Five Killer Quora Answers On Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
adhd adult women test Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed in women, despite the fact that it affects both men and woman equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the capability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the experience or knowledge to detect adhd inattentive type in women among women. Many women are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often struggle with disorganization, a condition that can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. While you purchase products that promise to keep you organized, your home and office may still be messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep on top of your work can result in missed deadlines and appointments. You might also struggle with "time blindness," where you don't recall or know how long it takes to finish the task. This can cause you to feel frustrated and believe that you aren't doing a good enough job in your career, or even your personal life.
You may also have difficulty regulating your emotions. This could cause you to react too quickly when confronted by stressful situations. You might also say things without intention of hurting someone's feelings. And since impulsivity is common in people with ADHD, you might find it difficult to resist saying things before taking a second to think them through.
If you suffer from 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 identify and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from a behavioral therapy to address the root cause of your disorder. While it could take some time to identify the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can make you feel more in control of your life and enhance relationships with your family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD experience intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of filtering them or analyze them. They may be overwhelmed by a tiny event, or have difficulty assessing the emotional state of others. This also makes them more prone to be distracted by minor issues, such as the availability of a book or an unreliable friend.
Many women with ADHD conceal their symptoms and develop coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They may be highly conscientious or an obsessive at school or work and have trouble keeping on top of appointments and bills or important dates. They might also struggle with verbal self-restraint and talk excessively, interrupt others often, or dump information 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 stop, start or change activities; being unable to wait your turn in conversation; signs and symptoms of adhd in women difficulty interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD in women, it's not always easy to identify these issues. The rating scales that are used to detect ADHD add symptoms in women are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women who suffer from ADHD also say that their symptoms get more severe during times of hormonal changes, like during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can lead to emotional symptoms such as frustration or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This may lead to depression, substance abuse, and unhealthy coping behaviors. This is why it's crucial for women to recognize that these symptoms are not an indication of their worth or worth as a person. The good news is that, with a well-planned treatment program these symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Attention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times, they are so frequent that they can disrupt your day-to-day life. You may make careless errors at work or at school, forget appointments, or spend a great amount of time putting off tasks. You can't stand in line and interrupt others during conversations.
Adults who aren't attentive can also have a tendency to jump into projects without fully planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or subpar ones. You may also get distracted easily and tend to leave projects unfinished -- from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system which was erected and left to rot on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD also struggle with a chronic sense of disorganization, both at home and at work. You may have difficulty finding important documents keys, bills or keys and lose things regularly. You may be unable to keep your track of time and become late for work, school or even 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. Women with these symptoms may make decisions or conduct actions without thinking about the consequences. For instance, they might talk over other people or make unintentional noises in solitude. They might have difficulty sitting still, and may flitter around in their chair or move. They might have trouble keeping their job and may have frequent disputes with their coworkers and manager.
In certain cases mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially 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 depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination, a tendency to hide symptoms or underestimate their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of well-known women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their personal struggles with ADHD has helped raise awareness, yet many girls and young women do not know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterised by constant anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous occasionally anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You may experience a constant sense of unease, fear, or anxiety as well as an intense pulse, trouble staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations that you are aware aren't dangerous. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective Mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women suffering from ADHD than men. It is more likely to be exacerbated during certain life events, like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to deal with everyday tasks and social interaction, and can lead to feelings such as low self-esteem or dissatisfaction.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection and you have a difficult acceptance of criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipating rejection and you might be angry about minor things that others wouldn't see as to be a problem.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms and you may find that your emotions are unstable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to non-suicidal acts of self-injury such as burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's essential to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you identify your issues and give you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a professional assessment. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other instances they might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In either scenario, it's essential to make positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and feel more confident and capable.