9 Signs You're A Adult Female ADHD Symptoms Expert
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, it often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to recognize ADHD in women. As a result, many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. For instance your desk might be a jumble of unruly papers, 17 chapsticks, and a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. And while you spend money on products that claim to keep you organized, your home and office are likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your tasks may lead to missed deadlines and appointments. In addition, you could be struggling with the concept of "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend how much time it takes to complete a task. This could leave you feeling unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a good job in your career or personal life, particularly when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You may also have difficulty managing your emotions. This could cause you to overreact when confronted with stressful situations. You may also make comments that are not intended to hurt someone's feelings. And since impulsivity is common for those with ADHD and ADD, you may have trouble stopping yourself from saying things before thinking them through.
If you suffer from ADHD it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and cultural ideas regarding how men, boys, and women should act. This makes it more difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
You could also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root causes of your disorder. And although it may take some time to identify the appropriate coping strategies Implementing these strategies will help you feel more in control of your life and enhance relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or analyze them. They may be overwhelmed by a small incident, or have trouble assessing the mood of others. This also makes them more prone to be distracted by minor inconveniences, such as a book out of stock or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD compensate for their attention problems by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at school or at work, and have trouble keeping track of appointments and bills or important dates. They may struggle with self-talk control and speak too much or interrupt others often.
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. These symptoms include an abrupt desire to start, stop, or change activities. They also include being unable to wait for your turn in a conversation, and having difficulty reading social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes may play a role in the development of ADHD, it's not always easy to tell if women are suffering from these problems. The rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women with ADHD have reported that their symptoms are more severe when hormonal changes occur, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can intensify emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They might also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their relationships or lives. This may lead to the use of drugs, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping strategies. This is the reason it's so important for women to realize that these symptoms aren't an indication of their worth or worth as individuals. With a well-planned treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can disrupt your everyday life. You may make careless errors at work or at school, forget appointments or spend a large deal of time procrastinating. You have a difficult time waiting your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt others.
Adults who are not attentive may also have a tendency to get caught up in projects before thoroughly planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. adhd in adult women test may also get distracted quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system which was erected and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and lose things on a regular basis. You may be unable to keep your track of time and become late for work, school or even 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 with these signs may make or do actions without considering the impact, like talking over other people or making strange sounds when they're alone. They may have trouble sitting still, and fidget in their chair or move. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent disputes with their coworkers and their manager.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of having comorbid conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD have a myriad of challenges when seeking diagnosis and treatment which include gender discrimination and a tendency to hide their symptoms or undervalue the severity of their symptoms. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have openly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. But, many young women and girls don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
Although many people feel anxious or nervous from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an uneasy feeling or fear, as well as a rapid pulse, difficulty staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You may also feel a heightened sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous for you. The most common forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more common among women suffering from ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen during certain periods of a woman's life, such as around the time of her menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interaction and can trigger feelings of self-esteem loss or dissatisfaction.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a hard time accepting criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipate rejection and you might be angry about minor things that others don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are a part of the symptoms of adhd for women in adulthood and you may find that your emotions are unstable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
It's important to seek a diagnosis when you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It will help you comprehend the issues you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve the quality of your life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a professional assessment. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In some instances your doctor may suggest a combination between lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any scenario, it's essential to begin making positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This will allow you to gain control over your life and make you feel more productive, confident and competent.