Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Women
Girls and women can both suffer from ADHD. While men and boys are diagnosed with ADHD more often however, it is also feasible for women to suffer from the condition. However, stereotypes, prejudices about referrals, internalized symptoms, and other comorbidities can make it difficult for them to be properly assessed and treated.
Many women come up with strategies to cover up their ADHD symptoms and conform to social expectations, but these can be unsustainable and unhealthy. Here are some of the adult women's most common ADHD symptoms.
1. Unfocused attention
Women with ADHD are often overwhelmed by the daily tasks. They often struggle to keep track of numerous deadlines, emails, and meetings. They may also be more likely to overlook important dates or events. They may also have difficulty to concentrate in noisy or busy environments. This can cause them to miss out on opportunities and produce lower quality work.
These challenges can lead to frustration for many adults with ADHD. They may feel that they reflect of their own performance or of themselves. They can often end up with a low self-esteem as well as a negative body image. They may also have trouble maintaining stable relationships and developing efficient coping strategies. In some cases they resort to unhealthy coping strategies that include excessive drinking or drugs. This can make it more difficult for others to recognize that they're struggling and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Adults suffering from ADHD may be particularly sensitive to criticism or failure. This may cause them to internalize the problem and make it difficult for them to seek help. As a result, they may struggle with issues with relationships and may have a difficult time finding work that is meaningful. They are also more susceptible to anxiety, depression, and mood fluctuations. In some cases the symptoms may lead to a mental condition such as non-suicidal self-harm (NSSI), that can be expressed by cutting, burning or scratching.
ADHD is more prevalent among both boys and men, but symptoms can last and affect all aspects of your life. It's crucial for women to identify the symptoms and seek an evaluation from a health care professional. A proper diagnosis can result in better-managed symptoms and a higher quality of life.
2. Disorganization
Women suffering from ADHD are often overwhelmed and feel as if their lives are chaotic. They may miss deadlines or find it difficult to manage work or household tasks, such as paying bills and keeping the track of appointments. Their finances and their home could be messy and they may find it difficult to keep healthy relationships and a stable job.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms can cause more frustration and miscommunications with friends, partners, and coworkers. These issues can result in fractured or even strained relationships and feelings of being isolated. Inattention, forgetfulness and the tendency to "zone out", or stop paying attention, can result in misunderstandings between loved ones.
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from symptoms of emotional instability, impulsivity and mood swings. These can cause disruption in both their personal and professional lives. Women with untreated ADHD are often overwhelmed by the responsibilities and expectations of work, family as well as society. They may be particularly sensitive to criticism or harsh judgement.
There are ways to manage these symptoms. For many adults treatments include lifestyle adjustments and the use of specially designed tools for organizing, as well as prescription stimulant medications.
Women with ADHD might be able conceal their ADHD symptoms better than males and can result in an undiagnosed condition until adulthood. They are more likely to be suffering from comorbid disorders such as anxiety and depression which can worsen the effects of untreated ADHD. Women may also have trouble maintaining healthy relationships and a steady job and may suffer from low self-esteem and chronic stress. *Sex refers a person's genetic makeup, chromosomes, hormones and anatomy; gender refers to the internal feeling of self as a woman, man, nonbinary, or other gender identity and mental health problems are often diagnosed based on both.
3. Anxiety
Women who have ADHD are at risk for anxiety and depression. These moods can be made worse due to the inability of keeping track of the daily schedule and appointments and can result in health problems such as missed appointments, late payments and even debt. The emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and forgetfulness associated with ADHD can also lead to problems with relationships with coworkers, partners and family members.
Many women develop strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can make it difficult for others to recognize that they have difficulty staying focused and organized. These strategies for coping may be healthy, such as establishing an annual schedule or establishing phone reminders or they may be unhealthy and rely on alcohol or other drugs to perform or manage their difficulties. ADHD symptoms in adults uk coping skills can create an unhealthy cycle of self-doubt and stress for women, which makes them feel they are not successful or productive, which can cause depression and anxiety.
Women with ADHD might also feel like they don't belong or don't meet social expectations. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They may also encounter challenges at work, such as difficulties with organization skills, adhering to corporate policies or sticking to a standard 9-to-5 work schedule. They may struggle with managing their finances due to impulsive and disorganized spending, or they may struggle to complete work-related assignments or completing homework.
ADHD is a long-lasting condition that requires ongoing support, especially when it affects women and girls. Despite its prevalence it is misunderstood and underdiagnosed. It is also undertreated. Remaining stereotypes and referral biases, internalized symptoms, comorbidities, and hormonal changes all contribute to the unique symptom presentation of ADHD in females.
4. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD might have difficulty controlling their emotions or impulses. They might become easily frustrated or overwhelmed, lose track of time or be late for events. They might also have difficulty understanding body language or recognizing social signals. This can cause problems at work or in relationships. For example, they might be easily entangled in arguments or spend too much time with hobbies and interests that aren't important to them. They may also have difficulty keeping friendships or making connections because they are unable to keep their promises and commitments.
Women are more adept at developing ways to cope with their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult for them than men to be diagnosed. They could, for example create routines to help them stay organized or utilize apps to remind themselves of their appointments. They might also change their behaviour to comply with the norms and expectations of society. They could even conceal their symptoms by using alcohol or drugs to manage with their symptoms, which could have serious health problems in the long term.
Some people with ADHD do not completely overcome the symptoms. About 60% of women with ADHD in their childhood will suffer from it into adulthood. This is compared to 30% of men.
If you're unable to achieve relief with lifestyle changes or medication, professional treatment can be beneficial. There are many options available, including counseling, career coaching, and life coaching. There are also stimulants. Exercise is also an excellent way to boost your mood and boost your energy levels. It releases neurotransmitters which boost the motivation and focus. It can also help reduce anxiety and stress.
5. Reactivity to emotions
Girls and women with ADHD are frequently affected by emotional reaction. They may have difficulty regulating their emotions and communicating them in a proper manner. This can lead to anger for themselves and others. A person suffering from ADHD may get angry when her partner criticizes them, but she might not be able calm down to discuss the matter in a rational manner. She may also struggle to "pause her reaction" by recognizing body signals like a flushed face or breath shortness that indicate she is overexcited or overwhelmed.
This issue with regulating emotions can cause frustration and misunderstandings, and can make people with ADHD more prone to depression or anxiety. It can also cause issues with social interactions, as it is difficult to discern the mood of others and detect social cues.
In certain instances, people who suffer from ADHD might appear emotionally distant and uninterested in their family or loved ones, even if they really love them. In other situations they may avoid situations that trigger them to avoid feeling a strong emotion.
Gender bias is a common feature among doctors and the impact of ADHD on women are often overlooked because of the nature of their symptoms. Many of them hide their ADHD symptoms, and when they do manifest, they're more likely to be interpreted as anxiety or mood-related and thus misdiagnosed. It can be helpful to speak with an expert in mental health who has experience working with girls and women with ADHD when you're experiencing these symptoms. They can confirm your experience, teach you strategies such as self-awareness or pacing, and also provide you with psychoeducation for your family to help you recognize and address any future ADHD symptoms.