Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under tremendous pressure to look after their families, maintain healthy relationships, and perform well at work. ADHD symptoms can make all of these tasks seem impossible.
It's important to get diagnosed and treated if you suffer from ADHD. It will help you manage these symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
1. You're Always Late
Always being late is a typical sign that you could have ADHD. This is because people who suffer from ADHD frequently have difficulty managing their time and are easily distracted by other tasks. This can lead to issues at school or work like being late to important meetings or forgetting to complete homework assignments. This can cause stress for you and the people who depend on your presence. To help you stop being late, consider setting a reminder on your phone or calendar and ensure that you prepare for the night prior to. It is also recommended to give yourself a few minutes extra to travel to your destination.
In addition there are women who suffer from ADHD struggle to make friends due to constantly missing out on social events. They may also have difficulty learning to discern social cues or comprehend body language. They might also have difficulty staying focused on conversations and becoming lost in their thoughts.
Lastly, some girls with ADHD go undiagnosed because their symptoms are more difficult to notice than the hyperactive/impulsive ones seen in boys and men. Parents and teachers are more likely to refer men or boys to an ADHD assessment as opposed to girls.
2. You're having trouble focusing
People suffering from ADHD are easily distracted and lose track of their tasks. When they are in conversation with others, they may frequently go off into a tangent or speak about topics that do not pertain to the topic in question. They might also have a difficult time staying still and may be more impulsive.
These issues can affect relationships with family, friends and co-workers. For instance, it is common for those with ADHD to not remember appointments or to miss deadlines. They may also be unorganized and can spend a lot of time doing unimportant things or have a hard time sitting at home. They may also have problems working effectively or find it difficult to keep track of their financial obligations.
Boys are more likely than girls to be identified as having ADHD in children. As adults, the numbers are equal. It is believed that this is because women are more likely to experience a higher frequency of symptoms, and are more likely to seek treatment after one of their children is diagnosed with the disorder. The changes in hormone levels, particularly during menopausal change, can affect ADHD symptoms.
3. You've Got a Poor Memory
Women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to remember important events, like birthdays, anniversaries, or gatherings. They may also have trouble remembering names, which could make it difficult to keep up with conversations and social settings.
People suffering from ADHD tend to have poor judgment. They talk about things without really thinking about them. This can result in lots of "foot-in-mouth" moments that can be a source of frustration for family members and colleagues.
Another indication of adhd in women is having trouble making and keeping friendships. Many women with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions, which can lead to difficult relationships with their partners. This increases the chances of being pressured to engage in sexual activities or becoming victims of abuse by their intimate partners.
Many women suffering from ADHD have difficulty keep up with the social expectations of parenting and homemaking, as well as relationships. This can add a lot of stress to their lives, making it difficult to recognize and deal with ADHD symptoms. Women develop coping mechanisms that include drinking or using drugs to disguise their symptoms. This can hinder treatment. Diagnoses are a crucial first step to identify and manage challenges. The good news is that you can find help.
4. You're having trouble making decisions
Women who struggle to make decisions may procrastinate or not be able to finish tasks, as they aren't sure which tasks to prioritize. They also have a difficult time recalling their choices and following through on their decisions. This kind of ADHD can affect performance at work, relationships and self-esteem.
The signs of ADHD in women are harder to recognize because teachers and parents do not send girls as often as boys for evaluation. Moreover, women are better in hiding their symptoms. They can develop strategies to cope that enable them to appear "normal" and conform to social expectations, for instance by using apps to manage daily activities.
Women may receive an official diagnosis by their primary care physician, who may refer them to a specialist of specialization. Depending on the results of the test the doctor might recommend medication or talk-therapy. In therapy, the therapist will teach you better coping strategies and help you switch negative thoughts for positive ones. They can also help you and your family members improve communication which can be a challenge when one or more members of the relationship suffer from ADHD. The use of medication can help manage the symptoms and improve the efficiency at school or at work.
5. You have trouble multitasking
Women suffering from ADHD often find themselves feeling overwhelmed when they try to complete deadlines or perform multiple tasks at the same time. They may also find it difficult to manage their emotions and find it difficult to keep and make friends. This is especially the case when they fail to recognize social cues.
adhd in women symptoms who struggle to multitask are more likely to suffer from at risk of developing adhd. They also may lose or misplace items, and are easily distracted. This can be an issue for women who work in a workplace where they are constantly interrupted.
In addition, if you have the hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd, having trouble staying quiet and being able to control your emotions can lead to frequent outbursts that are not only disruptive to others but can be damaging to your career. This type of ADHD is more likely to be misdiagnosed by women because the symptoms are less obvious than those that are associated with the inattention type.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD adulthood may also develop coping mechanisms that mask their struggles. For example they may use self-medicating methods like alcohol or drugs to fit in. This can further worsen their symptoms when they struggle with chronic feelings of inadequacy, leading to uneasy relationships and a general sense of low self-esteem.
6. You're having difficulty managing your time
ADHD problems with time management can be a major issue in the workplace. It's difficult to get things accomplished when you do not have a system in place for filing paperwork, returning calls, or completing tasks in time. Even you're doing a great job, supervisors may wonder about your professionalism if you repeatedly miss deadlines.
Women with ADHD are more likely to have the inattentive subtype of symptoms, which can make it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated than men or boys with the hyperactive/impulsive type of symptoms. This is because doctors and teachers are more likely to recognize the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms in boys and men, and may be less familiar with the inattentive-type symptoms of women with ADHD.
Women who don't receive treatment for ADHD are also more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression that co-occurs, and have difficulty maintaining relationships. Women are expected to be caretakers which can worsen the symptoms of ADHD in a lot of women, especially when they aren't getting the proper treatment and assistance they require. This can also lead tensions between family members, friends, and romantic partners. These strained relations can increase frustration and misunderstandings which makes it more difficult for women to seek out help.
7. You're having a hard time making friends
Having trouble making friends can be particularly frustrating for women suffering from ADHD. One reason is that women are expected to be capable of fulfilling multiple roles. This includes caring for children, maintaining relationships and performing well at the workplace. As they attempt to meet these demands their symptoms can become more severe. They may also be at higher risk of developing poor peer relationships or coexisting anxiety and mood disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop coping mechanisms that cover ADHD symptoms. This can lead them to over-exercise, stay up later than they should, and rely on schedules or reminders on their phones to manage their lives.
Inattention and forgetfulness are dangerous behaviors that can lead to problems at work as well as in personal relationships. For instance, not remembering the date of a party with a friend can cause them to feel depressed. They might also think you don't have any interest in them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the slightest hint can lead to conflicts and miscommunications. Becoming aware of your expectations for your friends can help avoid bad feelings, misinterpretations, and frustration. This can be accomplished by using a calendar to keep track of your friends' important dates, a notepad to note down details about new friends, and following through with commitments.