Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Women
While boys and men are diagnosed far more often with ADHD, women and girls are also susceptible to it. However, stereotypes, prejudices about referrals and internalized symptoms as well as comorbidities can make it difficult for them to be appropriately assessed and treated.
Many women come up with strategies to cover up their ADHD symptoms and conform to social expectations, but these strategies can be unsustainable and unhealthy. Here are a few of the adult women's most common ADHD symptoms.
1. Unfocused attention
Women suffering from ADHD are often overwhelmed by the daily tasks. They often have a difficult time to keep track of multiple deadlines, emails, and meetings. They are also more likely to forget important dates or events. They may also be unable to focus. concentration in noisy or busy environments. This can lead to missed opportunities and a lower quality of work.
For many people with ADHD the challenges they face can feel like an aspect of their personality or performance and lead to frustration. severe ADHD symptoms in adults can often have 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 cases they resort to unhealthy strategies for coping like excessive drinking or drug use. This could make people less likely to recognize their problems and delay diagnosis.
Adults with ADHD might be more sensitive to criticism or failure. This can cause them to internalize the issue and make it difficult to seek assistance. This is why they may have relationships and have trouble finding meaningful employment. They may also be more prone to depression, anxiety, and mood swings. In some cases the symptoms can lead to a mental condition such as non-suicidal self-harm (NSSI) which could be expressed by cutting or burning.
ADHD is more common among men and boys, but symptoms can persist and impact many areas of your life. Women should be aware of the signs and seek an evaluation from a healthcare professional. A correct diagnosis can lead to better control of symptoms and a better quality of life.
2. Disorganization
Women with ADHD often report feeling overwhelmed and like their lives are chaotic. They may not meet deadlines or find it difficult to keep track of household chores, such as paying bills and keeping track of appointments. Their finances and their home could be cluttered and they may find it difficult to keep healthy relationships and a steady job.
Inattentive-type ADHD symptoms can cause more frustration and miscommunications between partners, friends, and coworkers. These issues can result in broken or stressed connections, and feelings of loneliness. The inability to remember, the difficulty in listening, and the tendency to "zone out", or stop paying attention, can also cause misunderstandings with loved ones.
Symptoms of impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and mood swings are more common among women suffering from ADHD than men, and can be highly disruptive to personal and professional life. Women with untreated ADHD can feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities and expectations of work, family as well as society. They might be more sensitive to criticism or harsh judgement.
There are ways to deal with these symptoms. Treatment options for many adults include lifestyle modifications, the use of specialized organization tools, and prescription stimulant medications.
Women who suffer from ADHD typically have a harder time than men to disguise their ADHD symptoms and, as a consequence, may go undiagnosed until adulthood. They are also more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders, like anxiety and depression which can exacerbate the effects of untreated ADHD. Women can also have issues maintaining healthy relationships and a steady job and may 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, woman, nonbinary or any other gender identity. Mental health issues are usually diagnosed by both.
3. Anxiety
Women who suffer from ADHD are more susceptible to depression and anxiety. These moods can be made worse due to the inability of keeping on top of daily tasks and appointments that can cause health issues like missed health check-ups, missed payments or even debt. The emotional dysregulation, impulsivity and forgetfulness of ADHD can also create issues with relationships with colleagues, partners and family members.
Many women develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms, which can make it harder for others to recognize that they struggle to stay focused and organized. These coping strategies may be healthy, such as creating an agenda for the day or setting phone reminders, or they may be unhealthy and rely on alcohol or other drugs to manage or overcome their challenges. These strategies can cause women to feel anxious and unsure and make them doubt themselves and their abilities. This can trigger feelings of depression or anxiety.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they aren't accepted or aren't meeting social expectations. This can cause feelings of self-doubt and frustration. They may also encounter challenges at work, such as difficulties with organization skills, adhering to corporate policies or sticking to a standard 9-to-5 routine. They may be struggling to manage their finances due to a lack of organization or impulsive spending. They may also have trouble keeping up with homework assignments or other work.
ADHD can be a long-lasting condition that requires continuous care, particularly when it affects women and girls. Despite the disorder's prevalence however, it's still misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and untreated. Lingering stereotypes as well as referral biases, internalized symptoms, comorbidities and hormonal changes all contribute to the unique symptom presentation of ADHD in females.
4. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD may have trouble controlling their emotions and impulses. They may become easily frustrated or overly exuberant, and they may lose track of time or be late for an event. They might also have difficulty understanding body language or picking up on social signals. This can cause problems at work or in relationships. For instance, they could get into arguments easily or spend too much time with hobbies and interests that aren't very important to them. They might also have trouble keeping friendships or making connections due to their inability to keep their promises and commitments.
Women are generally better in developing coping mechanisms to aid in reducing their ADHD symptoms, so it's more difficult for them to be diagnosed than men. They could, for example, develop routines that help them stay organized or utilize apps to remind themselves of their schedules. They could also alter their behaviour to comply with the norms and expectations of society. They might even attempt to conceal their symptoms by using drugs or alcohol. This can have serious health consequences over time.
Many people who suffer from ADHD overcome their symptoms, but some do not. About 60 percent of women who suffer from ADHD in childhood continue to be affected until adulthood, as opposed to 30% of men.
Professional treatment may be beneficial for those who could not find relief from medication or lifestyle changes. There are a variety of options, like career coaching, counseling, and life coaching. You can also consider taking stimulants. Exercise is an effective method to boost your mood and boosting your energy. It releases neurotransmitters that boost the motivation and focus. It also helps reduce anxiety and stress.
5. Reactivity to emotional stimuli
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often affected by emotional reaction. They may have trouble regulating their emotions and expressing them appropriately. This can cause frustration for themselves as well as others. For instance, a woman with ADHD might become enraged when her spouse critiques her, but she might not be able to calm down and talk about the problem in a more rational way. It is also possible that she struggles to "pause her reaction" by recognizing body signals such as flushed skin or a short breath that suggest she is stressed or overwhelmed.
This difficulty in regulating emotions can lead to confusion and frustration and make people with ADHD prone towards anxiety or depression. It can also lead to problems with social interactions because it is difficult to discern people's moods or detect social cues.
In certain instances, ADHD people may appear disconnected and uninterested in their friends or loved one, even though they care about them. In ADHD symptoms in adults females , they may avoid situations that trigger strong emotions to avoid feeling them.
The nature of women's symptoms can make it easy for healthcare professionals to overlook the symptoms of ADHD. Many women hide their ADHD symptoms and when they do show up, they are more likely to be misdiagnosed as mood or anxiety disorders. It can be helpful to speak with a mental health specialist who has worked with young girls and women with ADHD if you are experiencing these symptoms. They can validate your experiences, show you how to apply strategies such as self-awareness and pacing and provide psychoeducation for your family to help you learn to recognize and respond to your ADHD symptoms in the future.