ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect both women and men, however it is more difficult for women to diagnose. It's because women do not typically exhibit the same inattention or impulsivity as men do, so they are often misdiagnosed or not recognized.
A clear diagnosis is the first step towards managing your symptoms. Adults suffering from ADHD are often treated with stimulant medications, but there are other alternatives.
1. Trouble focusing
Women with ADHD can be distracted by a variety of things, but they have difficulties focusing on conversations and tasks particularly when they are experiencing sensory or emotional overload. These difficulties can be exacerbated during menstrual cycles.
Women who are inattentional ADHD have problems with their working memory. This makes it difficult to remember simple things like appointments or upcoming events. They may forget where they left their keys in their car or the name of the lady who gave them a ride home after a the spin class. They might also forget important dates and deadlines.
Procrastination and the inability to stick with plans are also symptoms of ADHD among adult females. They're more likely to get distracted by shiny objects or social media, making it difficult to finish their assignments and projects. This can result in feeling overwhelmed and a lack of performance at work or school.
Because of the way society views gender, many women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed. They feel shame and mistakenly classify their problems as "bad behavior" or "character imperfections". They are often viewed like an impostor. A diagnosis could be a moment of clarity, giving them a clear, external explanation for their challenges and giving them the opportunity to accept their own uniqueness.
Untreated ADHD in girls and women can result in a myriad of negative effects, such as academic difficulties, behavioral problems relationships and family issues and co-existing mental health issues. But a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can drastically enhance the lives of people suffering from this condition at every stage of their lives. Treatment options could include stimulant medication and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women with ADHD have difficulty completing tasks or obligations. They may forget important information, have trouble shifting between tasks and responsibilities, or find it hard to meet deadlines. They might also be more prone to make erroneous mistakes, have trouble managing their time well, and overestimate how long it takes to complete tasks.
Women with ADHD may find the emotional symptoms of ADHD such as irritability or mood swings, especially frustrating. The symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstrual cycles or during pregnancy, as well as menopausal. Women with undiagnosed ADHD can be frustrated and dissatisfied with their performance at work or in relationships.
Some women with ADHD have a difficult time managing daily tasks like grocery shopping and chores. They may have a hard finding the time to remember to empty the trash or to switch off the stove, and they are easily distracted by the smallest things in their environment. They might also struggle performing repetitive tasks, such as folding laundry or washing dishes. Simple tasks that are boring or repetitive can become unbearable which can lead to impulsive behaviours like excessive conversation or oversharing. Women with ADHD can also make erratic choices and use unhealthy coping strategies, like alcohol or other drugs.
If you are having difficulty getting things done, have memory issues, are constantly procrastinating or have relationship problems it is essential to seek professional assistance for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can improve the quality of your life and assist you in achieving success in your professional and personal life. It can assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms, and develop strategies for dealing with them. You can minimize lapses of focus and attention by adhering to a set schedule using a planner, or a reminder app, taking notes during meetings, and ensuring good sleeping habits. Exercise also helps to improve focus by increasing the production of brain neurotransmitters.
3. Difficulty Remembering Names
Difficulty remembering names can go hand-in-hand with other ADHD symptoms like difficulty in following directions and having trouble finishing projects. This is due to a lack of organizing and prioritizing tasks, which affects efficient information retrieval. This symptom tends to worsen when there are periods of stress, fatigue or hormonal changes.
The feeling of forgetting names can be more frustrating when it's followed by a feeling of numbness over bigger items like appointments and events or personal reminders. These lapses could be worsened by depression or anxiety that are often associated with ADHD in women.
Due to gender perceptions and internalized symptoms ADHD is often misdiagnosed in 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.
In ADHD symptoms in adulthood , there is a gender-based bias due to the fact that ADHD is generally seen as a male condition and boys with hyperactivity being the ones most referred to clinics for evaluation and treatment. Combined with internalized stigma and the fact that women's symptoms tend to differ from those of men as well, a lot of professionals fail to recognize 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 set you up for success at school and work and provide the support you need to thrive in your life. If you are interested in getting diagnosed, speak to an experienced Salience Health provider. We'll be able to assess your symptoms using tools such as Creyos cognitive testing and Brainview Advanced, and connect you with a therapist that's right for you.
4. Difficulty Appearing Aloof
Women who suffer from ADHD often have inattentive symptoms and their problems may seem insignificant to other people. signs and symptoms of add and ADHD in adults may not remember to do chores at home, skip appointments, or have trouble taking notes. They may also be struggling with impulsivity, or struggle to understand social boundaries. This could lead to confusion and misinterpretation of relationships with friends and family and can cause feelings of loneliness and feeling isolated.
Women who are not treated for ADHD might also have difficulty fulfilling the expectations of society for them as women. They might struggle with the responsibility of caring for children and household chores, and this societal pressure can exacerbate their ADHD symptoms and feelings of inadequacy. Many women suffering from untreated ADHD have low self-esteem and resort to unhealthy coping strategies like binge eating and TV marathons.
The challenges of ADHD for women can be amplified by gender bias, both in the way that women and girls are viewed and assessed by healthcare professionals. There is evidence that suggests that girls and women tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms or to compensate for them, and may be less likely than males and females to be referred to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.
Women with ADHD can also have difficulty understanding their symptoms and could confuse them with mood disorders or anxiety disorders. This can contribute to a false diagnosis as well as delayed or incorrect treatment.
These changes can increase a woman's frustration with her ADHD symptoms. They could also increase the chance that she will be viewed or dismissed as moody or excessively emotional. These changes can intensify women's anger over their ADHD symptoms, and they can increase the likelihood of being misunderstood or dismissed as moody or overly emotional.
5. Impulsivity
Women are also susceptible to the impulsivity that is associated with ADHD. They may also have difficulty controlling their emotions, and be prone to "foot in mouth" moments. These behavior patterns that are impulsive can have big impact on relationships and professional life.
The brain part that regulates the ability to make decisions and reason is known as the prefrontal cortex. This brain area can help people avoid making a mistake by acting as a check on their behavior. The people who suffer from ADHD have less functioning prefrontal cortex. This can make it difficult for them to resist urges or stop themselves from engaging in reckless or harmful behavior. It can also lead to a lack in self-respect. Women's impulsiveness is often manifested as a lack of social boundaries and self-control during conversations (interrupting others, finishing their sentences, or talking too often).
Women can also have trouble with impulse control due to the different hormone fluctuations throughout their lives. Estrogen fluctuates at different times throughout the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, as well as childbirth and menopausal cycles. The use of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopausal cycles can alter the levels of estrogen as well as other hormones that impact women's ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms in girls and women may differ from those in males and boys. This is why they are often not properly diagnosed. Many adults with ADHD are unaware of their condition. The good news is that diagnosing and treating ADHD can help improve a person's life at any age. If you're not sure whether or not you have ADHD consult your doctor and see how they can help. Treatment options include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy and couples counseling.