ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may face challenges at workplace or in relationships. It's important to recognize the signs and seek out treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Having a proper diagnosis can aid in improving your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing on what is important most.
1. Difficulty Paying Attention
Women can be troubled by their inability to pay attention to details and remember deadlines, appointments and appointments or underestimate how long it will take to complete a task. They might also find it difficult to keep track of their responsibilities in work or relationships and are easily distracted and fail to keep their promises. They may also be impulsive, have trouble managing their emotions, and blurt out thoughts without taking the time to think them through.
It is important to recognize and treat the symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to focus can lead to problems with relationships and friendships. severe ADHD symptoms adults may have difficulty to establish new friendships or struggle in their relationships due in part to repeated arguments, missed opportunities for fun, and a lack of attention. They might also have a harder time balancing the demands of work, home and childcare.
Many people who have ADHD don't meet the diagnostic criteria, and it could be hard for health care providers or therapists to detect the condition. This doesn't mean that it's not real, or that a person has to be more focused. Diagnoses are based on symptoms and how they affect daily functioning in multiple areas.
It's more common for females to have inattentive symptoms rather than hyperactive or impulsive signs - and that could help explain why this group is often undiagnosed. Additionally many women suffering from ADHD are afflicted with a sense of guilt about their condition because they don't fit into the stereotypes of a person with ADHD. This can make it more difficult to seek assistance or get treatment.
In some cases, women with ADHD remain undiagnosed for a long time because they're trying to manage and conceal their symptoms. They are also more likely to have disorders that are comorbid, like depression or anxiety, which can conceal the symptoms of ADHD. They are also more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could cause their symptoms to flare or disappear, like during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Problems with Organization
Forgetfulness, disorganization, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are common ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These signs can cause them to be difficult to manage daily tasks, meet obligations or maintain relationships. They may also experience a low self-esteem and struggle with anxiety. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often feel like they are failing to meet social expectations and have a difficult to keep up with their peers in terms of academic performance or job performance. They also have a harder time maintaining social relationships.
ADHD in women can manifest itself as hyperfocus, procrastination or forgetfulness. These issues can cause women to skip appointments, not pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a loss in concentration on other important tasks, as well as a lack of understanding of time. This makes it difficult to switch from one job to another. Procrastination can also lead to an increase in stress, anxiety, and the constant feeling of being behind.
Communication problems, both verbal and nonverbal, are another common symptom of ADHD. This could include talking too much, interrupting others or saying inappropriate things. This could be due to a lack of ability to sit still or understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to keep in mind that these signs are not necessarily indicative of a lack of intelligence or capabilities.
Many women suffering from ADHD develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. This can have positive and negative consequences. Some of these coping strategies can be healthy, such as using a daily schedule or setting reminders for events. Others could be harmful, such as using alcohol and drugs to conceal symptoms or ignoring them altogether. Therefore, it is important for women who suspect they have ADHD to seek assistance from an expert in mental health.
Women with ADHD might benefit from medications, lifestyle changes or therapy, as well as other treatments. Some of these include cognitive behavior therapy to address the root of negative thoughts and beliefs mindfulness and relaxation techniques as well as exercise and a balanced diet and adequate sleep. A health care provider may also recommend adjustments to make working or school more comfortable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they often become frustrated and discouraged when their problems aren't solved. It can be challenging to keep relationships going, whether with romantic partners, coworkers or family members. For example, forgetfulness or insanity can increase the frustration or confusion in romantic relationships and can cause feelings of abandonment, loneliness, or depression. A tendency to seek thrills on the spur of the moment could be misinterpreted by others as an absence of interest or indifference.
This is why ADHD symptoms are frequently missed or under-diagnosed in women and girls. It is possible that they are not able to recognize their struggles due to ADHD because of stereotypes and social norms that define gender and sexuality.
Women and girls with ADHD might conceal their symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may result in them being diagnosed less often than men and boys with the same symptoms. This disparity could be due to gender bias in the research that informs diagnosis criteria. Hartung and Widiger discovered in an earlier study that women and girls with ADHD symptoms are more likely to be undiagnosed and under-diagnosed than men and adults. This could be due to the fact that doctors are conditioned to see hyperactive and impulsive ADHD symptoms as more common to males and females, which can make them easier to identify and referred for evaluation.
Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty calming down. These are common signs of ADHD however, in the later years of adulthood they can have a significant impact on a person's life and wellbeing. People suffering from ADHD may feel restless or find it difficult to sit still. This is particularly the case when they're anxious or stressed. They are also susceptible to fidgeting and tend to be overly talkative, often interrupting or finishing sentences of others without thinking they're causing offence.
If you suspect you might have ADHD and are concerned, you can be referred to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and other members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.
4. Social Skills
Women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty communicating effectively or to manage their emotions in the workplace. This can cause problems that interfere with personal relationships and professional goals. They may have difficulty recognizing and responding appropriately to feedback. This could lead to frustration or even disappointment. They also may struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can increase feelings of anxiety. Women who suffer from ADHD employ unhealthy methods of coping to deal with their issues. This includes substance abuse, eating disorder, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI) such as cutting, burning or scratching.
Women who suffer from ADHD might be more hesitant to get treatment as adults than men, because they tend mask their symptoms. In order to be accepted by society and to meet expectations, they often create coping mechanisms. This makes it difficult for others recognize their ADHD symptoms. These coping mechanisms might be as simple as creating lists and establishing reminders, or more complex, such as managing their emotions or implementing mindfulness techniques.
These coping mechanisms could but backfire and cause more symptoms. They can also make it difficult to get an adequate amount of sleep, which is essential in managing ADHD symptoms. In addition, women with ADHD often feel overwhelmed by the demands of life and demands, which can cause 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 age. It's because it's common for women to experience a variety of symptoms throughout their lives, and this can result in a diagnosis at different dates.
Changing hormone levels can also influence ADHD symptoms in women. If they have a higher estrogen level during pregnancy, for instance the symptoms could improve. Higher levels of estrogen help regulate brain chemicals that influence the ability to focus. If they start to experience low levels of estrogen due to perimenopausal or age-related decline the ADHD symptoms could become more severe.
It's now possible for adults with ADHD to receive an accurate diagnosis and get effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurocognitive psychology, and other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. They can also attend meetings of support groups for ADHD in order to share their experiences with others who are on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their peers.