ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, the condition often isn't recognized by females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the ability of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals aren't equipped and experience to identify ADHD in women. Many women are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD have trouble coordinating. This disorder can be difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance could be a jumble of papers, 17 chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Although you may have spent money on products to help you organize, your home or office is probably still chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. You might also struggle with "time blindness," where you don't know or remember the time it takes to finish the task. This can cause you to feel frustrated and like you aren't doing a good enough job at your job, or even your personal life.
You might also have trouble managing your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when confronted with stressful situations. You may also make comments without intention of hurting the feelings of someone else. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, since impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If see it here suffer from ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or cultural ideas regarding how women, men, and boys should behave. adhd in women test makes it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the underlying causes of your disorder. It may take a while to determine the most effective strategies to cope, but using them can help you feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD frequently experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a method to assess or filter them. They can be overwhelmed by a small setback, or have difficulty in assessing the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to become distracted by small issues like the book that's out of stock or a friend who's late to take a spin class.
Many women with ADHD cover up their symptoms and develop coping strategies to compensate for their attention problems. They could be highly organized or a perfectionist at work or school and struggle to keep track of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also have issues with self-control in speech and speak too much, interrupt others 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 a sudden desire to begin, stop or alter the course of action and being unable to hold your turn in conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD in women, it is not always easy to spot these issues. The scales for rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or perimenopause (the run-up to menopause). This can trigger emotional symptoms such as frustration and irritability, or depression. They might also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or lives. This can lead to self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced coping strategies. It is important for women to realize that these signs do not show their worth or value as a human being. With a well-planned treatment program, you can reduce or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention
ADHD is characterized by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to concentrate and pay attention at times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can disrupt your everyday life. You might make mistakes at work or school, forget appointments or spend long hours delaying. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and often interrupt others.
Adults who are not attentive may be prone to rush into projects before having a complete plan and research them. This results in a lack of results or poor ones. You may also get distracted easily and have a tendency to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system which was erected and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and lose things frequently. 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. Women who suffer from these conditions may perform actions or words without thinking about the consequences, like talking over others or making a nonsensical sound when they are alone. They might be unable to sit still, and may flitter around in their seat or pace. They might have issues working and may be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In certain cases mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and miscommunication 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 comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD have a myriad of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment that include gender bias and a tendency to hide their symptoms or underestimate the severity of them. The rise of well-known women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, however many girls and young women do not know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous from time to time, anxiety disorders are characterized by a constant high level of anxiety. You may experience a constant sense of unease, fear, or anxiety and also rapid pulse, difficulty staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations you know aren't risky. The most common kinds of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD than in men and tends to get worse during certain periods of a woman's life for instance, during the time of her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to handle everyday tasks and social interaction and can trigger feelings of self-esteem loss or dissatisfaction.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a tough to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipated rejection, and you may get angry over small things that others don't find to be a problem.
Mood swings may also be an indication of adhd in women. You might notice that you experience erratic emotions or are unable to control them. You might also be prone 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 essential to establish a clear diagnosis. It will help you understand your challenges and give you strategies for improving your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor for an expert assessment. In some instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In certain instances your doctor may suggest a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as possible. This will help you gain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and capable.