Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often undiagnosed because of inattentive or less obvious symptoms, gender biases by healthcare professionals, and the maskedness of symptoms. Getting a diagnosis is important to improve your relationships, set you up for success, and help identify your own behaviors.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to determine these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
Many people with ADHD are able to zero on a particular activity until they are unable to think about the outside world, even if the activity is not productive. Hyperfocus is the term used to describe this. While some people, such as scientists, artists and writers make use of this skill to excel in their work, unrestrained hyperfocus can be a risk. It can cause you to be late for appointments, suffer setbacks at school or work and cause problems with your family and friends.
Hyperfocus can be a challenge to stop, particularly when you don't even realize it's occurring. Create a schedule for the day and prioritize daily tasks such as brushing your teeth or taking bath. If you have a hard time keeping track of time, use a clock or alarm clock to help you stay on task or ask a trusted friend to check in with you at regular intervals. When working on an assignment, it's important to move around and take frequent breaks.
In children, hyperfocus is often considered to be a positive trait, because it allows kids to become highly engaged in an enjoyable activity like skating or creating with Legos. However, excessive hyperfocus can result in setbacks at school, lost productivity at work, and damaged relationships with siblings or parents.
Hyperfocus may make it difficult to determine the signs that the child is suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety, which is prevalent among adolescents. This makes it important to seek medical attention if your child exhibits symptoms of ADHD that impact her daily activities.
ADHD symptoms can also be more prominent during certain phases of pregnancy or menstrual cycles. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms, such as irritability and mood swings. It also increases the possibility that a female will be misunderstood by her spouse or colleagues.
The male-to-female ratio for diagnosed ADHD is 2:1 in the early years of childhood the imbalance is less noticeable after age 14, when more females are diagnosed with ADHD. The good news is that there are a variety of resources available to help women and girls manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination can be a common ADHD symptoms in women of adulthood and can create issues both in your professional and personal life. This symptom can make it difficult to begin and complete tasks, especially those that require self-regulation and executive function skills. People who delay their work often miss out on important school or work assignments, which can harm their reputation and damage relationships.
Other signs of adult ADHD include forgetting appointments and missing deadlines. You could also be susceptible to forgetting important details in conversations, or even your own personal requirements, such as paying your bills. It may be difficult to concentrate in noisy or busy places, which can lead you to be distracted at school or work. You could also be easily distracted by your mobile or social media accounts and struggle to concentrate when listening or reading with another person.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can result in various emotional problems that range from anxiety and depression, to mood changes that can have a major impact on your life. It can also make it difficult to deal with frustration and misunderstandings in workplace and personal relationships.
Women are better than men in obscuring their ADHD symptoms and this can make it more difficult to get an accurate diagnosis and get treatment. This is particularly true for women who have high-functioning ADHD. The symptoms of inattention are less obvious, and are often concealed by anxiety or mood disorders. School reports typically omit comments concerning relationship issues or social problems and focus on academic performance and behavior, which may cause under-diagnosis and mis-identification of women and girls with ADHD.
There are many treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavior treatment, and lifestyle changes. Discuss with your doctor what treatment plan is right for you. Be aware that the aim of any treatment plan is to assist you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Discuss the potential side effects and benefits of any medication you are taking, as well as any co-occurring disorders.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. Inattention symptoms are extremely frequent, and can lead to difficulties at school, at work, or with relationships.
Impulsivity is a sign of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can lead to poor decisions or reckless behavior. Symptoms of impulsivity can include blurting out answers prior to questions are asked, interrupting people in conversations, and buying things on impulse without considering the consequences. These impulsive actions can result in embarrassing social situations, relationship problems, and financial struggles.
Emotional impulsivity is another frequent symptom of adult female ADHD. It can cause impulsive behavior in response to anger or frustration. This impulsivity could lead to mood changes that make it difficult for people to maintain supportive and healthy relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD might have trouble managing their emotions, which can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can impact productivity and may cause missed appointments or health issues. Women who suffer from impulsive ADHD often have difficulty making decisions or plan ahead. They can become dependent on others, or have trouble staying on track with their commitments.
Girls and women with ADHD have a higher risk of engaging in risky sexual behavior throughout their adolescence, and even into adulthood. This is in contrast to peers who do not suffer from the disorder. This is usually due the recognition of the importance of sexual activity to gain social acceptance. The risky sexual behaviors of young adults and teens with ADHD are a major contributor to the increased rates of teenage, early or unplanned pregnancies in these groups.
There are a variety of ways you can control your the risk of impulsive behavior. Learning to pause before ADHD symptoms in adult men act and to record thoughts that might be impulsive could help. Meditation or mindfulness can help calm the body and mind, and eliminate distractions. Diet can play a part in controlling the impulsiveness. A balanced diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables along with whole grains and quality protein can enhance focus and help prevent impulse-driven behaviors. Sleep is another factor in reducing impulsivity. Try establishing a consistent sleep routine, utilizing a thick blanket to soothe your mind and body, and limiting your screen time prior to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a typical problem that often affects adults suffering from ADHD. When you're unable to control your emotions, it can be difficult to manage your daily life and relationships. This can lead to self-destructive behaviors such as addictions and eating disorders. This can make it difficult to maintain the demands of school, work or even your home life.
It can be difficult to pinpoint your emotions or to understand what they mean. This can be especially challenging for those suffering from a mood disorder such as anxiety or depression. Symptoms of emotional dysregulation can include difficulty in calming down after an argument and having frequent outbursts, or getting easily frustrated by small inconveniences and annoyances. You may also have trouble letting go of past experiences or holding grudges.
Females suffering from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is that their symptoms are typically internalized and they are less likely than males and females to be diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Girls with ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than boys and men. This can be particularly challenging for teenagers suffering from ADHD, as they enter into the hormonal changes of puberty and the adolescent years. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, particularly combined with the increased sensitivity of girls suffering from ADHD to academic and social pressures.
If you are experiencing issues with your emotions due to ADHD symptoms therapy or medication could be the best option for treatment. Medicine can aid in regulating your hormones and improve your mood while therapy can offer a safe space to deal with emotions of sadness, anger, anxiety or rejection.
You can improve your sleep by implementing a routine before bed and practicing meditation, or listening to calming music prior to bed. This can be accomplished by following a routine before sleeping, practicing meditation or listening to calming music. A healthy sleep routine can help you feel more energized throughout the day.
While everyone's journey with ADHD is unique, it's important to remember that there are solutions to manage symptoms and live a fulfilling life. It's not uncommon for people to experience the combination of medications, therapies or lifestyle adjustments to discover the most effective treatment.