ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect both females and males, but it is more difficult for women to recognize it. It's because women don't often exhibit the same high levels of impulsivity or hyperactivity that men do, and therefore are often misdiagnosed or not recognized.
The first step in addressing your symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Stimulant medications are a popular treatment for adults suffering from ADHD however there are also other options.
1. Problems with Focusing
Women suffering from ADHD are prone to being distracted by a variety of things, but they have difficulties staying focused on tasks and conversations, especially if they are suffering from emotional or sensory overload. These issues can become more severe during menstrual cycles.
Women who are inattentional ADHD have issues with their working memory. This causes them to be unable to remember everyday things like dates or events coming up. They may forget where they put their car keys or the name of the lady who gave them a lift home from spin class. They might also forget important dates and deadlines.
Other symptoms of ADHD in adult females include procrastination and difficulty in following through on plans. They are more likely to get distracted by shiny objects or social media which can make it difficult for them to complete their projects and assignments. This can result in a sense of being overwhelmed and underperforming at work or school.
Many women with ADHD aren't diagnosed because of gender stereotypes. They feel shame and mistakenly label their problems as "bad behaviours" or "character issues". They often feel like they're an imposter. A diagnosis can be a lightbulb moment giving them a clear, external explanation for their challenges and helping them accept their own uniqueness.
Women and girls with untreated ADHD can experience a wide range of negative outcomes, including academic problems and behavioral issues, as well as relationships with family members and co-occurring mental health conditions. But a thorough diagnosis and treatment plan can dramatically improve the quality of life for those suffering from this condition at every stage of life. Treatment options include stimulant medications and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women suffering from ADHD struggle to complete tasks or responsibilities. They may forget important information, have difficulty switching between tasks and responsibilities and find it difficult to meet deadlines. They might also be more susceptible to make erroneous mistakes or having difficulty organizing their time well, and overestimate how long it takes to complete tasks.
Women suffering from ADHD are likely to experience emotional symptoms of ADHD, such as irritability or mood swings, particularly frustrating. The symptoms can be made worse by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can be frustrated and dissatisfied with their performance at workplace or in their relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD struggle with managing daily tasks, such as grocery shopping and chores. They might not remember to empty the garbage or turn off the stove, and can easily get distracted. They might also struggle doing routine tasks like folding the dishes or washing the laundry. Boring or mundane tasks can become intolerable and lead to impulsive behavior like excessive talking or oversharing. The impulsivity associated with ADHD can also cause women to make impulsive decisions and rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drugs.
If you are having difficulty completing tasks, have memory issues, chronic procrastination and relationships, you should consider a professional assessment for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can enhance your living quality and set you up for success in your professional and personal lives. It can aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms, and develop strategies to deal with the symptoms. You can minimize lapses of attention and focus by sticking to a set schedule by using a planner or reminder apps, making notes during meetings, and practicing good sleep hygiene. Exercise can also help improve focus as it increases the neurotransmitter levels in your brain.
3. Trouble remembering names
It is possible that a trouble remembering names might be accompanied by other ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties following directions or not finishing projects. The underlying issue behind these difficulties is an inability to prioritize and organize tasks which affects efficient information retrieval. This condition tends to get worse during times of fatigue, stress or hormonal changes.
The feeling of forgetting names can be more frustrating if 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 depression and anxiety which are both common co-occurring conditions with ADHD for women.
Due to gender stereotypes 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. This means that they are under-identified and under-referred for diagnosis and treatment.
In addition there is discrimination based on gender since the disorder is often be viewed as a condition that is affecting boys. Hyperactive boys are the ones who are most frequently referred to clinics and evaluated for treatment. Combined with internalized stigma and the fact that women's symptoms tend to look different than men's as well, a lot of professionals fail to recognize or treat ADHD in women.
It's becoming more common for women to be diagnosed with ADHD in their adulthood. A diagnosis can enhance your relationships, help you achieve success at work and in school, and give you the assistance you require. Contact a Salience Health provider if you're interested in getting diagnosed. We will be able to assess 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 in Aloof
Women who suffer from ADHD might exhibit subtle signs of inattention. They might forget to complete chores at home, fail to attend appointments or struggle to take notes. They might also struggle with impulsivity, or struggle to understand the boundaries of social interaction. This can lead them to misinterpret and misunderstandings between family and friends and could lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Women with untreated ADHD may also have trouble fulfilling the expectations of society regarding them as women. This can lead to feeling inadequate and ADHD symptoms when they are faced with the responsibility of caring for children and household chores. Untreated ADHD can lead to lower self-esteem in women. They may resort to unhealthy ways of coping such as binge-eating and watching marathons on TV.
The challenges of ADHD for women can be amplified by gender bias, both in the way that girls and women are perceived and evaluated by clinicians. There is evidence that suggests that women and girls tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms or attempt to cover up for them, and they are less likely than boys and men to get referred for treatment and diagnosis.
Women suffering from ADHD may also have trouble in recognizing their symptoms. They may be confused with anxiety disorders or mood disorders. This can lead to a incorrect diagnosis and delayed treatment.
These changes can make women more frustrated with her ADHD symptoms. They can also make it more likely that she will be misunderstood or dismissed as moody or excessively emotional. These changes can cause women to be more annoyed with her ADHD symptoms and increase the chances of being misunderstood or viewed as moody or emotional.
5. Impulsivity
Women are also prone to impulsivity, which is a sign of ADHD. They may also have trouble controlling their emotions and could be prone to experiencing "foot-in-mouth" moments. These actions that are impulsive can have a huge impact on relationships as well as professional life.
Prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that is responsible for controlling thinking and making decisions. This area can prevent people from making poor decisions since it serves as a check. ADHD sufferers have less functional prefrontal cortex. This makes it more difficult to resist impulses and stop themselves from doing something reckless. ADHD in adult men symptoms can also lead to a lack in self-respect. For women, impulsiveness typically manifests as difficulties with social boundaries and conversational self-restraint (interrupting the conversation, not finishing other's sentences, or talking too much).
Women also may have issues with impulse control during the different hormone fluctuations throughout their lives. Estrogen fluctuates in different intervals throughout the menstrual period and pregnancy, as well as childbirth and menopause. The use of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopausal and menopausal changes the levels of estrogen and other hormones that affect women's ADHD symptoms.
The manner in which ADHD symptoms manifest in girls and women can vary from those of men and boys, which is one of the reasons why they are frequently not diagnosed. Because of this, many people who suffer from ADHD are unaware of the fact that they do. The good news is that diagnosing and treating ADHD at any age can enhance the quality of life for the person. If you're unsure if or not you suffer from ADHD, talk to your doctor to see if they can assist. Treatment options include medication, cognitive therapy, and couples counseling.