ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect females and males, but it's more difficult for women to diagnose. This is because women rarely exhibit the same inattention or impulsivity as men do, and therefore may be misdiagnosed or missed.
Making sure you have a clear diagnosis is the first step in managing your symptoms. Stimulant medication is a common treatment for adults with ADHD, but there are other options.
1. Trouble focusing
Although everyone is distracted occasionally women who suffer from ADHD struggle to keep their focus on tasks and conversations, especially when they're suffering from emotional or sensory overload. These problems can become worse during menstrual cycle.
Women with inattention ADHD have problems with their working memory. This makes it difficult to remember things that are simple like appointments or upcoming events. They might forget where they put their keys to their car or the name of the woman who gave them a ride home from spin class, or even important deadlines and dates.
Other symptoms of ADHD females in adulthood include procrastination and difficulty in following through on plans. They are more likely to get sidetracked by shiny objects or social media, which makes it harder to complete their projects and assignments. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and underperforming at school or at work.
Many women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because of gender stereotypes. In turn, they feel shame and mistakenly classify their problems as "bad behavior" or "character imperfections". They may feel like an impostor. A diagnosis can be a "lightbulb" moment for them, as it provides them with an external explanation of their struggles and helps them accept themselves more fully.
Untreated ADHD in girls and women can cause a range of negative effects, including behavioral issues, academic problems as well as family and relationship issues, and coexisting mental health conditions. A well-constructed diagnosis and treatment plan will enhance the lives of those with ADHD at any stage in their lives. Treatment options could include stimulant therapy and medication. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to complete tasks and duties. They might forget important details, have difficulty switching between tasks or responsibilities, and are unable to meet deadlines. They may also be more likely to make errors, have difficulty organizing their schedules and underestimate the time it takes them to complete tasks.
The emotional symptoms of ADHD in adults, like mood swings and irritability, can be a major source of frustration for women suffering from the condition. Hormonal changes can cause symptoms, including those that are experienced during menopausal cycles, pregnancy and during menstrual cycle. Women with undiagnosed ADHD can be frustrated and dissatisfied with their performance at work or in their relationships.
Some women with ADHD find daily routines like chores and grocery shopping extremely challenging. They may not remember to empty the garbage or shut off the stove, and be easily distracted. They may also have difficulty performing repetitive tasks, such as folding the dishes or washing the laundry. Boring or mundane tasks can become overwhelming and lead to impulsive behavior such as excessive talk or sharing. The impulsivity associated with ADHD can cause women to make impulsive choices and rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drugs.
If you're having difficulty finishing tasks, have memory issues, are constantly procrastinating or are experiencing relationship issues it is essential to seek professional help for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can improve your quality of life and assist you in achieving success in your professional and personal life. It can aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms, and help you develop strategies for dealing with these. To prevent lapses in concentration and attention, you can try to adhere to a regular schedule, use planners or reminder apps to take notes during meetings, and practice good habits of sleep (avoid screens for an hour prior to going to bed). Exercise can also help increase focus by boosting the production of brain neurotransmitters.
3. Trouble remembering names
It is possible that difficulty in remembering names could be accompanied by other ADHD symptoms, like difficulty following directions or completing projects. The root cause of these issues is a failure to organize and prioritize tasks that affects the efficiency of information retrieval. This condition can worsen during periods of stress, fatigue, or hormonal changes, such as prior to, during, or after menopausal change.
Forgetting names can feel even more frustrating when it's accompanied by a feeling of numbness over bigger items, such as appointments and events, or personal reminders. These lapses can be exacerbated by anxiety and depression, which are frequent co-occurring disorders that are associated with ADHD among women.
Due to gender biases and internalized symptoms, ADHD is often misdiagnosed by women. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are more subtle than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, making them harder to detect and identify. They are therefore under-diagnosed and under-referred to doctors for treatment and diagnosis.
Additionally, there is gender-based discrimination since the disorder is often be viewed as a disorder that is affecting boys. Boys who are hyperactive are the ones who are frequently taken to clinics and assessed for treatment. In addition, due to internalized stigma, female symptoms are often different from men's. Many professionals fail to diagnose or treat ADHD in females.
It's becoming more commonplace for women to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. A diagnosis can improve your relationships, aid you to succeed at work and in school, and provide you with the help you require. Contact an Salience Health provider if you're interested in getting diagnosed. We can evaluate your symptoms using tools such as Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced and connect you to a therapist who is the right fit for you.
4. Difficulty Appearing in Aloof
Women suffering from ADHD often have inattentive symptoms, and their struggles may seem insignificant to other people. They may not remember to do chores at home, skip appointments or struggle to take notes. They may also be struggling with impulsivity, or struggle to understand the boundaries of social interaction. This could lead to misinterpretation and misunderstandings in relationships with family and friends and can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
In addition, women who suffer from untreated ADHD often struggle to meet social expectations for them as women. This can lead to a feeling of inadequacy and ADHD symptoms when they are faced with the responsibility of caring for children and household chores. Many women suffering from untreated ADHD have low self-esteem and turn to unhealthy strategies for coping such as binge eating and marathons on TV.
The challenges of ADHD for women can be caused by gender bias both in how women and girls are perceived and assessed by clinicians. Certain studies suggest that girls and women are more likely to hide or compensate for their ADHD symptoms, and may be less likely to receive treatment and diagnosis than boys and men.
Women suffering from ADHD may also have trouble in recognizing their symptoms. severe ADHD symptoms in adults may be confused with anxiety disorders or mood disorders. This can lead to a false diagnosis or delayed treatment.
These changes can make women more frustrated with her ADHD symptoms. They may also increase the chance that she will be misunderstood or dismissed as moody or emotional. These changes can intensify a woman's frustration with her ADHD symptoms, and they can increase the likelihood of being viewed as moody or emotionally overly emotional.
5. Impulsivity
Women also experience the impulsivity that is associated with ADHD. They may also have trouble controlling their emotions and may be prone to experiencing "foot-in-mouth" moments. These actions that are impulsive can have a significant impact on relationships and professional life.
The part of the brain that regulates the process of decision-making and reasoning is known as the prefrontal cortex. This area can help people avoid making poor decisions by acting as a check on behavior. Those with ADHD have a less functional prefrontal cortex, which makes it difficult for them to resist their urges or stop themselves from doing something reckless or hurtful. It can also cause an absence of self-esteem. In women, impulsiveness often manifests itself as a problem with social boundaries and self-control (interrupting conversations, completing others' sentences, and speaking too much).
Women also have issues with impulse control when their hormones change. Estrogen fluctuates naturally at different times throughout the menstrual cycle, during childbirth, pregnancy and menopausal. Contraceptives and hormone therapy that is used during menopausal perimenopausal cycles can further alter estrogen levels as well as other hormones, which can affect women's ADHD.
The manner in which ADHD symptoms are expressed for women and girls may differ from the symptoms of males and females and is one of the reasons why they are frequently not diagnosed. Because of this, many adults who have ADHD are unaware that they have it. The good news is, diagnosing and treating ADHD at any age can improve the quality of life of the person. If you are unsure whether or not you suffer from ADHD, talk to your doctor and see how they can help. Treatment options include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy and couples counseling.