20 Fun Facts About Adult Female ADHD Symptoms

ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females While ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition often goes undiagnosed in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capability of women to conceal their symptoms. Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge or experience to detect ADHD in women. As a result, many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the treatment they need. 1. Disorganization Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder can be difficult to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While you buy products that promise to aid in your organization your office and home are likely to remain messy and chaotic. Inability to keep track of your tasks may result in missed deadlines and appointments. You might also be struggling with “time blindness,” where you don't know or remember how long it takes to finish a task. This can leave you unhappy and feeling that you're not doing a great job in your career or personal life, especially when you feel like others don't appreciate your efforts. There is a possibility that you have trouble managing your emotions. This can lead you to overreact when faced with stressful situations. You might also say things that are not intended to hurt people's feelings. adhd in adults women may also be having trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since the tendency to be impulsive is common among those with ADHD. If you have ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and beliefs about how boys, men, and women should act. This makes it more difficult for you to identify and treat your ADHD. You could also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root cause of your disorder. While it could take some time to identify the appropriate coping strategies, implementing these strategies can help you feel more in control of your life and improve relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. 2. Impulsivity People with ADHD frequently experience intense emotions however their brains don't have a good way to evaluate or filter them. adhd in adult women may be overwhelmed by a minor incident, or have trouble assessing the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to become distracted by minor issues such as books that are out of stock or a friend who's late to take a spin class. Many women with ADHD manage their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They may be perfectionists or highly conscientious at school or at work, but have difficulty keeping track of important dates, deadlines and appointments. They might also struggle with verbal self-restraint and talk excessively, interrupt others often, or ramble 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 desire to begin, stop or alter the course of action; being unable to wait your turn in conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language). While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD for women, it's difficult to recognize these issues. Rating scales used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some healthcare experts may be misinformed or misunderstand the symptoms of women. Many women with ADHD have reported that their symptoms are more severe during times of hormonal change like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can trigger emotional symptoms like frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience an unending feeling of discontent with their relationships or lives. This can cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unbalanced coping strategies. This is the reason it's so important for women to realize that these signs aren't an indication of their worth or worth as individuals. The good news is that with a proper treatment plan these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated. 3. Attention ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times, they are so frequent that they can impede your day-to-day life. You could make a few mistakes at work or at school, or miss appointments or spend a good amount of time delaying. You're not able to wait your turn and interrupt other people in conversations. Attention deficit symptoms in adults could also include an inclination to dive into projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing them, which can result in poor or insufficient results. You might also get side-tracked easily and have a tendency to leave projects unfinished- from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization which was erected and left to gather dust on your nightstand. People with inattention ADHD have trouble focusing at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and lose things on a regular basis. You could also forget to keep track of time and be late for school, work or meetings. 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 with these issues can make decisions or conduct actions without considering the consequences. For instance they may speak over others or make nonsensical noises in solitude. They may have trouble sitting still and adjusting their chair or move. They might have issues keeping their job and could be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers. In some instances mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also have a higher likelihood of having co-occurring conditions like bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. Women and girls with ADHD might face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination and a tendency to conceal symptoms or undervalue their severity, and gender bias. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have spoken out about their struggles with ADHD have helped raise awareness. But, many young women and girls aren't aware of it. 4. Anxiety Although most people experience anxiety or nervous from time time, persistently outsize anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience a constant sense of unease or fear and also a rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. There is also the sense of danger even in situations that you know are not dangerous. The most common forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders. Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than men, and tends to get worse at certain times in the woman's life for instance, during the time of her menstrual period and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and can trigger feelings of low self-esteem or dissatisfaction. You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a hard time accepting criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might be angry about small things that other people do not see as an issue with. Mood swings are a part of the symptoms of adhd for women in adulthood and you may discover that your mood is unstable or difficult to control. You may also be susceptible to non-suicidal self-injury, such as hitting, burning or scratching yourself. It's important to seek a diagnosis when you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional evaluation. In certain cases doctors may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In some instances your doctor might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any situation, it's crucial to begin making positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and make you feel more confident and competent.