Five Killer Quora Answers To Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in adult female adhd symptoms Females
Although ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition typically isn't recognized by females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capability of women to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals aren't equipped and experience to identify ADHD in women. Many women are not diagnosed correctly and don't receive the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization, which can be a challenge to manage. Your desk, for instance, may be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even though you may have purchased a few items to help you organize, your home or office is probably still chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep track of your responsibilities could result in missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. In addition, you could be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you cannot remember or comprehend how much time it takes to finish the task. This can leave you frustrated and feeling like you're not doing a great job in your work or personal life, particularly if it feels like others don't appreciate your efforts.
There is a possibility that you have trouble regulating your emotions. This can lead you to react too quickly when confronted by stressful situations. You may also make comments without meaning to hurt people's feelings. You might also have difficulty stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, as the tendency to be impulsive is common among people with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes or cultural ideas about how women, men and boys should behave. This could make it difficult to recognize and treat your ADHD.
You could also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the underlying causes of your disorder. It may take a while to discover the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them will allow you to feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, colleagues, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions, but their brains don't have a good way to evaluate or filter them. They may be overwhelmed by a minor setback, or have difficulty in assessing the mood of others. It also makes it easier for them to be distracted by small issues like books that are out of stock or a friend who's running late to spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention problems by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They may be highly conscientious or a perfectionist at work or school and have trouble keeping the track of appointments, bills, or important dates. They may also have trouble with self-control and verbal control. They may also 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 the sudden urge to begin, stop, or change activities. They can also be characterized by not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation or experiencing difficulty in interpreting social signals.
While gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of adhd in women adults however, it's sometimes difficult to recognize when women suffer from these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior and some healthcare professionals might misunderstand or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, such as during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause (the period leading up to menopausal). This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and lead to frequent feelings of anger, frustration or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or life. This can cause depression, substance abuse or unhealthy ways of coping. It's important that women understand that these symptoms do not reflect their worth or value as human beings. The good news is that, with a proper treatment strategy, these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
ADHD is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times the frequency of these symptoms is so high that they can impede your everyday life. You may make careless errors at work or in school, forget appointments or spend a good amount of time putting off tasks. You're not able to stand in line and interrupt other people in conversations.
Adults who are inattention may also include a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning and analyzing them, which leads to poor or insufficient results. You might also get side-tracked easily and tend 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 who have inattention ADHD suffer from chronic disorganization at home and in the workplace. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents, keys or bills and also lose items frequently. You may also lose your track of time and become late for school, work or even meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive diagnosing adhd in adult women 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 may perform actions or words without considering the consequences. For instance, they might talk over others or make nonsensical noises in solitude. They have difficulty sitting still and might move around or get out of their seats. They may have difficulty keeping their job and could be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In certain cases mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially true in relationships with partners as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD are often faced with a range of challenges when seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to conceal their symptoms or minimize the severity of them. The rise of high-profile women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their own struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, but many young women and girls still don't know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
Although many people feel anxious or anxious from time to time, persistently outsize anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, difficulty staying at peace and having difficulty focusing. There is also the sense of danger even in situations that you are aware aren't risky. The most commonly encountered forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, as well as panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common in women suffering from ADHD than in men, and tends to get worse during certain periods of women's lives like the time of her menstrual period and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage daily tasks and social interactions and cause feelings of self-doubt and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a tough time accepting criticism. You are prone to interpret feedback incorrectly, or anticipate rejection. You may be angry about small things that other people don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are a part of the adult female adhd symptoms and you may discover that your mood is unstable or difficult to control. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's essential to get a proper diagnosis. It can help you know your issues and offer you strategies for improving your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your physician for an expert assessment. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any case, it's important to make positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This will allow you to take control of your life and feel more productive, confident and competent.