Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Women
Dr. Frank says that the symptoms of ADHD in adult women are often harder to detect than in men, since women develop coping mechanisms in order to disguise their symptoms. Fortunately, support for lifestyle and medication can assist them to improve their functioning and improve their quality of life.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have six symptoms from the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive subtypes lasting more than six months. These symptoms include:
1. Inattention
Symptoms of ADHD for women who are adults typically include difficulty keeping the track of time, missing appointments, misplacing things or being easily distracted. Women may also struggle with procrastination, forgetfulness and difficulty working or studying in a noisy or busy environment. Women are often struggling with interpersonal skills. They can interrupt others or make statements that they regret later.
As opposed to males and boys, women with ADHD tend to be more adept in masked symptoms. They can develop healthy coping strategies like relying on the daily schedule and using reminders on their phones to remind them of important events. However, these coping strategies aren't sustainable in the long haul and may not be sufficient to cope with the demands of real life. Additionally, their symptoms may be exacerbated by comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also exhibit the symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity. Adults may experience more subtle symptoms that only affect specific areas of their lives, such as social interactions or at work. Those with a hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may experience frequent fidgeting, talkativeness or trouble sitting still during conversations. They might also have difficulty to relax or settle down. They may also have difficulty to form and maintain friendships.
People who suffer from moderate to mild ADHD might not experience major issues at work or in their relationships, but they may have difficulty keeping track of their time and following through on commitments. They may have issues with finances, household chores or schoolwork, and are overwhelmed by their obligations. Those with severe symptoms are severely disrupted in their day-to-day lives and can have trouble keeping a job or maintaining relationships.
2. Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD have a hard time organizing their work, home and personal items. They may also lose track of important things like their keys, wallets glasses, eyeglasses, and cellphones. They are also prone to lose their temper and becoming easily distracted by their thoughts and activities. Inability to follow directions and complete tasks affects their schoolwork, work and relationships.
Women mask their symptoms using their emotions to justify their actions. This makes it difficult to recognize and treat. For example, a woman might feel low self-esteem or anxiety as an explanation for her lack of attention and forgetfulness. It is also possible to blame relationship problems or somatic complaints, such as nausea and headaches, on the stress of life or hormonal fluctuations (e.g., perimenopause or menopausal).
If left untreated, ADHD can lead to serious issues. Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may be more likely to engage in sexual adolescence because of their impulsivity, difficulties with boundaries between people, and lack of planning. Self-medicating using alcohol and other drugs could be more prevalent. Their lack of attention can result in missing appointments with doctors and procedures. They might have irregular and unbalanced eating patterns or a higher BMI, and unhealthy coping behaviors like nail-biting, skin picking, compulsive shopping and excessive exercise.
The best way to diagnose ADHD is through an extensive evaluation by an experienced mental health professional or health care professional. The professional will also ask the patient about their emotional and physical well-being. They might also suggest tests for the body or a diagnostic interview. Many adults are surprised to discover that they've suffered from a mental illness for a long time.
3. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to have more difficulty controlling their impulses than males, and this could result in self-injury, alcohol or drug abuse, or other mental health issues. It can also cause relationships problems as forgetfulness or impulsive behaviors can lead to misunderstandings and conflict with family, coworkers, and friends.
It is characterized by the tendency to speak loud, purchase something in a hurry, and make a decision without thinking about the consequences. It's important to keep in mind that acting impulsively doesn't necessarily mean it's a sign of bad character. In fact, certain people require more time than others to process their thoughts before they act. It's important to talk to your doctor and be checked for ADHD when you notice the symptoms are becoming more severe.
It's also common for women with ADHD to struggle with managing their emotions. combined ADHD symptoms in adults can result in depression and other mental health issues. ADHD symptoms in adults males can be difficult to spot in women since they can appear similar to other health problems, like insomnia and chronic headaches. Women with ADHD are hesitant to seek help because they believe their symptoms are a result of low self-esteem.
It is crucial to recognize that sex is a different concept than gender, and that your internal perception of your identity is not affected by the biological characteristics that determine if you are a woman, man, or non-binary. Many people with ADHD struggle to identify with their gender. This can lead them to feel ashamed and desperation. This can be made worse by the stress of living with untreated ADHD and can lead to a lack of support from a professional or personal perspective.
4. Distractions
As girls with ADHD become women, they can have difficulties juggling adult responsibility. This could cause issues at work or in school as well as strained relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners. Women with ADHD may also have trouble managing their finances or their home, and could be at risk for neglecting health-related concerns like regular checkups and exercise. They may also have trouble coping with negative emotions like depression and anxiety.
ADHD symptoms for women can include the inability to remember things, loosing things, becoming easily distracted, having trouble working with others, or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of work. They may also experience mood-related symptoms such as low self-esteem or low self-confidence.
It is essential that women are aware of their symptoms and get an assessment. It's also helpful to talk to an expert in mental health about your issues and develop strategies to cope with ADHD. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy can help change negative thinking patterns and improve coping strategies. In addition, joining a women's support group can provide valuable advice about living with ADHD and strategies for coping with everyday life.
It is also important to note that women with ADHD have different symptoms than men, and these may differ during transitional times like puberty and childbirth, pregnancy, or hormone treatments during menopausal. This is partly due to hormonal fluctuations and the fact that females have a larger hippocampal area, which plays a role in memory and learning. Women are also better in hiding their ADHD symptoms than men, which could make it difficult to establish a diagnosis. Despite these challenges it is still possible to lead a fulfilling life with ADHD.
5. Anxiety
While it can be challenging for women suffering from ADHD to admit that they have anxiety issues, obtaining a diagnosis and finding the right treatment can make their lives so much better. It can also help them better comprehend their behavior and how it impacts others.
Anxiety is a major symptom in women with ADHD. It may look like this:
Difficulty staying focused or distracted, or appearing to be distracted. Making careless errors. Avoiding tasks that require concentration or can be boring. Problems with concentration at school or at work. Being late or forgetting things for appointments and meetings. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of people around you or under pressure at home or work. Trouble falling asleep. Being easily upset or sensitive to rejection and criticism.
Women suffering from ADHD are more likely to have a co-existing mood disorder, such as depression. They might also have difficulty to make friends. They might also have issues in their intimate relationships that can result in an increase in violence between partners as well as substance abuse.
It can be difficult for women and girls to obtain a precise ADHD diagnosis because symptoms in girls and women differ from those in boys and men. Health care professionals must be aware of these differences to arrive at a precise diagnosis. This means identifying certain traits that are more distinct, like a clear symptom-profile, difficulty in social interactions and a tendency to employ coping strategies to mask underachievement or performance problems, as well as the coexistence between depression and anxiety. It is also essential to think about the impact of a woman's hormone levels on the symptom profile she displays.