What Freud Can Teach Us About Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed among women, despite the fact that it is a problem that affects men and women equally as adults. This is probably due to gender stereotypes and the ability of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and experience to identify ADHD in women. Many women are misdiagnosed and do not receive the treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD are often plagued by disorganization, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even if you've purchased a few items to help you organize, your home or office is likely still chaotic and messy.
Your inability to keep track of your tasks can result in missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. In addition, you could be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the amount of time it takes to complete the task. This could leave you feeling in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a good job in your professional or in your personal life, particularly when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You may also have difficulty controlling your emotions. This can lead you to react too quickly when confronted with stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your loved ones and colleagues, and you may make comments that hurt feelings of others without a thought. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before you think things through, since the tendency to be impulsive is common among people with ADHD.
If you suffer from ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or beliefs about how men, women, and boys should behave. This can make it harder to recognize and treat your ADHD.
In addition to having a diagnosis it is possible that you will require a behavioral therapy program to tackle the root of your disorder. While it could take some time to identify the appropriate strategies for coping using these strategies, they can help you feel more in control of your life and improve relationships with your family and friends as well as coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However their brains aren't capable of separating them from or analyze them. They may be overwhelmed by a tiny incident, or have trouble being able to assess the mood of others. It also makes it easier for them to become distracted by minor inconveniences like books that are out of stock or a friend who's late to spin class.
Many women with ADHD mask their symptoms and devise strategies to deal with their attention issues. They could be highly organized or an obsessive at school or at work, and have trouble keeping on top of appointments, bills, or important dates. They might also struggle with self-control and verbal control. They may also frequently interrupt others, talk too much, frequently, or info dump 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 desire to start or stop activities. They also include not being able to wait for your turn in a conversation or having difficulty reading social signals.
While gender stereotypes can influence on the development of ADHD in women, it is difficult to recognize these issues. The scales of rating used to identify ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many Women In Adhd (Brewwiki.Win) with ADHD report that their symptoms worsen when hormonal changes occur, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can intensify emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also experience an ongoing feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This can lead to depression, substance abuse, or unhealthy methods of coping. This is the reason it's so important for women to recognize that these symptoms are not a reflection of their value or worth as a person. The positive side is that with a solid treatment plan these symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Attention
Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD, these add symptoms in adult women occur so frequently that they interfere with your life. You may make careless errors at work or at school, or miss appointments or spend a large deal of time procrastinating. You have a hard time waiting for your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people.
Adults who are inattention may also include an inclination to dive into projects without fully planning and analyzing them, which can result in poor or insufficient results. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -- from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that was put together and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People who have inattention ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. You might have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and lose things frequently. You could also be unable to keep the track of time and end up late for work, meetings 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. People who suffer from these conditions can say or do things without considering the impact. For example, they might talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They are unable to sit still and may be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They might be unable to keep the job they have, and are in frequent disagreements with their colleagues and their manager.
In some instances, the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD may lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD also have a higher likelihood of having comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD might face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment. These include gender discrimination as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or minimize their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of well-known women with attention deficit disorder such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their personal struggles with adhd screening women has increased awareness, but many young women and girls do not know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
Although many people feel anxious or nervous from time to the other, persistently high anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble staying at peace and having difficulty focusing. There is also the sense of danger even in situations you know are not dangerous. The most frequent types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and separation anxiety, phobias and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD than in men, and it tends to worsen at certain times in women's lives, such as around the time of her menstrual period or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it difficult to deal with everyday tasks and social interactions, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or unsatisfaction.
You're very sensitive to rejection and have a hard to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You might be annoyed by small things that other people don't find an issue 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 may also be susceptible to non-suicidal self-injury like striking, burning or scratching yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It can help you understand your challenges and give you strategies to improve your living quality. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional assessment. In certain instances your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other instances they may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any case, it's essential to make positive changes as soon as possible. This can help you regain control of your life and make you feel more confident and competent.