional.
Women suffering from ADHD may benefit from medications, lifestyle changes, therapy, or other treatments. Some of these include cognitive therapy to address the root of negative beliefs and thoughts, mindfulness and relaxation techniques as well as exercise and a balanced diet and adequate sleep. A doctor can also suggest accommodations that will make school or work more manageable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women who suffer from ADHD are often afflicted by emotional dysregulation. As a result, they often become discontent and frustrated when life's challenges aren't easily solved. This can make it difficult for them to keep relationships with friends, romantic partners, and co-workers. For example the tendency to forget or be impulsive can create confusion or frustration in romantic relations and can cause feelings of depression or loneliness. A tendency to seek thrills on the spur of the moment could be mistaken by others as a lack of interest or apathy.
For these reasons, ADHD symptoms are often overlooked or not recognized for girls and women. They may also have a hard time understanding that their issues are a result of the disorder due to social norms and stereotypes about men's and women's behaviors.
Girls and women with ADHD tend to conceal their symptoms to avoid causing embarrassment. This could result in them being referred less often for diagnosis than males and females with similar symptoms. This could be due to gender bias in the research that determines diagnostic criteria. Hartung and Widiger discovered in a recent study that girls and women with ADHD symptoms are more likely to be undiagnosed and under-diagnosed than men and adults. This could be due to the fact that doctors are trained to view hyperactive and impulsive ADHD symptoms as more common to men and boys which makes them easier to identify and referred for assessment.
Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty calming down. These are typical symptoms of ADHD however, as we age, they can have a profound impact on the quality of life and well-being. People with ADHD are often anxious and have difficulty sitting still, particularly if they are feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget, and are often very talkative. They frequently interrupt or complete sentences of other people, without realizing that they're causing offence.
If you suspect you might have ADHD and are concerned, you can be recommended to a psychiatrist by your doctor or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed in the month of October 2024 and updated in November 2022 by Madeline Dykes, clinical psychologist and a member of the Thriving Madly peer support network in Christchurch.
4. Social Skills Problems
Women suffering from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions or communicating effectively at work. This can result in issues with relationships with family and friends as well as in achieving professional goals. For instance, they could be unable to recognize and respond to feedback, which could lead to frustration and disappointment. Also, they may have difficulty maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can cause anxiety. In some instances women with ADHD develop unhealthy coping strategies in order to deal with these issues. This includes eating disorders, substance abuse, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI), like cutting, burning or scratching.
Women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder time receive treatment as adults than men, because they tend mask their symptoms. To fit in with society and to meet expectations, they usually develop coping mechanisms. This makes it difficult to be recognized by others as having ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping can be as simple and straightforward as setting reminders or making lists, or they may be more complex such as finding ways to control their emotions or developing mindfulness techniques.
These coping mechanisms can be counterproductive and cause more symptoms. They can also make it difficult to achieve an adequate amount of sleep, which is vital in managing ADHD symptoms. In addition, women with ADHD often find themselves overwhelmed by their daily demands and demands, which can cause stress and exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However, the gap narrows as they get older. It's because it's common for women to experience a variety of symptoms throughout their lives, which can result in the diagnosis at various instances.
The changes in hormone levels can also affect ADHD symptoms in women. If they have a higher estrogen level during pregnancy, for example, their symptoms may improve. Higher levels of estrogen regulate brain chemicals that influence the ability to focus. If they start to notice a decrease in estrogen levels due to perimenopausal changes or age, their ADHD symptoms may become worse.
Fortunately, it's possible for adults with ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and access effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy, which can assist people with ADHD develop the essential skills needed to improve their daily functioning. In addition, they may join support groups for ADHD to discuss their experiences with others with similar experiences and gain valuable insight from their colleagues.