ADHD Adult Female Symptoms
ADHD can affect people of all ages and genders, but it can be harder for women to diagnose. This is because women don't exhibit the same level of hyperactivity or indecisiveness as men, and so they may be missed or incorrectly diagnosed.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step to managing your symptoms. The use of stimulant medication is a typical treatment for adults suffering from ADHD, but there are also other options.
1. Difficulty Focusing
While everyone gets distracted from time to time women with ADHD have trouble putting their focus on tasks and conversations especially when they're suffering from emotional or sensory overload. These issues can become more severe during menstrual cycles.
Women who are inattentional ADHD suffer from problems with their working memory. This causes them to be unable to remember everyday things, such as the dates of appointments or events that are coming up. They may often forget where they left their car keys or the name of the lady who drove them home from spin class, or even important dates and deadlines.
Procrastination and the inability to follow through with plans are also signs of ADHD among females of adulthood. They are more likely to be sidetracked by shiny objects or social media, making it harder to complete their projects and assignments. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and underperforming at school or at work.
Due to the societal perceptions of gender, many women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed. This means that they struggle with shame and are misinformed about their struggles as "bad habits" or "character flaws." They also feel like an imposter. A diagnosis could be an "lightbulb" moment for them, since it provides them with an external explanation of their issues and allows them to accept themselves more fully.
Girls and women with untreated ADHD can experience a wide range of negative consequences, including academic problems and behavioral issues, bad relationships and family problems and co-occurring mental health problems. However, a correct diagnosis and treatment plan can significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from this condition at every stage of their lives. Treatment options include stimulant drugs and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to complete tasks and duties. They may lose important information, have difficulty switching between tasks and duties, or find it hard to meet deadlines. They may also be more prone to make erroneous mistakes, have trouble organizing and managing their time efficiently and underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete their tasks.
Women suffering from ADHD can find the emotional symptoms of ADHD, such as irritability or mood swings, especially frustrating. The symptoms can be made worse by hormone changes, including those that occur during menstrual cycles or during pregnancy, as well as menopausal. Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can feel frustrated and dissatisfied with their performance at work or in relationships.
Women with ADHD have a hard time with daily routines such as chores and grocery shopping extremely challenging. They may have a hard time remembering to take out the trash or to turn off the stove, and they are easily distracted by little things around them. They can also struggle with repetitive tasks such as folding laundry or washing dishes. Simple tasks that are boring or repetitive can become overwhelming which can lead to impulsive behaviours such as excessive talk or sharing. The impulsivity that is associated with ADHD can cause women to make unruly decisions and use unhealthy coping methods such as alcohol or drugs.
If you're having trouble finishing tasks, have memory issues or chronic procrastination, as well as problems with relationships, it is time to consider a professional assessment for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can improve the quality of your life and help you achieve success in your professional and personal life. It can help you manage your ADHD symptoms and devise strategies to deal with them effectively. You can limit lapses of concentration and attention by adhering to a schedule, using a planner or reminder apps, taking notes during meetings, and maintaining good sleep hygiene. Exercise can also help you focus because it increases the neurotransmitter levels in your brain.
3. It is difficult to remember names
Trouble remembering names can go hand-in-hand with other ADHD symptoms like difficulties following directions and difficulty finishing projects. This is due to a lack to organize and prioritize tasks, which hinders information retrieval. This problem is more likely to occur during times of fatigue, stress or hormonal changes.
When a person forgets names, it can be even more difficult if they forget important details such as appointments and events or personal reminders. These lapses may also be exacerbated by anxiety or depression, which commonly co-occur with ADHD in women.
ADHD is often misdiagnosed in women because of gender bias and internalized symptoms. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are more subtle than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, making them harder to detect and identify. They are therefore under-diagnosed and not referred to doctors to receive treatment and diagnosis.
Furthermore, there is a bias based on gender because the disorder is largely perceived as a problem for males with hyperactive boys being the ones who are most referred to clinics for evaluation and treatment. In addition to internalized stigma, female symptoms are often different from men's. Many doctors fail to diagnose or treat ADHD in females.
It's becoming more commonplace for women to be diagnosed with ADHD as they reach adulthood. A diagnosis can help improve relationships, set you up for success at school and at work, and provide the support you need to thrive in your life. Talk to a 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 that is the right fit for you.
4. Ailoofs that appear difficult to see
Women with ADHD typically have inattention symptoms and their issues may seem insignificant to other people. They might miss appointments, forget to complete chores around the house or have difficulty taking notes at work. They might also have problems with impulsivity or difficulty understanding social boundaries. This could lead them to misinterpret and misunderstandings with friends and family, and can also result in feelings of loneliness and isolation.
adult symptoms of ADHD who suffer from untreated ADHD might also have difficulty meeting the expectations of society regarding them as women. They might struggle with the burden of caring for their children and household chores, and this societal pressure can intensify their ADHD symptoms and feelings of inadequateness. If not treated, ADHD can cause low self-esteem among women. They may resort to unhealthy ways of coping such as binge-eating and watching marathons on TV.
The difficulties of ADHD for women are amplified by gender biases in how women and girls are treated and how doctors evaluate their symptoms. Some research suggests that women and girls tend to hide their ADHD symptoms or to compensate for them, and they may be less likely than men and boys to be referred for treatment and diagnosis.
Women suffering from ADHD may also have difficulties understanding their symptoms and could confuse them with mood disorders or anxiety disorders. This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and delayed treatment.
The signs of ADHD can vary with hormonal fluctuations. They are most noticeable during the ovulation cycle and during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause. These changes can intensify the woman's frustration over her ADHD symptoms, and can increase the risk of being misunderstood or dismissed as moody or overly emotional.
5. Impulsivity
The impulsivity of ADHD affects both men and boys differently, women suffer from it as well. They also may have difficulty controlling their emotions and may be prone to experiencing "foot-in-mouth" moments. These impulsive behaviors can have a 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 area can assist people avoid making poor decisions by providing a nudge on behavior. ADHD sufferers have a weaker prefrontal cortex. This makes it harder to resist impulses and prevent themselves from doing something reckless. It can also result in a lack in self-respect. For women, impulsiveness typically manifests itself as a problem with social boundaries and self-control in conversation (interrupting, finishing others' sentences, and speaking too much).
Women also have issues with control of impulses when hormones change. Estrogen fluctuates at different times during the menstrual period, pregnancy, childbirth and menopausal cycle. The use of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopause can further alter the levels of estrogen and other hormones that affect the woman's ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms in girls and women may differ from those seen in men and boys, which is why they are often misdiagnosed. Many people with ADHD are unaware of their condition. The good news is that identifying and treating ADHD can help improve the quality of life of a person at any age. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure whether you suffer from ADHD. They will give you advice. Treatment options include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and couples counseling.