20 Top Tweets Of All Time About Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, it often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the capability of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and experience to recognize ADHD in women. Many women are misdiagnosed and do not receive the care they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disorganization, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. As you buy products that claim to help you stay organized your office and home may still be messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep on top of your work can cause you to miss deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the amount of time it takes to finish an assignment. This could leave you feeling unhappy and feeling that you're not doing an adequate job in your career or personal life, especially if it feels like other people don't value your efforts.
You may also be having trouble regulating your emotions, which could cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could cause confusion and miscommunications with your loved ones and colleagues, and you might say things that hurt others' feelings without even knowing. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, since it is common for those with ADHD.
If you have ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or beliefs about how men, women and boys should behave. This could make it difficult to recognize and treat your ADHD.
You could also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root causes of your disorder. Although it might take a while to discover the right coping mechanisms Implementing these strategies will assist you in feeling more in control of your life and enhance relationships with your family, friends, and coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or analyze them. They may be overwhelmed by a minor event, or have difficulty in assessing the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to become distracted by minor issues such as books that are out of stock or a friend who's late to the spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD manage their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at school or work and have difficulty keeping on top of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They may also have trouble with self-control in speech and speak too much, interrupt others often, or ramble 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 desire to stop, start or change activities and being unable to hold your turn in conversation; and having trouble reading social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD in women, it's not always easy to spot these issues. The scales of rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during times of hormonal changes, such as during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can intensify emotional symptoms and trigger a lot of feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also have a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This can result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse, or unhealthy ways of coping. It is crucial for women to understand that these symptoms don't show their worth or value as a human being. The good news is that, with a well-planned treatment strategy these symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times, they are so frequent that they can impede your daily life. You could make a few blunders at school or work or forget appointments or you may spend a lot of time procrastinating. You aren't comfortable waiting your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by other people.
Attention deficit symptoms in adults could be accompanied by the tendency to get involved in projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing them, which can result in poor or insufficient results. It is also possible to get lost easily and tend to leave projects unfinishedfor example, from the vegetable garden that got planted but never watered to the new system of organization that got assembled and then put aside to dust on your nightstand.
People who have inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You might have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or keys and lose things regularly. You could also forget to keep track of time and be late for school, work or for 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. People who suffer from these conditions can perform actions or words without thinking about the consequences. For instance they might talk over others or make nonsensical noises when alone. They are unable to sit still and can fidget or pace in their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining the job they have, and are in frequent disagreements with their colleagues and manager.
In certain cases, the mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can cause frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is particularly true in relationships with partners as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD are often faced with a range of difficulties in seeking treatment and diagnosis that include gender bias and a tendency to hide their symptoms or minimize the severity of them. Women with a high profile, such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. However, adhd symptoms in women adults and girls aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterized by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous from time to time Anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You may feel an incessant feeling of anxiety or fear, as well as a rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations you know are not dangerous. The most common forms of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen during certain times of the woman's life like the time of her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it harder to manage everyday activities and social interactions and can cause feelings of self-doubt and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a difficult to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might get angry about small things that other people do not see as an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms and you could discover that your mood is unstable or difficult to control. You may also be prone non-suicidal acts of self-injury such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to get a proper diagnosis. It will 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 talk to your doctor for an assessment from a professional. In some cases doctors may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other cases, they might recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to change your lifestyle as quickly as you can. This will help you gain control of your life and feel more confident and capable.