ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, despite the fact that it affects both men and woman equally as adults. This is probably due to gender stereotypes and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals aren't equipped and experience to recognize ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the treatment they need.
1. adhd in adult women treatment and women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Although you may have invested money in products to help you organize your workspace, your office or home is probably still messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep on top of your work 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 complete an assignment. This can make you feel frustrated and believe that you aren't doing a good enough job in your career, or even your personal life.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when confronted by stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your family and colleagues, and you might say things that hurt the feelings of others without even knowing. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, as impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If you have ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and ideas about how boys, men and women should behave. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis, you might require a behavioral therapy program to deal with the root cause of your condition. It may take a while to determine the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them will help you feel in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or evaluate them. This means they can get overwhelmed by one setback or struggle to accurately assess the emotional state of their peers. It also makes it easier for them to get distracted by minor issues such as a book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to take a spin class.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and devise strategies to cope with their attention problems. They might be extremely meticulous or a perfectionist at school or at work, and struggle to keep on top of appointments and bills or important dates. They may struggle with self-talk control and speak too much or interrupt others frequently.
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 experiencing difficulty in interpreting social cues.
While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD for women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some health professionals may misunderstand or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, for example during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can lead to emotional symptoms like frustration, irritability or depression. They may also experience an unending feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or lives. This can contribute to the use of drugs, low self-esteem, and unhealthy coping behaviors. This is why it's crucial for women to recognize that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as a person. With a good treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Inattention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms can occur so frequently that they interfere with your daily life. You could make a few mistakes at work or in school, miss appointments or spend a good amount of time putting off tasks. You have a difficult time waiting for your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can also include the tendency to get involved in projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing them, which can result in inadequate or poor results. You may also be easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted but never watered, or a new system of organization that you built and then put on your nightstand to collect dust.
People who have inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and misplace things frequently. You might also keep losing track of the 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 may perform actions or words without considering the consequences. For example they may talk over other people or make unintentional noises in solitude. They might have difficulty sitting still and adjusting their chair or move. They can have trouble keeping their job and could have frequent disagreements with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings or emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also are more likely to having co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD are likely to face many challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or undervalue their severity, and gender bias. The rise of high-profile women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their personal struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, yet many young women and girls aren't aware of the disorder.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or nervous from time to the other, persistently high anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You may experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble keeping at peace and having difficulty focusing. There is also the sense of danger even in situations you know aren't dangerous. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia as well as panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common among women with ADHD than in men and it tends to worsen during certain times of women's lives for instance, during the time of her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult to manage daily tasks and social interactions and may lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or discontent.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a tough acceptance of criticism. You are prone to miss the mark on feedback, or anticipate rejection. You might be annoyed by small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are another of the symptoms of adhd for women in adulthood and you could discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to manage. You may also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal like scratching, burning or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's important to establish a clear diagnosis. It can help you understand the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your physician for a professional assessment. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In certain instances, your doctor may recommend a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to change your lifestyle as quickly as possible. This will help you gain control of your life and make you feel more confident and capable.