ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect people of all ages and genders, but it can be more difficult for women to be diagnosed. It's because women do not typically show the same hyperactivity or impulsivity that men do, and therefore may be misdiagnosed or missed.
The first step in managing your symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. Stimulant medication is a common treatment for adults suffering from ADHD however, there are other options.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Women with ADHD can be distracted by a variety of things, but they're also having difficulties focusing on conversations and tasks especially when they are suffering from sensory or emotional overload. These problems can be made worse when menstrual cycles are in full swing.
Women with inattentive ADHD have issues with their working memory. This causes them to be unable to remember simple things, such as dates or events coming up. They may often forget where they left their keys to their car, the name of the lady who gave them a ride to home from spin class or even important dates and deadlines.
Other signs of ADHD females in adulthood include procrastination and difficulty in following through with plans. They are more likely to get sidetracked by shiny objects or social media, which makes it harder to complete their assignments and projects. This can cause them to feel overwhelmed and underperforming in school or at work.
Because of the way society views gender, a lot of women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed. They feel shame and mistakenly classify their struggles as "bad behavior" or "character defects". They often feel as if they are a fraud. A diagnosis can be a lightbulb moment, providing them with a clear external explanation of their struggles and allowing them to accept themselves more fully.
Untreated ADHD in girls and women can cause a range of negative effects, such as problems with academics, behavioral issues as well as family and relationship issues and co-existing mental health issues. A correct diagnosis and treatment plan will enhance the lives of those with ADHD at any stage in their life. Treatment options include stimulant medication and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women with ADHD have difficulty completing tasks or obligations. They can miss important details, have trouble switching between tasks or responsibilities and have difficulty attempting to meet deadlines. They could also be more likely to make careless mistakes, have trouble organizing their schedules and underestimate the time it takes them to complete tasks.
The emotional manifestations of ADHD in adults, such as irritability and mood swings, can be a major source of frustration for women suffering from the condition. Hormonal changes can exacerbate symptoms, such as those that are experienced during menopausal cycles, pregnancy and during menstrual cycles. Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can feel frustrated and disappointed by their performance at workplace or in their relationships.
Some women who suffer from ADHD struggle with keeping up with daily tasks like grocery shopping and chores. They might forget to take out the garbage or turn off the stove, and easily get distracted. what is adult ADHD symptoms can also struggle with monotonous tasks like folding laundry or washing dishes. The monotonous or boring tasks can become intolerable and lead to impulsive behavior like excessive conversation or oversharing. The impulsivity associated with ADHD can also cause women to make impulsive decisions and depend on unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol or drugs.
If you are having difficulty finishing tasks, have memory issues, are constantly procrastinating, or face relationship challenges it is essential to seek out professional help for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can improve your living quality and set you up for success in your personal and professional lives. It can help you manage your ADHD symptoms, and help you develop strategies to manage these. To avoid lapses of attention and focus it is recommended to adhere to a regular schedule, use an app for planning or reminders to take notes during meetings, and practice good sleep hygiene (avoid screens for an hour prior to going to bed). Exercise can also improve concentration because it boosts the neurotransmitter levels in your brain.
3. Difficulty Remembering Names
Trouble remembering names can go hand-in-hand with other ADHD symptoms such as difficulty following directions and trouble finishing projects. This is due to a lack of organizing and prioritizing tasks, which affects efficient information retrieval. This condition tends to get worse when there is a period of fatigue, stress or hormonal changes.
Forgetting what is ADHD symptoms in adults can be more frustrating when it's followed by a feeling of forgetfulness about larger items, such as appointments or events or personal reminders. These forgetfulness lapses could be caused by depression and anxiety, which are frequent co-occurring disorders that are associated with ADHD for women.
Due to gender stereotypes 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. Therefore, they are not diagnosed and are not being referred to a doctor to receive treatment and diagnosis.
Furthermore, there is a bias based on gender because ADHD is typically perceived as a problem for males, with hyperactive boys being the ones who are the most referred to clinics for evaluation and treatment. In addition to internalized stigma, female symptoms are often different from men's. Many professionals do not diagnose or treat ADHD in females.
It's becoming more common for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis in their adulthood. A diagnosis can improve relationships, set you up for success at school and at work and offer the help you need to excel in your life. Talk to a 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 suitable for you.
4. Difficulty Appearing Aloof
Women suffering from ADHD often have inattentive symptoms and their issues may seem insignificant to other people. They might forget to complete chores at home, miss appointments or have difficulty taking notes. They may also struggle with impulsivity or difficulty understanding social boundaries. This can result in confusion and misinterpretation of relationships with family and friends and can cause feelings of loneliness and disconnection.
Additionally, women with untreated ADHD frequently have difficulty meeting societal expectations for them as women. They may be struggling with the burden of caring for their children and household chores, and this social pressure can exacerbate their ADHD symptoms and feelings of inadequacy. If left untreated, ADHD can lead to lower self-esteem in women. They may resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as binge-eating and watching marathons of TV.
The difficulties of ADHD in women are exacerbated by gender bias, both in how girls and women are perceived and evaluated by clinicians. Some research suggests that girls and women tend to hide their ADHD symptoms or compensate for them, and they are less likely than boys and men to be referred for diagnosis and treatment.
Women suffering from ADHD may also have difficulties understanding their symptoms and could be confused with mood disorders or anxiety disorders. This can lead to a false diagnoses and improper or delayed treatment.
The signs of ADHD can be influenced by hormonal fluctuations. They may be especially evident during the ovulation cycle and during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopausal. These changes can cause women to be more annoyed with her ADHD symptoms and increase the chances of being misunderstood, or dismissed as moody or too emotional.
5. Impulsivity
Women are also prone to impulsivity, which is a symptom of ADHD. They also may have difficulty controlling their emotions and could be prone to having "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 responsible for controlling reasoning and decision-making. This brain area can help people avoid making bad decisions by serving as a check on their behavior. The people with ADHD have less functioning prefrontal cortex. This makes it difficult for them to resist their urges or prevent themselves from doing something reckless or hurtful. It can also result in a lack of self-respect. For women, impulsiveness typically manifests itself as a problem with social boundaries and self-control in conversation (interrupting conversations, completing others' sentences, or talking too much).
Women also may have issues controlling their impulses during the many hormonal changes throughout their lives. Estrogen fluctuates naturally at different times during the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. The use of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopausal cycles can alter the levels of estrogen and other hormones that affect women's ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms in women and girls can differ from those of males and boys, which is why they are often not properly diagnosed. Because of this, many adults with 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 of a person at any age. If you are unsure whether or not you are suffering from ADHD, talk to your doctor and see how they can help. Treatment options include medication, cognitive behavior therapy and couples counseling.