Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Women
While men and boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD, women and girls can also have it. However, lingering stereotypes, referral biases internalized symptoms and comorbidities make it difficult for them to get properly assessed and treated.
Many women devise coping strategies to hide their ADHD symptoms and meet societal expectations, but these strategies can be unhealthy and unsustainable. Here are some of the most commonly reported symptoms of ADHD in adult women.
1. Unfocused attention
Women suffering from ADHD can be prone to feel overwhelmed by daily tasks. It is often difficult to keep the track of deadlines, emails, and meetings. They are also more prone to forget important appointments or events. They may also have difficulty to concentrate in noisy or busy environments. This can cause them to miss out on opportunities and lower quality work.
For many people with ADHD the challenges they face can be seen as an aspect of their personality or performance, which can lead to frustration. They often end up with a low self-esteem and a negative image of themselves. They may also have trouble maintaining stable relationships and establishing effective coping mechanisms. In some instances, they resort to unhealthy strategies for coping like excessive drinking or drugs. This can make it difficult for others to recognize that they're struggling and delay the diagnosis.
Adults with ADHD are particularly sensitive to criticism and failure, which can cause them to internalize their difficulties and have difficulty seeking assistance. As a result, they may struggle with issues with relationships and may have a difficult time finding meaningful employment. They may also be more susceptible to anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations. In certain cases, the symptoms can cause a mental disorder that is non-suicidal, like self-harm (NSSI) which could be expressed by cutting or burning.
Although it's more common in men and boys to be diagnosed with ADHD The symptoms can last into adulthood and impact many aspects of life. It is crucial for women to recognize the signs and seek a thorough evaluation from a health care professional. A correct diagnosis can result in better control of symptoms and an improved quality of life.
2. Disorganization
Women suffering from ADHD often report feeling overwhelmed and feel like their lives are in chaos. They might miss deadlines or find it difficult to manage household chores such as paying bills and keeping the track of appointments. They may have a disorganized home and finances, and could struggle to keep relationships stable and maintain a job.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms can heighten frustration and misunderstandings in relationships with friends, partners and colleagues. These problems can lead to fractured or even strained relationships and feelings of being isolated. The inability to listen, forgetfulness and a tendency to "zone out" during conversations can result in arguments and miscommunications with loved ones.
Symptoms of emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and mood swings are more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD than in men, and can be highly disruptive to both personal and professional life. Women who are not treated for ADHD might feel overwhelmed by the demands of family, work and the social world. They may also be sensitive to harsh criticism and harsh judgment.
There are methods to manage these symptoms. Treatment options for many adults include lifestyle changes, the use of specialized tools for organization, and prescription stimulant medications.
Women who suffer from ADHD typically have a harder time than men to disguise their ADHD symptoms and, as a result they may not be diagnosed until they reach adulthood. They are more likely to be suffering from comorbid disorders such as anxiety and depression that can increase the effects of untreated ADHD. Women may also have trouble maintaining healthy relationships and a steady job, and can suffer from low self-esteem and chronic stress. *Sex refers a person's hormones and chromosomes. Gender is the internal belief in oneself as a male, woman, nonbinary or another gender identity. Mental health issues are usually diagnosed by both.
3. Anxiety
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. These symptoms can be worsened if you are unable to keep the track of your daily tasks and appointments. This could lead to health issues such as missed health checkups, late payments and even debt. ADHD can cause emotional dysregulation, impulsivity and forgetfulness, which can lead to relationships problems with family, friends, and coworkers.
Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms that can make it difficult for others to see that they are struggling to stay focused and organized. These strategies of coping could be healthy, such as establishing an agenda for the day or setting reminders for phone calls, or they may be unhealthy, such as relying on alcohol or drugs to help them perform or manage their difficulties. These coping strategies can cause women to feel stressed and insecure and make them doubt themselves and their abilities. This can lead to depression or anxiety.
In addition, women who suffer from ADHD often feel a sense of not fitting in or meeting societal expectations, which can lead to low self-esteem and frustration. ADHD adult female symptoms might also experience difficulties at work, including difficulties in establishing organizational skills, adhering to corporate policies or sticking to a regular 9-to-5 work schedule. They may struggle with managing their finances due to impulsive and disorganized spending, or they could struggle to complete work-related tasks or completing homework.
ADHD can be a lifetime condition that requires constant assistance, particularly when it affects girls and women. Despite its prevalence this disorder is undiagnosed and misunderstood. It is also not treated. The distinctive symptoms of ADHD in women are a result of stereotypes of referral biases, internalized symptomatology, comorbidities and hormonal fluctuation.
4. Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD may have trouble controlling their emotions and impulses. They could be easily frustrated or excessively exuberant, and they may lose track of time or be late to events. They may also have difficulty reading body speech or recognizing social signals. This can lead to problems at work or with relationships. They could be susceptible to arguing or spend too much time with interests and hobbies that aren't important to them. They might also have difficulty keeping friendships and creating new connections due to the fact that they struggle to keep their promises and commitments.
Women are more adept at developing strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms. This makes it more difficult for them to get diagnosed. They might, for example, develop routines that help them stay organized or utilize apps to remind them of their appointments. They might also change their behavior to fit in with societal expectations and norms. They might even hide their symptoms using alcohol or drugs to manage and avoid serious health consequences in the long run.
Many people with ADHD outgrow their symptoms, but some don't. Around ADHD in adults symptoms quiz of women who have ADHD in their childhood will have it into adulthood. This is compared to 30% of men.
Professional treatment may be beneficial for those who do not experience relief from medication or lifestyle changes. There are a variety of options, like career coaching, counseling, and life coaching. You can also take stimulants. Exercise is an effective method to improve your mood and boosting your energy. It releases neurotransmitters that increase the ability to focus and motivate and can reduce anxiety and stress.
5. Emotional reactivity
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often affected by emotional reaction. They may find it hard to manage their emotions and express them appropriately and can cause anger with others and themselves. For example, a woman with ADHD may become angry when her partner criticizes her, but she may not be able to settle down and talk about the issue in a more rational manner. It is also possible that she struggles to "pause" her reactions by identifying bodily cues that she's overwhelmed or overexcited like flushing skin or a shortness of breath.
This difficulty in regulating emotions can cause confusion and frustration and make those with ADHD susceptible to anxiety or depression. It can also lead to problems with social interactions because it is difficult to read people's moods or detect social cues.
In some instances, those with ADHD might appear emotionally distant and uninterested in their peers or loved ones, even when they genuinely care about them. In other cases they might withdraw from situations that trigger them to avoid feeling a strong emotion.
The nature of women's symptoms could make it easy for clinicians to overlook the effects of ADHD. Women often hide their ADHD symptoms and when they do manifest they are more likely to be misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorders. It's a good idea to consult an expert in mental health who has worked with young girls and women with ADHD in the event that you're experiencing these symptoms. They can help you validate your experiences, show you how to apply strategies such as self-awareness and pacing and offer family psychoeducation to help you learn to recognize and address your ADHD symptoms in the future.