ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can face difficulties at workplace or in relationships. It is crucial to recognize the signs of ADHD and seek a treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can aid in improving your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing on the things that matter most.
1. It is difficult to pay attention
Women may struggle with their inability to pay attention to specifics or remember deadlines and appointments or underestimate the time it will take to complete a task. They may also be unable to keep track of their responsibilities in work or relationships, get easily distracted, and fail follow through with promises. They might also have a tendency to be impulsive, struggle with controlling their emotions, and blurt out thoughts without taking the time to think them through.
It's important to recognize and treat symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to pay attention can cause problems with friendships and relationships. Women may have difficulty to make new acquaintances, or they may struggle in their relationships, with constant fights and missed opportunities for fun activities and being ignored. They might also face difficulties managing the demands of work, home and childcare.
Many people who have ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it may be hard for health care providers or therapists to recognize the disorder. This doesn't mean that it's not real, or that a person has to work harder to stay focused. Diagnoses are based on symptoms and how they impact daily functioning in multiple areas.
It's more common for women to have inattentive symptoms - as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive symptoms and that could help explain why this group is often undiagnosed. Many women who suffer from ADHD are also embarrassed by their symptoms because they don't conform to the stereotypes associated with ADHD. This can make it even more difficult to reach out for help or access treatment.
In a few cases, women with ADHD go undiagnosed for a long time due to the fact that they're trying to manage and conceal their symptoms. In addition they are more likely to suffer from complications that may mask their ADHD symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and gastrointestinal issues. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that can cause their symptoms flare up or disappear. This is especially relevant during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
2. Organizational Problems
Inattention, forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation are common ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can make it difficult for women with ADHD to complete their everyday tasks, keep up with their commitments and maintain relationships. They might also suffer from low self-esteem or experience anxiety. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often feel like they're not achieving the expectations of society and have a harder than their peers in terms of academic achievement, job performance, and social connections.
ADHD in women may manifest as procrastination, hyperfocus or forgetfulness. These issues can lead to women not attending appointments, not paying their bills on time, and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can cause a lack of attention to other activities that are crucial and a shaky sense of time, which could make it difficult to shift from one task to another. Procrastination can lead to a buildup of stress, anxiety, and an unending feeling of being lagging behind.
Another common symptom of ADHD is difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication. This could include talking too much, interrupting others or saying inappropriate things. It can also include the inability to wait for her turn or trouble understanding social boundaries. It is important to note that these issues don't always indicate a lack in intelligence or ability.
ADHD symptoms in adults males with ADHD have coping strategies to disguise their symptoms, which can have positive and negative effects. Some of these coping mechanisms could be healthy. For instance keeping a daily calendar or setting reminders for important events. Some of these strategies for coping could be healthy, such as setting reminders for events or using alcohol and drugs to disguise symptoms. It is therefore important that women who suspect that they have ADHD seek help from a professional.
Women suffering from ADHD might benefit from medication, lifestyle modifications or therapy, as well as other treatment options. Some of these include cognitive behavioral therapy to address underlying negative beliefs and thoughts mindfulness and relaxation techniques as well as exercise as well as a balanced diet and a sufficient amount of sleep. A health care provider may also recommend adjustments to help make work or school more manageable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD might experience emotional dysregulation. They can become frustrated and depressed when life's difficulties aren't easily overcome. This can make it difficult to maintain relationships with romantic partners, friends, and co-workers. For example, forgetfulness or impulsivity may cause confusion or frustration in romantic relationships and can cause feelings such as depression or loneliness. In addition the desire to find thrills on the spur of the moment can be misinterpreted as lack of interest or indifference by other people.
For these reasons, ADHD symptoms are often overlooked or under-diagnosed in women and girls. It is possible that they are not able to recognize their struggles as being related to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms about men and women's behavior.
Girls and women with ADHD may camouflage symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may lead to them being diagnosed less frequently than men and boys who have the same symptoms. This discrepancy may also be due to gender bias in the research that determines diagnosis criteria. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger discovered that women and girls are more likely to be under-identified and under-diagnosed than men and boys who have similar ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are conditioned by their training to view hyperactive and aggressive ADHD as more prevalent for both genders. This makes them easier to identify and refer for assessment.
In adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are typical symptoms of ADHD however, in the later years of adulthood they can have a significant impact on the quality of life and well-being. People with ADHD can feel restless and find it difficult to sit still, especially when they are feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget, and are often overly talking. They frequently interrupt or end other people's sentences without even realizing they are being rude.
If you think you may have ADHD, you can be recommended to a psychiatrist by your doctor or psychologist. Or, you can self-refer. This information was reviewed in the month of October 2024 and revised in November 2022 by Madeline Dykes, clinical psychologist and members of the Thriving Madly peer support network in Christchurch.
4. Social Problems Skills
Women suffering from ADHD may struggle to communicate effectively or manage their emotions at work. This can cause problems that interfere with personal relationships and professional goals. For instance, they could be unable to recognize and respond to feedback, which can lead to frustration and disappointment. They may also struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which could increase feelings of anxiety. In some cases women with ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope with these issues. These include eating disorders, addiction to substances, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI) such as cutting, burning, or scratching.
As they age, women with ADHD may find it more difficult to seek treatment than men because they tend to mask their symptoms. They frequently develop coping strategies to try to conform to the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms more difficult for others to recognize. These coping strategies can be as simple as setting reminders or making lists, or they can be more complicated, like being able to manage their emotions or developing mindfulness techniques.
These coping mechanisms can, however, backfire and worsen symptoms. These strategies for coping can cause problems in getting a good night's sleep, which is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms. Additionally, combined ADHD symptoms in adults who suffer from ADHD often find themselves overwhelmed by their daily demands, which can add to stress and exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However the gap gets smaller as they grow older. This is because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, and this can result in a diagnosis at different times.
Changes in hormone levels can influence ADHD symptoms in women. If they have a higher estrogen level during pregnancy, for example the symptoms could improve. Higher levels of estrogen regulate brain chemicals that influence attention. If their estrogen levels drop due to perimenopausal or age, ADHD symptoms may worsen.
Fortunately, it's possible for adults with ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and access effective treatment. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychology, as well as other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their everyday functioning. In addition, they may also attend support groups for ADHD to discuss their experiences with others who are on the same path and gain valuable insights from their colleagues.
