ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, despite the fact that it affects men and women equally as adults. This could be due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to identify ADHD in women. This means that many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the proper treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be a challenge to manage. For example your desk could be a jumble of unruly papers, 17 chapsticks, and a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you attended in the year 2008. As you buy products that claim to aid in your organization your office and home may still be chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your tasks may cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. You might also be struggling with "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to complete a task. This could make you feel frustrated and feel like you aren't doing a good enough job at your job or in your personal life.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions, which could cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could create misunderstandings and miscommunications with family members and coworkers, and you may make comments that hurt others' feelings without even knowing. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, as the tendency to be impulsive is common among those with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and ideas regarding how boys, men and women should behave. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis it is possible that you will require a behavioral therapy program to tackle the root of your disorder. It might take time to find the best strategies to cope, but using them will allow you to feel in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD experience intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of filtering them or evaluate them. They can be overwhelmed by a tiny incident, or have trouble being able to assess the emotional state of other people. This can also make them more prone to being distracted by minor issues like the availability of a book or a shaky friend.
Many women with ADHD manage their attention issues by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be perfectionists, or highly conscientious at school or at work but struggle to keep track of important dates, deadlines and appointments. They may also have trouble with self-control and verbal control. They may also talk excessively, 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. The symptoms include a sudden urge to start, stop or change activities; being unable to wait your turn in conversation; and having trouble reading social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender-based stereotypes can influence the development of ADHD, it's sometimes difficult to determine if women suffer from these issues. The scales of rating used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). This can intensify emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or their lives. This can lead to depression, substance abuse, or unhealthy methods of coping. This is the reason it's so important for women to realize that these symptoms aren't an indication of their worth or worth as an individual. The good news is that with a solid treatment strategy these symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Attention!
ADHD is characterized by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can impede your day-to-day life. You may make careless mistakes at work or school, forget appointments or spend long hours delaying. You're not able to stand in line and interrupt others during conversations.
Adults who are inattention may include a tendency to jump into projects without fully planning and researching the subject, which results in incomplete or subpar results. You could also become easily distracted and abandon projects that are not completed. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted but never watered, or a brand new organization system you put together and then put on your nightstand for it to rot.
People with inattentive ADHD are also plagued by a chronic sense of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or keys and frequently lose things. You could be unable to keep your track of time and become late for school, work or meetings.
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 might say or do things without considering the impact, like talking over others or making a nonsensical sound when they are on their own. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their chair or move. They might be unable to keep the job they have, and are in frequent disagreements with their colleagues and their manager.
In certain cases mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially the case in relationships with partners as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also have a higher likelihood of being afflicted with comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD have a myriad of obstacles when seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. The rise of famous women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, yet many young women and girls still don't know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous at times Anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You might experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying at peace and having difficulty focusing. You might also feel an underlying sense of danger in situations you know are not dangerous. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, phobias and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than in men, and it tends to worsen at certain times in women's lives for instance, during her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult for women to handle daily tasks and social interactions and may lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or discontent.
You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough acceptance of criticism. You easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipate rejection and you may be angry about minor things that others don't find a problem with.
Mood swings are also one of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you may discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal such as scrubbing, burning or hitting yourself.
adhd in young women to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It can help you understand the issues you're facing, and give you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your doctor for a professional assessment. In some cases doctors may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In certain instances, your doctor may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and competent.