Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Women
While boys and men are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD but girls and women are also susceptible to it. But lingering stereotypes, referral biases, internalized symptoms and comorbidities can make it more difficult for them to get properly assessed and treated.
These strategies could be harmful and not sustainable. Here are some of the most frequent symptoms of ADHD in women of adulthood.
1. Unfocused attention
Women suffering from ADHD tend to feel overwhelmed by the daily tasks. It can be difficult to keep on top of deadlines, emails, and meetings. They may also be more likely to miss important appointments or events. They may also be unable to focus. concentrating in noisy or busy environments. This can cause them to miss opportunities and produce lower quality work.
These challenges can lead to frustration for many adults with ADHD. They may believe that they reflect of their own performance or of themselves. Many people who suffer from ADHD end up having low self-esteem and a negative perception of their body. They may also have difficulty maintaining stable relationships and establishing effective coping mechanisms. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy strategies for coping that include excessive drinking or drug use. This can make it more difficult for others to see that they're struggling and delay an accurate diagnosis.
Adults with ADHD can be especially sensitive to criticism and failure, which can cause them to internalize their difficulties and have difficulty seeking assistance. As a result, they may struggle with relationships and have trouble finding meaningful employment. They can also be more prone to anxiety, depression, and mood fluctuations. In some cases, these symptoms can cause the development of a mental health condition such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which can be manifested through burning, cutting, or scratching.
ADHD is more common in men and boys, but symptoms can persist and impact many areas of your life. Women should be aware of the signs and seek a diagnosis from a healthcare professional. A proper diagnosis can result in better control of symptoms and a better quality of life.
2. Disorganization
Women with ADHD often complain of feeling overwhelmed and feel like their lives are chaotic. They may not meet deadlines or find it difficult to manage household chores like paying bills and keeping the track of appointments. They might have a chaotic home and finances, and may struggle to maintain a stable relationship and work.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can cause frustration and miscommunications in relationships between friends, partners and coworkers. These problems can lead to broken or strained connections and feelings of loneliness. Forgetfulness, difficulty in listening, and the tendency to "zone out", or stop paying attention, can cause misunderstandings with loved ones.
Signs of impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and mood swings are more common in women with ADHD than men and can be extremely disruptive to both your personal and professional life. Women who are not treated for ADHD may be overwhelmed by the demands of work, family and social life. They could also be sensitive to criticism and harsh judgment.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce the impact of these symptoms. For many adults treatments include lifestyle modifications and the use of specialized organizational tools and prescription stimulant medications.
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to be more able than men to conceal their ADHD symptoms and, as a consequence, may go undiagnosed until they reach adulthood. They are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, like anxiety and depression that can increase the effects of untreated ADHD. Women can also have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships and stable jobs and are susceptible to low self-esteem and chronic stress. *Sex refers a person's chromosomes and hormones; gender refers to the internal perception of oneself as a male woman, woman, nonbinary or another gender identity. Mental health conditions are often diagnoses based on both.
3. Anxiety
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. ADHD symptoms adult female can be exacerbated by the inability to keep track of appointments and daily tasks that can cause health issues such as missing appointments, late payments or even debt. The emotional dysregulation, impulsivity and forgetfulness of ADHD can also create issues with relationships with partners, coworkers and even friends.
Many women develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. This could make it difficult for others to see that they are having trouble staying organized and focused. These coping strategies may be healthy, like creating a daily schedule or establishing phone reminders or they could be harmful and rely on alcohol or other drugs to perform or manage their issues. These coping strategies can make women feel stressed and insecure which can cause them to doubt their abilities and self-confidence. This can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety.
Women who suffer from ADHD might also feel like they don't fit in or aren't meeting social expectations. This can cause frustration and low self-esteem. They may also experience issues at work, including difficulties with organization skills, following corporate policies, or sticking to a 9-to-5 routine. They may struggle with managing their finances, due to disorganization and impulsive spending, or they could have difficulty keeping up with work-related assignments or completing homework.
ADHD is a long-lasting condition that requires constant support, particularly when it affects girls and women. Despite its prevalence however, it's still undiagnosed, misunderstood, and undertreated. Remaining stereotypes and referral biases, internalized symptoms, comorbidities, and hormonal changes all contribute to the unique symptom-based presentation of ADHD in females.
4. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD may have trouble controlling their emotions and impulses. They might become easily frustrated or overly excited, lose track time or be late for events. They may also have difficulty understanding body language or picking up on social signals. This could cause problems at work or in relationships. For instance, they could be easily entangled in arguments or they may spend too much time on hobbies and interests that aren't very important to them. They may also have difficulty keeping friendships and creating new connections due to the fact that they struggle to follow through on promises and commitments.
Women are more adept at building coping mechanisms that can help them to manage their ADHD symptoms, which is why it's harder for them to get diagnosed than men. They could, for example create routines to aid in staying organized or utilize apps to remind them of their appointments. They might also change their behavior to fit in with norms and expectations set by society. They could even conceal their symptoms using alcohol or drugs to deal with their problems with their symptoms, which could have serious health issues in the long run.
Certain people with ADHD do not completely overcome the symptoms. Around 60% of women with ADHD in their childhood will continue to have it throughout their adulthood. This compares to 30% of males.
Professional therapy can be beneficial for those who could not experience relief from medication or lifestyle changes. There are many options available, like career coaching, counseling and life coaching. You can also consider taking stimulants. Exercise can also be a great way to improve your mood and boost your energy levels. It releases neurotransmitters that increase motivation and focus. It can reduce anxiety and stress.
5. Reactivity to emotions
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with emotional reaction. They may have trouble regulating their emotions and expressing them appropriately. This can cause frustration for both themselves and others. A woman with ADHD may get angry when a friend critiques them however she may not be able calm down to talk about the issue in a rational manner. It is also possible that she struggles to "pause" her reaction by recognizing bodily signals that indicate she's overwhelmed or overexcited like a flushed skin or shortness of breath.
This issue with regulating their emotions can heighten frustration and misunderstandings in relationships and it can make people with ADHD more prone to anxiety or depression. It can also cause problems with social interactions because it is difficult to read people's moods or detect social signals.
In certain situations, ADHD people may appear disconnected and uninterested in their friends or loved one, even though they care about them. In other instances they might withdraw from situations that trigger emotions to avoid feeling an intense emotion.
The nature of women's symptoms can make it easier for doctors to overlook the symptoms of ADHD. Women often hide their ADHD symptoms, and when they do show up, they are more likely to be misdiagnosed as mood or anxiety disorders. It can be helpful to consult a mental health specialist who has worked with young girls and women with ADHD when you're experiencing these symptoms. They can help you validate your experiences, guide you how to utilize strategies such as self-awareness and pacing, and provide family psychoeducation that can help you learn to recognize and respond to your ADHD symptoms in the future.