ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD can face difficulties at work or in relationships. It's crucial to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and find an effective treatment for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can assist you in improving your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing on what matters most.
1. It is difficult to pay attention.
Women may have difficulty paying attention to details, recollecting deadlines and appointments or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete the task. They might also find it difficult to keep track of their obligations in their relationships or at work, get easily distracted, and aren't able to keep promises. They may also be afflicted by an impulsive nature, trouble managing their emotions, and the tendency to mutter things without thinking about them first.
The difficulty in paying attention to the needs of ADHD symptoms in women of adulthood can cause problems with friendships and relationships that's why it's important to recognize the signs and seek treatment. Women may find it difficult to make new friends or struggle with their relationships due in part to repeated arguments and missed opportunities for fun and being ignored. Women can also struggle to manage the demands of home, work and childcare.
Many people with ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it can be hard for health professionals or therapists to recognize the condition. But that doesn't mean that it's not real or that the person doesn't need to work harder to stay on task. Rather, a diagnosis is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact everyday functioning across a variety of aspects of life.
It's more common for women to have inattentive symptoms rather than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms - and that could help explain why this group of people often go undiagnosed. Many women with ADHD also feel ashamed of their symptoms because they don't fit stereotypes of ADHD. This can make it difficult for those with ADHD to seek help or seek treatment.
Certain women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a lengthy period of time because they try to hide their symptoms and manage. They are more likely to have comorbidities, such as anxiety or depression that can conceal the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that can cause their symptoms flare up or disappear. This is particularly true during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Problems
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently experience a lack of memory and disorganization, as well as emotional dysregulation. These symptoms can make it difficult for them to handle their daily tasks, keep up with their obligations, and maintain relationships. They may also experience a low self-esteem and experience anxiety. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD might feel like they're not meeting society's expectations. They may also struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem.
ADHD in women can manifest as hyperfocus, procrastination or forgetfulness. These issues can lead to women missing appointments, not paying bills on time and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a loss in concentration on other important tasks, as well as a lack of understanding of time. This can make it hard to switch from one job to another. Procrastination can also cause stress, anxiety, and a constant sense of being behind.
Another symptom that is often associated with ADHD is trouble with nonverbal and verbal communication. This can include talking excessively, interrupting others or saying inappropriate words. It can also include an inability to wait his or her turn or having difficulty understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to note that these behaviors don't necessarily suggest a lack of the ability or intelligence.
Many women with ADHD develop strategies to mask their symptoms, which can have both positive and negative effects. Some of these strategies for coping might be healthy. For example keeping a daily calendar or setting reminders for important events. Some aren't, such as drinking alcohol or using drugs to hide symptoms or not paying attention to them at all. It is therefore important that women who suspect they have ADHD seek help from a professional.
Women suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medication treatment, lifestyle changes, therapy and a myriad of other treatment options. Some of these include cognitive behavior therapy to address underlying negative thoughts and beliefs mindfulness techniques and relaxation as well as exercise, a balanced diet, and a sufficient amount of sleep. A medical professional may also recommend adjustments that can help make work or school more manageable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. As what is ADHD symptoms in adults , they are often frustrated and discouraged when their problems aren't resolved. It can be difficult to maintain relationships, whether with romantic partners, co-workers, or friends. For example, forgetfulness or impulsivity may increase frustration or confusion in romantic relations and lead to feelings of depression or loneliness. A tendency to seek out thrills on a whim may be mistaken by others as an absence of interest or indifference.
These are the reasons ADHD symptoms in women and girls are often overlooked or not diagnosed. They might also have difficulty realizing that their problems are caused by the disorder due to stereotypes and social norms that define the behavior of women and men.
what is adult ADHD symptoms and women with ADHD often camouflage their symptoms to avoid causing embarrassment. This may result in them being referred for diagnosis less often than men and boys who have the same symptoms. This could be due to gender bias in research that informs the diagnosis criteria. Hartung and Widiger discovered in an earlier study that women and girls with ADHD symptoms are more likely to be undiagnosed and not being recognized than boys and adults. This could be because clinicians are taught to see hyperactive and impulsive ADHD symptoms as more common to men and boys and can make them more easily identified and referred for assessment.
Adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty relaxing. These are typical ADHD symptoms however they can be a significant influence on an adult's life. People suffering from ADHD may feel restless or find it hard to stay still. This is particularly when they're feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget and are overly talkative. They often interrupt or complete sentences of other people and do not realize they're being rude.
If you suspect you may have ADHD, your GP or a registered psychologist can refer you to psychiatrists to conduct an assessment. Or, you can self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.
4. Social Problems Skills
Women suffering from ADHD may struggle to communicate effectively or manage their emotions in the workplace. This can create problems that affect relationships between people and professional goals. They may have trouble recognizing and responding in a timely manner to feedback. This can result in frustration or even disappointment. They may also struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can lead to feelings of anxiety. In some cases, women suffering from ADHD develop unhealthy coping strategies in order to deal with these issues. These can include substance abuse and eating disorders, as well as self-injury that is not suicide-related (NSSI), such as cutting, burning, or scratching.
As they age, women with ADHD can find it harder to seek treatment than men due to the fact that they tend to cover up their symptoms. They frequently create strategies for coping to fit in and meet the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms more difficult to be recognized by others. These strategies for coping could be as simple as creating lists and establishing reminders, or more complicated methods, like developing a strategy to manage their emotions or learning mindfulness strategies.
However, these coping methods could backfire and make symptoms worse. These strategies can make it hard to get the rest you need, which is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms. Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD often feel overwhelmed by life's demands, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms.
While it's true that a greater number of boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, this gap becomes smaller when they reach the age of adulthood. This is because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, and this can lead to being diagnosed at different times.
The changes in hormone levels can also impact ADHD symptoms among women. For instance when they have a high estrogen level during pregnancy, their symptoms might improve. This is because estrogen levels can aid in regulating brain chemicals that influence attention. If they start to notice a decrease in estrogen levels due to perimenopausal or age-related decline, their ADHD symptoms might get worse.
Fortunately, it's possible for adults with ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and access effective treatment. These include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychology, and many other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. They can also attend support group meetings for ADHD to share their experiences with other people on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their colleagues.