ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect both females and males, but it is more difficult for women to recognize it. That's because females often don't exhibit the same levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity as men, so they can be overlooked or misdiagnosed.
The first step in managing your symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The use of stimulant medication is a typical treatment for adults with ADHD however, there are other options.
1. Problems with Focusing
While everyone gets distracted at times women with ADHD struggle to keep their attention on tasks and conversations particularly when they're suffering from emotional or sensory overload. These problems can be made worse during menstrual cycles.
Women who are inattentional 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 forget where they left their keys in their car or the name of the lady who gave them a lift home from the spin class. They may also forget important dates and deadlines.
Procrastination and the inability to stick with plans are also symptoms of ADHD among adult females. They are more likely to be distracted by shiny objects or social networks, making it difficult to complete their projects and assignments. This can cause them to feel overwhelmed and underperforming in school or at work.
Many women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed because of gender stereotypes. In ADHD symptoms in women adults , they experience guilt and mistakenly attribute their problems as "bad behaviors" or "character imperfections". They often feel like an impostor. A diagnosis can be a moment of clarity, giving them a clear external explanation of their struggles and helping them accept their own uniqueness.
Girls and women with untreated ADHD can experience a wide range of negative outcomes such as academic issues and behavioral issues, bad relationships with family members, and co-occurring mental health problems. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan will improve the lives of people with ADHD at any stage in their life. Treatment options may include stimulant medication and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to complete tasks and responsibilities. They might be unable to remember important details, have difficulty switching between tasks or responsibilities and have difficulty attempting to meet deadlines. They are also more likely to make careless mistakes, struggle with organizing their schedules and managing their time and underestimate the amount of time it takes them to complete tasks.
The emotional manifestations of ADHD in adults, like mood swings and irritability can be especially frustrating for women who suffer from the condition. Hormonal changes can exacerbate symptoms, which can occur during menopausal, pregnancy and during menstrual cycle. Women with undiagnosed ADHD might feel angry and dissatisfied in their work performance and in their relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD struggle with managing daily tasks, such as grocery shopping and household chores. They might overlook the need to empty the garbage or turn off the stove, and can be easily distracted. They might also struggle performing repetitive tasks, like folding laundry or washing dishes. The monotonous or boring tasks can become overwhelming which can lead to impulsive behaviours such as excessive talk or sharing. Women who suffer from ADHD may also make unruly choices and use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drugs.
If you have difficulty finishing tasks, have memory issues or chronic procrastination, as well as relationships, you should seek a professional evaluation for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can boost your quality of life and assist you in achieving success in both your personal and professional life. It can help you manage your ADHD symptoms, and develop strategies for dealing with these. To prevent lapses in attention and focus, you can try to stick to a regular schedule and use a planner or reminder apps and take notes during meetings, and practice good sleep hygiene (avoid screens for an hour prior to going to bed). Exercise also helps to improve focus by increasing brain neurotransmitter production.
3. Trouble remembering names
It is possible that trouble remembering names might be associated with other ADHD symptoms, like difficulties following directions or not finishing projects. The root cause of these difficulties is an inability to prioritize and organize tasks which affects the efficiency of information retrieval. This symptom tends to worsen when there is a period 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 larger things like appointments or events or personal reminders. These forgetfulness lapses could be caused by depression and anxiety which are common co-occurring conditions with ADHD in women.
ADHD is often misdiagnosed in women due to gender bias and internalized symptoms. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are more subtle than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, making them harder to detect and identify. In the end, they are often not identified and not referred for treatment and diagnosis.
In addition, there is gender-based discrimination because the disorder tends to be viewed as a disorder that affects boys. Boys who are hyperactive are the ones most often being referred to clinics and analyzed for treatment. In addition to internalized stigma, the symptoms of women are often different from men's. Many professionals are unable to diagnose or treat ADHD in females.
It's becoming more common for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis in their adulthood. A diagnosis can help improve your relationships, set you up for success at work and school and offer the help you need to excel in your daily life. Contact an Salience Health provider if you're looking to be diagnosed. We will be able to assess your symptoms with tools like 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 who suffer from ADHD can have subtle symptoms of inattention. They may not remember to do chores at home, miss appointments or have difficulty taking notes. They may also be struggling with impulsivity or difficulty understanding social boundaries. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of relationships with friends and family and can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation.
In addition, women with untreated ADHD frequently have difficulty meeting the expectations of society for them as women. They may be struggling with the responsibility of caring for their children and household chores, and this social pressure can exacerbate their ADHD symptoms and feelings of inadequateness. If left untreated, ADHD can cause low 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 in women are caused by gender bias both in the way that women and girls are perceived and assessed by healthcare professionals. Some research suggests that women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms or to compensate for them, and they are less likely than males and females to get referred for diagnosis and treatment.
Women suffering from ADHD may also have difficulties in recognizing their symptoms. They may confuse them with anxiety disorders or mood disorders. This could lead to a false diagnosis as well as delayed or improper treatment.
Symptoms of ADHD are influenced by hormonal fluctuations. They may be especially noticeable during the ovulation cycle or menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopausal. These changes can increase the woman's frustration over her ADHD symptoms, and they could increase the chance of being viewed as moody or overly emotional.
5. Impulsivity
While the impulsivity of ADHD affects boys and men differently, women are affected similarly. They may also struggle with managing their emotions, and may be susceptible to "foot in mouth" moments. These actions that are impulsive can have a huge impact on relationships as well as professional life.
The brain part 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 serving as a check on their behavior. Those who suffer from ADHD have a less functional prefrontal cortex, and this makes it difficult for them to resist their urges or avoid doing something dangerous or damaging. It can also result in an inability to respect themselves. Women's impulsiveness can be seen as a lack of social boundaries and self-control in conversation (interrupting others, finishing their sentences, and talking too much).
Women also may have issues controlling their impulses during the many hormonal changes throughout their lives. Estrogen is naturally fluctuates at various periods during the menstrual cycle, as well as during childbirth, pregnancy and menopausal. 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 affect a woman's ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms in women and girls can differ from those in males and boys. This is why they are often misdiagnosed. This is why many adults with ADHD are unaware of the fact that they do. The good news is, the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD at any age can improve the quality of life for the person. If you're not sure whether or not you are suffering from ADHD discuss it with your doctor and see how they can help. Treatment options include medication, cognitive therapy, and couples counseling.