ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect people of all genders and ages, but it is more difficult for women to get diagnosed. This is because women don't exhibit the same levels of hyperactivity and the same impulsivity as men, which means they may be missed or incorrectly diagnosed.
The first step in addressing your symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Stimulant medications are a popular treatment for adults suffering from ADHD however there are also other options.
1. Problems with Focusing
Although everyone is distracted occasionally, women with ADHD have difficulty putting their focus on conversations and tasks, especially when they're dealing with sensory or emotional overload. These difficulties can be exacerbated during menstrual cycles.
Women with inattentive ADHD have issues with their working memory. This makes it difficult to remember everyday things like dates or events coming up. They might forget where they left their car keys or the name of the lady who offered them a lift home from the spin class. They may also forget important dates and deadlines.
Procrastination and the inability to follow through with plans are also signs of ADHD among females of adulthood. They are more likely to get distracted by shiny objects or social media, making it harder to complete their assignments and projects. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and underperforming in school or at work.
Many women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because of gender stereotypes. In the end, they feel ashamed and mistakenly label their issues as "bad habits" or "character imperfections." They also frequently report feeling like an impostor. A diagnosis can be a moment of clarity, providing them with a clear external explanation for their issues and giving them the opportunity to accept themselves more fully.
Women and girls with untreated ADHD are susceptible to a wide range of negative consequences such as academic issues and behavioral issues, as well as family and relationship problems and co-occurring mental health issues. But a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can drastically improve life for people with ADHD at all stages of their lives. Treatment options include stimulant medications and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to complete tasks and responsibilities. They may lose important information, have trouble switching between tasks and responsibilities, or find it hard to meet deadlines. They may also be more susceptible to making careless mistakes, have trouble organizing and managing their time efficiently and underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete tasks.
Women with ADHD may find the emotional symptoms of ADHD like mood swings or irritability particularly difficult. adult female ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes, including those that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may be frustrated and dissatisfied in their work performance and in their relationships.
Some women who suffer from ADHD find daily routines like chores and grocery shopping extremely challenging. They might have a difficult recalling to take out the trash or turn off the stove, and they are easily distracted by small things around them. They may also have difficulty doing repetitive tasks, like folding laundry or washing dishes. The monotonous or boring tasks can become unbearable which can lead to impulsive behaviours like excessive conversation or oversharing. The impulsivity associated with ADHD can also cause women to make impulsive decisions and use unhealthy coping methods such as alcohol or drugs.
If you're having trouble finishing tasks, have memory issues, have a tendency to procrastinate for a long time or have relationship problems It is crucial to seek out professional help for ADHD. Finding the right diagnosis can improve the quality of life and help you achieve success in both your professional and personal lives. It can help you better manage your ADHD symptoms and develop strategies to deal with them effectively. You can limit lapses of concentration and attention by adhering to a plan using a planner, or a reminder app, taking notes during meetings, and maintaining good sleeping habits. Exercise can also to improve focus by increasing brain neurotransmitter production.
3. Difficulty remembering names
It is possible that difficulty in remembering names could be accompanied by other ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties following directions or not finishing projects. This is due to the difficulty of organizing and prioritizing tasks, which affects efficient information retrieval. This symptom also tends to get worse during times of stress, fatigue, or hormonal changes, for instance prior to, during, or after menopausal changes.
The feeling of forgetting names can be more frustrating when it's followed by a feeling of numbness over larger things like appointments and events, or personal reminders. These lapses can be caused by depression or anxiety which are frequently associated with ADHD in women.
ADHD is often underdiagnosed 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. Therefore, they are not diagnosed and not referred to doctors for treatment and diagnosis.
Additionally there is discrimination based on gender because the disorder tends to be viewed as a disorder that is affecting boys. Boys with hyperactivity are the ones most often taken to clinics and assessed for treatment. In addition to internalized stigma and the fact that women's symptoms frequently differ from those of men as well, a lot of professionals fail to detect or treat ADHD in women.
Fortunately, it's becoming more common for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis in their adulthood. A diagnosis can help improve your relationships and prepare you for success at school and work, and provide the support you require to succeed in your daily life. Talk to an Salience Health provider if you're looking to be diagnosed. We can evaluate your symptoms with tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced and connect you with a therapist who's the right fit for you.
4. Difficulty Appearing Aloof
Women suffering from ADHD often have inattentive symptoms, and their struggles may appear insignificant to other people. They may miss appointments, fail to finish chores around the home, or have difficulty making notes at work. They might also be struggling with impulsivity and trouble understanding social boundaries. This can result in misinterpretation and misunderstandings in relationships with family and friends and can cause feelings of loneliness and feeling isolated.
Additionally, women with untreated ADHD often have difficulty meeting the expectations of society for them as women. This can cause feelings of inadequacy and ADHD symptoms when they are faced with the burden 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 or TV marathons.
The challenges of ADHD for women can be caused by gender bias both in the way that women and girls are viewed and assessed by healthcare professionals. Certain studies suggest that girls and women tend to hide or compensate for their ADHD symptoms, and may be less likely to receive treatment and diagnosis than boys and men.
Another challenge is that women with ADHD may be unable to recognize their own symptoms, and they might confuse them with mood disorders or anxiety. This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delayed treatment.
These changes can make women more frustrated with her ADHD symptoms. They may also make it more likely that she will be misunderstood or dismissed as moody or overly emotional. These changes can heighten a woman's frustration with her ADHD symptoms, and they can increase the likelihood of being viewed as moody or emotional.
5. Impulsivity
Although the impulsivity associated with ADHD affects both men and boys differently, women are affected similarly. They may also have trouble managing their emotions and can be prone to experiencing "foot-in-mouth" moments. These impulsive behaviors can have a big impact on relationships and professional life.
Prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for controlling reasoning and decision-making. This brain area can stop people from making bad decisions because it acts as a check. Those with ADHD have less functioning prefrontal cortex. This can make it difficult to resist the urges or prevent themselves from engaging in reckless or harmful behavior. It can also lead to an inability to respect themselves. In women, impulsiveness often manifests as difficulty with social boundaries and conversational self-restraint (interrupting the conversation, not finishing other's sentences, and speaking too much).
Women can also have trouble with impulse control during the many hormonal changes throughout their lives. Estrogen fluctuates in different intervals throughout the menstrual period, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. The use of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopause can further alter the levels of estrogen and other hormones that impact a woman's ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms for girls and women can differ from those of men and boys, which is why they are often not properly diagnosed. Due to this, many adults who have ADHD are unaware of the fact that they do. The good news is that diagnosing and treating ADHD can help improve the quality of life for anyone regardless of age. Talk to your doctor if you're not sure whether you suffer from ADHD. They'll be able to give you advice. Treatment options include medications as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and couples counseling.