ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females

Although ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to hide their symptoms.

Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to identify ADHD among women. This means that many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the treatment they require.

1. Disorganization

Women and girls with ADHD frequently struggle with disorganization, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While you purchase products that promise to keep you organized, your home and office probably still feel messy and chaotic.

Inability to keep track of your tasks can result in missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. Additionally, you may be struggling with a concept known as “time blindness,” which means you can’t remember or understand how much time it takes to complete a task. This can cause you to be frustrated and feeling like you’re not doing an adequate job in your career or personal life, especially when it seems like others don’t appreciate your efforts.

There is a possibility that you have trouble managing your emotions. This could cause you to react excessively when faced with stressful situations. You may also say things without meaning to hurt the feelings of someone else. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, as impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.

If you have ADHD, it’s likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and ideas about how boys, men, and women should act. This could make it difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD.

You could also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the underlying causes of your disorder. Although it might take some time to identify the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can help you feel more in control of your life and enhance relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.

2. Impulsivity

People who suffer from ADHD frequently experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a good way to assess or filter them. This means they may be overwhelmed by a single incident or have difficulty being able to assess the mood of other people. This makes them more prone to be distracted by minor inconveniences, such as the availability of a book or a friend who isn’t reliable.

Many women with ADHD compensate for their attention issues by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be perfectionists, or extremely attentive at school or work however, they have trouble keeping track of important dates, bills and appointments. They might struggle with self-talk control and may talk too much or interrupt others often.

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 can also be characterized by not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation, and experiencing difficulty in interpreting social signals.

While gender-based stereotypes can play a role in the development of ADHD however, it’s sometimes difficult to recognize when a woman has these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some health experts may be misinformed or underestimate the severity of a woman’s symptoms.

Many women suffering from ADHD also say that their symptoms get worse during times of hormonal changes, like during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can lead to emotions such as anger, irritability or depression. They may also feel an ongoing feeling of discontent with their lives or relationships. This could result in depression, substance abuse or unhealthy ways of coping. adhd in young women is why it’s important for women to realize that these symptoms aren’t an indication of their worth or worth as individuals. If you follow a proper treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.

3. Attention

While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms can occur often enough that they cause disruption with your life. You could make a few blunders at school or work, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You can’t be patient and not interrupt other people in conversations.

Adults who are not attentive may also rush into projects before having a complete plan and research them. This can lead to poor results or subpar ones. It is also possible to get lost quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished — from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that got assembled and then left to gather dust on your nightstand.

People with inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents, keys or bills and lose things regularly. You might also keep losing track of the time and end up being over time for meetings, work 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. Women with these symptoms can make decisions or conduct actions without considering the impact. For example, they might speak over other people or make unintentional noises in solitude. They have difficulty sitting still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They can have trouble keeping their job and could be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.

In some cases mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also are more likely to being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder.

Girls and women with ADHD can face a variety of obstacles when seeking diagnosis and treatment that include gender bias and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or undervalue the severity of their symptoms. Famous women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have openly discussed their struggles with ADHD have contributed to raising awareness. But, many young women and girls do not know they have it.

4. Anxiety

Although many people feel anxious or nervous from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an uneasy feeling, fear, or anxiety and also rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also experience a heightened sense of danger even in situations that aren’t likely be dangerous to you. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia and panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective Mutism.

Anxiety is more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD compared to men. It tends worsen around certain life events like menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it difficult for women to deal with everyday tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings of self-esteem loss or discontent.

You are extremely sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult acceptance of criticism. You’re prone to interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You might be upset over small issues that other people do not see as an issue with.

Mood swings are also one of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you may be able to notice that your moods are unstable or difficult to control. You may also be prone non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.

It’s crucial to seek a diagnosis when you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you comprehend the issues you’re facing, and offer you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your physician for an assessment from a professional. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case, it’s important to make positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This can help you gain control over your life and make you feel more productive, confident and competent.