Five Killer Quora Answers To Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in adult add in women Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, even though it is a problem that affects men and women equally as adults. This could be due to gender stereotyping and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the knowledge or experience to recognize ADHD in women. In the end, many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD can struggle with disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. Your desk, for instance could be a jumble 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 likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Inability to stay on top of your work can lead to missing deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you can't remember or understand how much time it takes to complete a task. This can leave you in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing an adequate job in your professional or personal life, particularly if it feels like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You may also be having trouble controlling your emotions, which may cause you to overreact in stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could result in miscommunications and misunderstandings with your family as well as your coworkers. You could make statements that hurt the feelings of others without meaning to. And since impulsivity is common for people with ADHD, you might have trouble stopping yourself from saying things before thinking them through.
If you have ADHD it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and ideas about the ways boys, men and women should behave. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
In addition to being diagnosed you may also need a treatment for behavioral issues to tackle the root of your disorder. It might take time to find the best strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them can help you feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD often experience intense emotions however their brains don't have a good way to assess or filter them. They can be overwhelmed by a small setback, or have difficulty in assessing the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to get distracted by minor inconveniences like a book that's out of stock or a friend who's late to spin class.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention issues by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at school or at work, and have difficulty keeping on top of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also struggle with verbal self control and talk excessively or interrupt others often.
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 urge to start, stop or change activities and being unable to hold your turn in conversation; and having trouble reading social cues (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an influence on the development of ADHD for women, it's not always easy to spot these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may miss the mark on a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD have reported that their symptoms are more severe when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can intensify emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also feel an unending feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or life. This can result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse, or unhealthy coping strategies. This is why it's crucial for women to realize that these symptoms are not a reflection of their value or worth as a person. The positive side is that with a solid treatment program the symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
adhd diagnosis in adult women is often characterized by a higher frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times and in a variety of ways, they are so frequent that they can impede your day-to-day life. You could make a few blunders at school or work or forget appointments or you may spend many hours putting off work. You have a hard time waiting your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by other people.
Adults who are inattention may include a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning and researching them, which leads to incomplete or subpar results. You might also get side-tracked easily and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -from the garden that was planted but never watered to the new organizational system which was erected and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People who have inattention adhd for adult women also have a constant sense of disorganization in their home and workplaces. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents such as keys or bills, and also lose items frequently. You may also lose your track of time and end up being over time for meetings, work or school.
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 might say or do things without considering the impact, like talking over other people or making strange sounds when they're alone. They might have difficulty sitting still, and fidget in their seat or pace. They might have issues working and may be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers.
In some cases mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially the case 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.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD have a myriad of difficulties in seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to hide their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. The rise of famous adult add women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, however many girls and young women still don't know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by constant anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous at times anxiety disorders are defined by a constant high level of anxiety. You may experience an incessant feeling of anxiety or fear and also a rapid pulse, difficulty being calm, and trouble thinking clearly. You might also feel the sense of danger even in situations you know aren't risky. The most frequent forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, panic disorders and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD compared to men. It tends worsen around certain life events like menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it more difficult to manage daily tasks and social interactions and cause feelings of self-doubt and general dissatisfaction with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection and you have a hard time accepting criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipated rejection, and you may get angry over small things that others do not see as a problem with.
Mood swings are another of the adult female adhd symptoms and you could discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to control. You could also be prone to non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you understand your challenges and give you strategies for improving your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online or talk to your doctor to get an expert assessment. In certain cases a doctor might prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other instances, they might recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case, it's important to start making some positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This can help you get back in control of your life and make you feel more productive, confident and capable.