Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Women
While males and females are diagnosed far more often with ADHD, women and girls are also susceptible to it. But lingering symptoms of ADHD in adults quiz , referral biases internalized symptoms and comorbidities make it harder for them to be evaluated and treated.
Many women develop coping strategies to cover up their ADHD symptoms and meet societal expectations, but they can be unhealthy and unsustainable. Here are a few of the most frequent symptoms of ADHD in adult women.
1. Unfocused attention
Women with ADHD are often overwhelmed by their daily tasks. They often find it challenging to keep track of numerous deadlines, emails, and meetings. They are also more likely to forget important events or appointments. They may also have difficulty staying focused in noisy or crowded surroundings. This could cause them to miss 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. Many adults with ADHD have an unsatisfactory self-image and a negative image of their body. They may also be struggling to maintain stable relationships and develop effective strategies for coping. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy strategies for coping, such as excessive drinking or drug use. This can make it difficult for others to recognize that they're struggling, and can delay an accurate diagnosis.
Adults with ADHD may be particularly sensitive to criticism or failure. This can cause them to internalize the issue and make it difficult to seek help. They might also be afflicted by problems with relationships and find it difficult to find work that is meaningful. They may also be more susceptible to anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations. In certain instances, these symptoms can result in the development of a mental health issue like non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which can be expressed through cutting, burning, or scratching.
While it's more common for men and boys to be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms can last into adulthood and can impact various aspects of life. ADHD symptoms in adults males for women to recognize the symptoms and seek an evaluation from a health care professional. A correct diagnosis can result in better control of symptoms and an improved quality of life.
2. Disorganization
Women with ADHD report feeling overwhelmed as if they are chaotic. They may fail to meet deadlines for work or struggle to keep up with chores at home or at work like paying bills or scheduling appointments. Their finances and their home could be cluttered and they may have a difficult time to keep healthy relationships and a stable job.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms can heighten frustration and miscommunications with friends, partners and colleagues. These problems can lead to broken or strained connections and feelings of isolation. Forgetfulness, difficulty in listening, and the tendency to "zone out", or stop paying attention, can also lead to misunderstandings with loved ones.
Signs of impulsivity, emotional dysregulation and mood swings are more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD than in men and can be disruptive to both your personal and professional life. Women who are not treated for ADHD might be overwhelmed by the demands of work, family and social life. They may also be sensitive to criticism and harsh judgment.
The good news is that there are ways to manage the impact of these symptoms. For many adults treatments include lifestyle changes and the use of specialized tools for organizing, as well as prescription stimulant medication.
Women with ADHD typically have a harder time than men to hide their ADHD symptoms, and as a result they may not be diagnosed until adulthood. They are more likely to be suffering from comorbid disorders such as depression and anxiety that can increase the effects of untreated ADHD. Women can also have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships and a stable job and are susceptible to low self-esteem and chronic stress. *Sex refers to a person's genetic makeup, chromosomes and hormones and anatomy; gender refers to the internal perception of self as a man, woman or nonbinary gender identity and mental health problems are often diagnosed based on both.
3. Anxiety
Women who suffer from ADHD are at risk of developing depression and anxiety. These feelings can be exacerbated due to the inability of keeping on top of the daily schedule and appointments that can cause health issues such as missing check-ups, late payments, and even debt. ADHD can lead to emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and forgetfulness and can cause relationship problems with friends, partners and colleagues.
Many women develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms that can make it difficult for others to recognize that they have trouble staying focused and organized. These strategies of coping can be healthy like making a daily plan or a phone reminder or harmful, like drinking alcohol or taking drugs to cope or function. These coping strategies can make women feel anxious and unsecure and make them doubt their capabilities and self-confidence. This can lead to depression or anxiety.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD often feel a sense of not fitting in or meeting the expectations of society, which can lead to low self-esteem and a sense of frustration. They may also encounter challenges at work, including difficulties in establishing organizational skills, adhering to corporate policies or sticking to a standard 9-to-5 work schedule. They may have difficulty managing their finances due in part to disorganization or an impulsive spending. Or, they may be struggling to complete homework assignments or other work.
ADHD can be a long-lasting condition that requires continuous care, particularly when it affects women and girls. Despite the disorder's prevalence yet, it is often misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. The unique symptoms of ADHD in women are a result of stereotypes of referral biases, internalized symptomatology and comorbidities as well as hormonal fluctuations.
4. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to control their emotions and impulses. They might become easily frustrated or excited, lose track of time, or be late to events. They might also have trouble reading body language and picking up social cues. This can cause problems at work or with relationships. They might be susceptible to arguments or spend too much time with interests and hobbies that are not important to them. They might also have difficulty keeping friendships and creating new connections due to the fact that they struggle to stick to promises and commitments.
Women are more adept at forming ways to cope with their ADHD symptoms. This makes it harder for them than men to get diagnosed. They could, for instance create routines to help them stay organized or utilize apps to remind themselves of their appointments. They may change their behavior in order to conform to societal expectations and norms. They may also try to hide their symptoms using drugs or alcohol. This can have negative health effects over time.
Some people with ADHD do not outgrow the symptoms. About 60 percent of women with ADHD in their childhood suffer from the condition until adulthood, as opposed to 30% of men.
Professional treatment may be beneficial for those who do not see relief from medications or lifestyle changes. There are a variety of options, like counseling, career coaching, and life coaching. There are also stimulants. Exercise is a great way to boost your mood and boosting your energy. It releases neurotransmitters that increase attention and motivation and can help ease anxiety and stress.
5. Reactivity to emotional stimuli
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD often have trouble with emotional hyperactivity. They may have difficulty regulating their emotions and communicating them in a proper manner. This can lead to frustration for both themselves and others. A person suffering from ADHD may become angry when a friend criticizes her, but she might not be able calm down to talk about the issue in a rational manner. She also might struggle to "pause" her reactions by identifying bodily cues that she's feeling overwhelmed or stressed like flushing skin or shortness of breath.
This issue with regulating emotions can cause confusion and anger and make people with ADHD prone towards anxiety or depression. It can also lead to difficulties in social interactions as it's difficult to gauge people's moods or detect social signals.
In certain instances, ADHD people may appear disconnected and uninterested in their loved ones or friends even though they are concerned about them. In other instances they may avoid triggering situations to avoid experiencing emotions that are intense.
Gender bias is a common feature among clinicians, and the effects of ADHD on women are often omitted because of the nature of their symptoms. Many of them camouflage their ADHD symptoms when they do manifest, they're more likely to be interpreted as anxiety or mood-related and thus misdiagnosed. If you're experiencing trouble with these symptoms, it can be beneficial to talk to an expert in mental health who is experienced in working with girls and women who suffer from ADHD. They can validate your experiences, guide you how to apply strategies such as self-awareness and pacing and offer family psychoeducation that can help you learn to recognize and address your ADHD symptoms in the future.