ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect people of all ages and genders, but it is more difficult for women to be diagnosed. It's because women don't often exhibit the same hyperactivity or impulsivity that men do, and therefore may be misdiagnosed or missed.
The first step in addressing your symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with stimulant medications but there are other alternatives.
1. Trouble focusing
While everyone gets distracted from time to time, women who suffer from ADHD struggle to keep their focus on tasks and conversations, especially when they're experiencing emotional or sensory overload. These difficulties can be exacerbated during menstrual cycles.
Women with inattentive ADHD also have problems with their working memory, which makes it hard to remember simple things like appointments or forthcoming events. They often forget where they kept their car keys, the name of the lady who drove them home from spin class, or even important deadlines and dates.
Procrastination, and the inability to keep up with plans are other signs of ADHD in females who are adults. They tend to be distracted by shiny objects or social networks which makes it difficult to finish their projects and assignments. This can cause them to feel overwhelmed and underperforming at school or at work.
Many women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because of gender stereotypes. As a result, they are embarrassed and mistakenly label their issues as "bad behaviors" or "character flaws." They also often feel like they are an imposter. A diagnosis can be an "lightbulb" moment for them, since it gives them an external explanation of their struggles and helps them accept themselves better.
Untreated ADHD in women and girls can cause a range of negative effects, such as academic difficulties, behavioral problems relationships and family issues and co-existing mental health conditions. A correct diagnosis and treatment plan can enhance the lives of those with ADHD at any stage in their lives. Treatment options could include stimulant therapy and medication. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women with ADHD often have trouble completing tasks and tasks. They might miss important details, have trouble switching between tasks or responsibilities and are unable to meet deadlines. They might also be more prone to making careless mistakes or have difficulty organizing and managing their time well and underestimate the amount of time it takes to finish their work.
The emotional manifestations of ADHD in adults, like mood swings and irritability can be a major source of frustration for women who suffer from the condition. Symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may be frustrated and disappointed about their performance at work and in their relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD struggle with staying on top of daily tasks like grocery shopping and household chores. They might forget to take out the garbage or shut off the stove, and can easily get distracted. They may also struggle doing repetitive tasks, like folding the laundry or washing the dishes. The monotonous or repetitive chores can become unbearable which can lead to impulsive behavior such as excessive talking or sharing. The impulsivity associated with ADHD can also lead women to make impulsive choices and rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs.
If you're having difficulty finishing tasks, have memory problems, procrastinate chronically, or face relationship challenges, it is important to seek out professional help for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can improve the overall quality of life and help you achieve success in your personal and professional lives. It can assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms, and help you develop strategies for dealing with the symptoms. To prevent lapses in attention and focus it is recommended to adhere to a regular schedule, use a planner or reminder apps to take notes during meetings, and adhere to good habits of sleep (avoid screens for an hour prior to going to bed). Exercise also helps to improve focus by increasing the production of brain neurotransmitters.
3. It is difficult to remember names.
It is possible that a trouble remembering names might be accompanied by other ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties following directions or not finishing projects. The underlying issue behind these difficulties is an inability to organize and prioritize tasks which affects efficient information retrieval. This condition tends to get worse when there are periods of stress, fatigue or hormonal changes.
The feeling of forgetting names can be more frustrating when it's followed by a feeling of numbness over bigger items, such as appointments and events or personal reminders. These lapses can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety which are common co-occurring conditions that are associated with ADHD among women.
ADHD is often not recognized in ADHD symptoms adult female because of gender bias and internalized symptoms. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are more subtle than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, making them harder to detect and identify. They are therefore under-diagnosed and not referred to doctors for treatment and diagnosis.
Additionally there is discrimination based on gender because the disorder tends to be seen as a condition that affects boys. Boys who are hyperactive are the ones most often taken to clinics and assessed for treatment. In addition, due to internalized stigma, women's symptoms are usually different from those of men. Many doctors fail to diagnose or treat ADHD in females.
It's becoming more common for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis in their adulthood. A diagnosis can help improve relationships and prepare you for success at school and work and offer the help you need to excel in your life. If you are interested in getting a diagnosis, talk to an experienced Salience Health provider. We will be able to assess your symptoms with tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced and connect you to a therapist that is right for you.
4. Difficulty Appearing in Aloof
Women with ADHD may exhibit subtle signs of inattention. They may skip appointments, forget to complete chores around the home, or have difficulty taking notes at work. They may also be struggling with impulsivity or have difficulty understanding the boundaries of social interaction. This could lead to confusion and misinterpretation of relationships with friends and family and could result in feelings of loneliness and feeling isolated.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD might also have difficulty being able to meet the expectations set by society as women. This can result in a feeling of inadequacy and ADHD symptoms when they are faced with the burden of taking care of children and household chores. Many women suffering from untreated ADHD have low self-esteem and resort to unhealthy strategies for coping like binge eating and TV marathons.
The challenges of ADHD in women are caused by gender bias both in how women and girls are viewed and assessed by clinicians. There is evidence that suggests that girls and women are more likely to cover up or disguise their ADHD symptoms, and could be less likely to receive treatment and diagnosis than men and boys.
Another issue is that women with ADHD might have difficulty recognizing their own symptoms. They might confuse them with anxiety or mood disorders. This can lead to a false diagnoses and improper or delayed treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormone changes, and they can be particularly noticeable during the ovulation cycle or menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopausal. These changes can make women more annoyed with her ADHD symptoms and increase the likelihood of being misunderstood, or viewed as moody or emotional.
5. Impulsivity
Women are also susceptible to the impulsivity that is a symptom of ADHD. They might also have trouble controlling their emotions and be prone to "foot in mouth" moments. These uncontrollable behaviors can have a major impact on your personal and professional life.
Prefrontal cortex is the region of the brain that controls thinking and making decisions. This brain area can help people avoid making bad decisions by providing a nudge on behavior. ADHD sufferers have less functional prefrontal cortex. This makes it more difficult to resist the urges and prevent themselves from engaging in reckless behavior. It can also cause an absence of self-esteem. Women's impulsiveness can be seen as the lack of social boundaries and self-restraint in conversations (interrupting other people, not finishing their sentences, and talking too much).
Women can also experience problems with impulse control when their hormones fluctuate. Estrogen is naturally fluctuates at various periods during the menstrual cycle, and also during pregnancy, childbirth and menopausal. ADHD symptoms adult female of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopausal and menopause can further alter the levels of estrogen as well as other hormones that affect the woman's ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms in women and girls can differ from those of men and boys, which is why they are often not properly diagnosed. Because of this, many adults who have ADHD are unaware that they have it. The good news is that identifying and treating ADHD can improve a person's life at any age. If you're unsure if or not you are suffering from ADHD, talk to your doctor to see if they can help. Treatment options include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy and couples counseling.