ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may have issues at work or in their relationships. It is crucial to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and find a treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can help to improve your life by addressing your symptoms and paying attention to what's important.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women may have difficulty paying attention to details, remembering deadlines and appointments or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete an assignment. They may also have difficulty keeping track of their obligations at workplace or in relationships, become distracted easily and fail to keep their word on their promises. They may also be impulsive, struggle with managing their emotions, and may blurt out thoughts without considering them.
It's important to recognize and treat symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to pay attention can cause problems with friendships and relationships. Women may find it difficult to make new friends, or they may struggle in their current relationships with constant fights and missed opportunities for fun and being neglected. Women also may struggle to manage the demands of work, home and childcare.
It can be a challenge for health professionals and therapists alike, to identify ADHD in a large number of people. This doesn't mean that it's not real, or that a person has to be more focused. A diagnosis is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact daily functioning across multiple areas of life.
Women are more likely to experience inattentive symptoms as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive ones and this could be the reason why they aren't diagnosed. Additionally many women who suffer from ADHD feel a sense of being embarrassed about their issues because they don't fit the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This makes it harder for those who suffer from ADHD to seek assistance or seek treatment.
In some instances, women with ADHD remain undiagnosed for a long time because they are trying to cope and conceal their symptoms. They are also more likely to be suffering from disorders that are comorbid, like depression or anxiety, which can conceal the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations, which can cause their symptoms to flare up or disappear. This is especially relevant during menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy and perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Problems
Women with ADHD typically experience forgetfulness as well as emotional dysregulation, disorganization and forgetfulness. These symptoms can make them incapable of completing everyday tasks, fulfill their obligations or maintain relationships. severe ADHD symptoms in adults may also experience low self-esteem or be anxious. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often feel like they're not meeting social expectations and have a difficult than their peers in terms of academic achievement as well as job performance and social interactions.
In addition to forgetfulness and disorganization, ADHD in adult women can manifest as hyperfocus or procrastination. These issues can result in women missing appointments, not paying bills on time, and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can result in a loss in concentration on other important tasks, as well as a lack of understanding of time. This can make it difficult to switch from one task to another. Procrastination can also lead to a buildup of stress, anxiety, and a constant feeling of being behind.
Another symptom that is often associated with ADHD is difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication. This can include talking excessively, interrupting others or saying inappropriate things. It can also indicate an inability to wait for her turn or difficulty recognizing social boundaries. It is important to remember that these behaviors don't necessarily mean a lack of intelligence or capability.
Many women with ADHD develop coping mechanisms to manage their symptoms, which can have both positive and negative consequences. Some of these strategies for coping could be healthy. For example, using a daily calendar or making reminders for important dates. Some of these coping strategies might be healthy, like making reminders for events or using alcohol or drugs to mask symptoms. This is why it is essential for women who suspect they have ADHD to seek assistance from an expert in mental health.
Women with ADHD are able to benefit from medication treatment, lifestyle changes, therapy, and a myriad of other treatment options. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses underlying negative thoughts and beliefs as well as mindfulness and relaxation exercising and a balanced diet and enough rest. A doctor may also recommend adjustments to make school or work more comfortable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women who suffer from ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they can become discontent and frustrated when their problems aren't resolved. This can make it difficult for them to keep relationships with romantic partners, friends, and co-workers. For example the tendency to forget or be impulsive can cause confusion or frustration in romantic relations and can cause feelings of loneliness or depression. A tendency to seek thrills at the whim of your heart could be mistaken by others as an absence of interest or indifference.
This is why ADHD symptoms are frequently missed or under-diagnosed for girls and women. They may also have a hard time recognizing that their struggles are caused by the disorder because of social norms and stereotypes about the behavior of women and men.
Girls and women with ADHD often camouflage their symptoms to avoid causing embarrassment. This could result in being referred to less frequently for diagnosis than males and females with the same symptoms. This discrepancy may also be due to gender bias in the research that informs diagnostic criteria. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger found that women and girls are more likely to be misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed than men and boys with the same ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that doctors are conditioned by their education to view hyperactive and hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as more prevalent for both genders. This makes them easier to detect and refer to a specialist for evaluation.
In adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are common ADHD symptoms, but they can affect an adult's life. People with ADHD can feel restless and find it difficult to sit still, especially if they are feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fluttering around and can be extremely talkative, frequently interrupting or finishing sentences of others without thinking that they're causing offence.
If you suspect you might have ADHD or other disorders, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist by your physician or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) as well as members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024, and updated in November 2022.
4. Problems with Social Skills
Women with ADHD might have trouble managing their emotions and communicating effectively at work. This can lead to issues that can hinder personal relationships and professional goals. They may have trouble recognizing and responding properly to feedback. This can result in disappointment or anger. They may also have trouble maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can result in anxiety. Many women who suffer from ADHD employ unhealthy methods of coping to compensate for their problems. These include eating disorders, addiction to substances and non-suicidal harming oneself (NSSI), like cutting, burning or scratching.
Women with ADHD might be more hesitant to receive treatment as adults than males, because they often hide their symptoms. They frequently create strategies for coping to conform to the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms more difficult for others to recognize. These strategies for coping could be as simple as making lists and establishing reminders, or more complicated strategies, like managing their emotions or implementing mindfulness techniques.
However, these strategies could backfire and make symptoms worse. They can also hinder adequate sleep, which is essential in managing ADHD symptoms. Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD often feel overwhelmed by life's demands, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However the gap gets smaller as they grow older. This is due to the fact that it's normal for women to experience a variety of symptoms throughout their lives, which can result in the diagnosis at various dates.
Changing hormone levels can also influence ADHD symptoms in women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for instance the symptoms could improve. Higher levels of estrogen help regulate brain chemicals that influence the ability to focus. However, if they begin to experience low levels of estrogen due to perimenopausal or age-related decline the ADHD symptoms could become more severe.
Fortunately, it's possible for adults suffering from ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and receive effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy, which will help people with ADHD build the necessary skills to improve their everyday functioning. They can also attend meetings of support groups for ADHD to share their experience with others who are on the same journey, and gain valuable insights from their colleagues.