ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can face difficulties at workplace or in relationships. It is crucial to recognize the symptoms and find treatment that is effective for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Being diagnosed with the right diagnosis can help you improve your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing on what matters most.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women can be troubled by their inability to pay attention to details or remember deadlines and appointments or underestimate how long it takes to complete their tasks. They might also have difficulties managing their time at workplace or in relationships, become distracted easily and fail to deliver on promises. They may also have a tendency to be impulsive, have trouble controlling their emotions, and may blurt out things before considering them.
It's important to be aware of and treat symptoms of ADHD in adult women. The inability to focus can lead to problems with relationships and friendships. Women may have difficulty to establish new friendships or have difficulty in their relationships due in part to repeated arguments and missed opportunities for enjoyment, and being ignored. They can also find it difficult managing the demands of work, home and childcare.
It's not easy for health professionals and therapists alike to recognize ADHD in a lot of people. It doesn't mean that it's not real or that the person needs to be more focused. A diagnosis is based on how the symptoms impact the daily activities in a variety of areas of life.
Women tend to have more inattentive symptoms as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive ones and this could be the reason why they're not diagnosed. Additionally many women who suffer from ADHD are afflicted with a sense of shame about their symptoms because they don't fit the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This can make it difficult for women who suffer from ADHD to seek help or seek treatment.
In a few cases, women with ADHD remain undiagnosed for a long period of time because they're trying to cope and hide their symptoms. In addition, they are more likely to have multiple comorbidities that may cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and digestive issues. They are also more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could cause symptoms to flare up or disappear, like during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Problems with Organization
Inattention, forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation are all common ADHD symptoms for women. These symptoms can make it difficult for them to complete their everyday tasks, keep up with their commitments, and maintain relationships. They may also experience a low self-esteem and experience anxiety. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might feel they are not meeting societal expectations. They might also be afflicted by anxiety and low self-esteem.
ADHD in women may manifest as hyperfocus, procrastination or forgetfulness. These problems can lead women to miss appointments, fail to pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to an inability to focus on other important activities and a shaky sense of time, which can make it difficult to switch from one activity to another. Procrastination can also result in an increase in stress, anxiety, and a constant feeling of being left behind.
Another common symptom of ADHD is difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication. This can mean talking too much, interrupting others or saying inappropriate words. It could also be the inability to wait for her turn or difficulty recognizing social boundaries. ADHD symptoms adult female is important to keep in mind that these behavior patterns are not necessarily indicative of a lack of intelligence or ability.
Many women with ADHD develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. This can have both positive and negative consequences. Some of these strategies for coping might be healthy. For instance using a calendar for the day or setting reminders for important events. Others could be harmful like using alcohol and drugs to hide symptoms or ignoring them altogether. This is why it is crucial for women who suspect ADHD to seek help from a mental health professional.
Women suffering from ADHD can benefit from medication and lifestyle modifications, therapy and a myriad of other treatment options. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative thoughts and beliefs as well as mindfulness and relaxation exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate rest. A health care provider can also suggest accommodations to help make work or school easier to manage.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD might experience emotional dysregulation. They can become frustrated and depressed when their problems aren't easily resolved. It can be challenging to maintain relationships, whether with romantic partners, coworkers or even friends. For example, forgetfulness or insanity can increase anxiety or confusion in romantic relationships and can cause feelings of loneliness, loss, or depression. A tendency to look for thrills on a whim may be misinterpreted by others as a lack of interest or indifference.
These are the reasons why ADHD symptoms in women and girls are often overlooked or not diagnosed. It is possible that they are not able to recognize their struggles due to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms that define gender and sexuality.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD tend to conceal their symptoms to avoid causing embarrassment. This could result in being less often referred for diagnosis than boys and men who have the same symptoms. This disparity could be due to gender bias in research that informs the diagnosis criteria. Hartung and Widiger discovered in an earlier study that women and girls who suffer from ADHD symptoms are more likely to go undiagnosed and under-diagnosed than men and adults. This could be due to the fact that healthcare professionals are conditioned by their training to view hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as more prevalent for both genders. This can make them easier to detect and recommend to an assessment.
Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as anxiety and a struggle to settle down. These are typical ADHD symptoms, but they can be a significant influence on the life of an adult. People with ADHD may feel agitated and find it difficult to sit still, particularly if they are feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget, and are often very talking. They often interrupt or complete sentences of others and do not realize they're being rude.
If you think you might have ADHD or other disorders, you may be directed to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This information was reviewed in the month of October 2024 and updated in November 2022 by Madeline Dykes, clinical psychologist and members of the Thriving Madly peer support network in Christchurch.
4. Problems with Social Skills
Women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty communicating effectively or manage their emotions in the workplace. symptoms of ADHD in adults female can cause problems that interfere with personal relationships and professional goals. For instance, they could struggle to understand and respond to feedback, which could cause frustration and even disappointment. They might also have difficulty trying to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can increase feelings of anxiety. Many women who suffer from ADHD employ unhealthy methods of coping to deal with their issues. This includes eating disorders, addiction to substances and non-suicidal harming oneself (NSSI) such as cutting, burning or scratching.
Women with ADHD may find it more difficult to get help as adults than males, because they often hide their symptoms. To make themselves acceptable to society and conform to the expectations of society, they often develop coping mechanisms. This could make it more difficult to be recognized by others as having ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies could be as simple as creating lists and establishing reminders, or more complex methods, like developing a strategy to manage their emotions or implementing mindfulness strategies.
These coping mechanisms can but backfire and worsen symptoms. They can also make it difficult to achieve good sleep, which is vital in managing ADHD symptoms. Women with ADHD can also feel overwhelmed by the demands of their daily life, which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are diagnosed more often with ADHD than girls. However the gap is narrowing as they get older. It's because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which may result in being diagnosed at different instances.
Changing hormone levels can also influence ADHD symptoms in women. For instance, if they have an elevated estrogen level during pregnancy, symptoms may improve. Higher levels of estrogen help regulate brain chemicals that influence the ability to focus. However, if they begin to have low estrogen levels due to perimenopausal changes or age or perimenopausal symptoms, their ADHD symptoms might get worse.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to receive a precise diagnosis and get effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy that can assist people with ADHD build essential skills for improving their daily functioning. Additionally, they can join support groups for ADHD to share their experiences with other people on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their colleagues.