What You Should Be Focusing On Improving Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition often isn't recognized by females. This could be due to gender stereotypes and the ability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the knowledge or experience to recognize ADHD in women. Many females are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD are often plagued by disordered thinking, which can be very difficult to manage. For example your desk might be a jumble of muddled papers, 17 different chapsticks, or a ticket stub from the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. Even though you may have purchased a few items to help you organize, your home or office is probably still messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your tasks may result in missed deadlines and appointments. In addition, you might be struggling with the concept of "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand the time required to finish the task. This can leave you in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing an adequate job in your professional or personal life, especially when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions, which may cause you to react too quickly in stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your loved ones as well as your coworkers. You could make statements that hurt feelings of others without a thought. You may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you have thought things through, since impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If you have ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and ideas about the ways boys, men, and women should act. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis you may also require a behavioral therapy program to tackle the root of your condition. Although it might take a while to discover the right coping mechanisms using these strategies, they can assist you in feeling more in control of your life as well as improve relationships with your family, friends, and coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or assess them. This means they can get overwhelmed by a single incident or find it hard to assess the mood of their peers. It also makes it easier for them to be distracted by minor issues such as a book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to the spin class.
signs of adhd in women with ADHD manage their attention issues by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They may be highly conscientious or an obsessive at work or school and have difficulty keeping on top of appointments or bills, as well as important dates. They may also have trouble with verbal self-restraint and speak too much, interrupt others frequently, or info dump during conversations.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. These symptoms include an abrupt urge to begin, stop, or change activities. They also include being unable wait for your turn in a conversation and being unable to discern social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes can influence the development of ADHD but it's not always easy to tell if women are suffering from these problems. The rating scales that are used to identify ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might miss the mark on the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD say that their symptoms worsen when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can cause emotional issues and lead to frequent feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also feel a persistent feeling of discontent with their relationships or life. This may lead to the use of drugs, low self-esteem, and unhealthy coping behaviors. This is the reason it's so important for women to understand that these signs aren't an indication of their worth or worth as an individual. The good news is that, with a well-planned treatment program, these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Attention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD, these symptoms occur so frequently that they interfere with your life. You may make careless mistakes at school or work, forget appointments or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You have a difficult time waiting your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt others.
Inattentive symptoms in adults can include a tendency to jump into projects without properly planning and analyzing them, which leads to inadequate or poor results. You may also get distracted quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that got assembled and then left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD also have a constant feeling of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and lose things frequently. You could also be unable to keep the track of time and end up late for work, meetings or school.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. People who suffer from these conditions might say or do things without considering the consequences. For example they may be rude to others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They are unable to sit still and may move around or get out of their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining their job and may have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and supervisor.
In some instances mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD have a myriad of challenges when seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or undervalue the severity of them. Famous women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have spoken out about their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. But, many girls and young woman still aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by constant anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times Anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience an incessant feeling of anxiety, fear, or anxiety and also an intense pulse, trouble staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You may also experience a heightened sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely to be dangerous to you. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women suffering from ADHD compared to men. It tends worsen around certain life events like menstruation or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage everyday activities and social interactions and lead to feelings of low self-esteem and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipated rejection, and you might be angry about minor things that others don't find a problem with.
Mood swings are also an indication of adhd in women. You may find that you have unpredictable emotions or find it difficult to manage these. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning or hitting yourself.
If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you better identify your issues and give you strategies for improving your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online, or talk to your doctor to get a professional assessment. In some cases your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In some cases your doctor might suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any scenario, it's essential to start making some positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This will allow you to gain control over your life and feel more confident, productive and competent.