ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect people of all genders and ages, but it can be harder for women to be diagnosed. It's because women don't often exhibit the same levels of hyperactivity or impulsivity that men do, so they may be misdiagnosed or missed.
The first step in addressing your symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. The use of stimulant medication is a typical treatment for adults suffering from ADHD however there are also other options.
1. Difficulty Focusing
While everyone gets distracted occasionally women who suffer from ADHD have trouble putting their attention on conversations and tasks particularly when they're dealing with sensory or emotional overload. These difficulties can be exacerbated during menstrual cycles.
Women with inattention ADHD have issues with their working memory. This makes it difficult to remember everyday things, such as the dates of appointments or events that are coming up. They may forget where they left their car keys or the name of the lady who gave them a lift home from spinning class. They may also forget important dates and deadlines.
Procrastination, and the inability to stick with plans are also signs of ADHD in females who are adults. They are more likely to be distracted by shiny objects or social media, making it difficult to complete their projects and assignments. This can cause them to feel overwhelmed and underperforming in school or at work.
Many women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because of gender stereotypes. They feel shame and mistakenly classify their problems as "bad behaviours" or "character defects". They often feel as if they are a fraud. A diagnosis can be an "lightbulb" moment for them, since it provides them with an external explanation of their issues and allows them to accept themselves better.
Women and girls with untreated ADHD can suffer from a broad range of negative outcomes that can include academic issues and behavioral issues, bad relationships with family members and co-occurring mental health conditions. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan will enhance the lives of those who suffer from ADHD at any time in their lives. Treatment options include stimulant drugs and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women with ADHD have difficulty completing tasks or duties. They may forget important information, have difficulty switching between tasks and duties and find it difficult to meet deadlines. They are also more likely to make mistakes, have trouble organizing their schedules and managing their time and underestimate the time it takes them to complete tasks.
Women suffering from ADHD may find the emotional symptoms of ADHD such as mood swings or irritability particularly frustrating. Hormonal changes can cause symptoms, which can occur during menopausal, pregnancy and during menstrual cycles. Women with undiagnosed ADHD can feel frustrated and disappointed by their performance at workplace or in their relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD struggle with staying on top of everyday tasks such as grocery shopping and household chores. They might have a difficult finding the time to remember to empty the trash or to switch off the stove, and they can be easily distracted by small things in their environment. They may also have difficulty with routine tasks like folding laundry or washing the dishes. The monotonous or repetitive chores can become exhausting which can lead to impulsive behavior like excessive talking or sharing. Women with ADHD can also make erratic decisions and resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drugs.
If you have difficulty finishing tasks, memory issues that cause chronic procrastination or relationship challenges, you should seek a professional evaluation for ADHD. A correct diagnosis can enhance the quality of your life and help you achieve success in your personal and professional life. It can assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms and create strategies for dealing with them. To prevent lapses in concentration and attention, you can try to stick to a regular schedule and use planners or reminder apps and take notes during meetings, and adhere to good habits of sleep (avoid screens for an hour prior to bedtime). ADHD in adult men symptoms can also improve concentration because it boosts brain neurotransmitter levels.
3. It is difficult to remember names
Difficulty remembering names can go hand-in-hand with other ADHD symptoms like difficulties following directions and difficulty finishing projects. The underlying issue behind these issues is a failure to organize and prioritize tasks, which impacts the efficiency of information retrieval. This symptom tends to worsen when there are periods of stress, fatigue or hormonal changes.
If someone forgets their names, it can be even more frustrating if they also forget important details such as appointments and events or personal reminders. These lapses could also be exacerbated by anxiety or depression which are frequently associated with ADHD in women.
ADHD is often misdiagnosed in women 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, gender-based bias exists due to the fact that ADHD is generally considered to be a male-specific condition with hyperactive boys being the ones who are most admitted to clinics for evaluation and treatment. Combined with internalized stigma and the fact that women's symptoms frequently look different than men's as well, a lot of professionals fail to diagnose or treat ADHD in women.
Fortunately, it's becoming increasingly common for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. A diagnosis can improve your relationships, aid you to succeed at work and in school, and give you the support you need. Contact an Salience Health provider if you're interested in getting diagnosed. We will be able to assess your symptoms using tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced and connect you with a therapist who's the right fit for you.
4. Difficulty Appearing in Aloof
Women with ADHD can have subtle symptoms of inattention. They may skip appointments, forget to complete chores around the home, or have difficulty taking notes at work. They may also struggle with impulsivity and have difficulty understanding social boundaries. This could lead to confusion and misinterpretation with friends and family, and can also result in feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Additionally, women with untreated ADHD often struggle to meet societal expectations for them as women. This can result in a feeling of inadequacy and ADHD symptoms when they are faced with the responsibility of caring for children and household chores. Many women with untreated ADHD have low self-esteem and turn to unhealthy coping strategies such as binge eating and marathons on TV.
The difficulties of ADHD in women are exacerbated by gender bias, both in the way women and girls are perceived and evaluated by clinicians. Some research suggests that girls and women tend to conceal or minimize their ADHD symptoms, and can be less likely to receive treatment and diagnosis than men and boys.
Another challenge is that women with ADHD might have difficulty recognizing their own symptoms. They may confuse them with anxiety or mood disorders. This can lead to a false diagnoses and improper or delayed treatment.
These changes can make women more frustrated with her ADHD symptoms. They could also increase the chance that she will be viewed or dismissed as moody or overly emotional. These changes can intensify a woman's frustration with her ADHD symptoms, and they could increase the chance of being misinterpreted or dismissed as moody or emotionally overly emotional.
5. Impulsivity
While the impulsivity of ADHD affects both men and boys differently, women suffer from it as well. They can also experience trouble controlling their emotions and may be prone to having "foot-in-mouth" moments. These actions that are impulsive can have a big impact on relationships and professional life.
Prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that controls thinking and making decisions. This area can assist people avoid making a mistake by acting as a check on behavior. Those who suffer from ADHD have a less functional prefrontal cortex, which can make it difficult for them to resist urges or avoid doing something dangerous or damaging. It can also cause a lack of self-respect. For women, impulsiveness typically manifests itself as a problem with social boundaries and self-control (interrupting the conversation, not finishing other's sentences, and talking excessively).
Women also may have issues controlling their impulses during the various hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives. Estrogen fluctuates in different intervals throughout the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Contraceptives and hormone therapy during perimenopause or menopause may further alter estrogen levels and other hormones, which can affect a woman's ADHD.
The way ADHD symptoms are expressed in girls and women can differ from the symptoms of boys and men, which is one of the reasons they are often not diagnosed. Due to this, many people who suffer from ADHD are unaware of the fact that they do. The good news is, diagnosing and treating ADHD at any age can improve the quality of life an individual. If you are unsure whether or not you suffer from ADHD consult your doctor and see how they can assist. Treatment options include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy and couples counseling.