Five Killer Quora Answers On Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition typically goes undiagnosed in females. This could be due to gender stereotypes and the capability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the experience or knowledge to recognize ADHD among women. In the end, many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This disorder is challenging to manage. For instance, your desk may be a mess of muddled papers, 17 different chapsticks, and a ticket to the Kings of Leon concert you attended in 2008. While you spend money on products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep on top of your work can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may be struggling with a concept known as "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the time required to complete the task. This can cause you to be in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing an adequate job in your career or in your personal life, particularly if it feels like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble regulating your emotions. This could cause you to react too quickly when faced with stressful situations. Your rapid verbal communication may cause confusion and miscommunications with your family and colleagues, and you could make statements that hurt the feelings of others without a thought. Since impulsivity is a common trait for people with ADHD and add symptoms in adult women, you may find it difficult to resist making statements without taking a second to think them through.
If you suffer from ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and beliefs about how boys, men and women should behave. This makes it more difficult for you to recognize and treat your adhd in young women.
In addition to having a diagnosis you may also benefit from behavioral therapy to tackle the root of your disorder. It could take some time to find the best strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them will allow you to feel more in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD frequently experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a good way to evaluate or filter them. This means that they could be overwhelmed by one setback or struggle to assess the mood of others. It can also make it easier for them to become distracted by small issues like the book that's out of stock or an acquaintance who's late for the spin class.
Many women with ADHD overcome their attention issues by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or work however, they have trouble keeping on top of important dates, deadlines, and appointments. They might struggle with self-talk control and talk excessively or interrupt others frequently.
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 begin, stop or alter the course of action and being unable to hold your turn in conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
Although gender-based stereotypes can contribute to the development of ADHD but it's sometimes difficult to tell if women suffer from these issues. The scales used to measure ADHD symptoms are still biased toward male behavior, and some healthcare professionals may misunderstand or underestimate a woman's symptoms.
Many women with ADHD report that their symptoms worsen during times of hormonal change like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This can cause emotional symptoms like frustration, irritability or depression. They may also experience an unending feeling of unsatisfaction with their relationships or lives. This could lead to self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unhealthy ways of coping. This is the reason it's so important for women to recognize that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as a person. With a well-planned treatment strategy, you can lessen or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
While everyone struggles with paying attention and focusing at times with ADHD, these symptoms occur in such a way that they can interfere with your daily routine. You may make careless mistakes at work or school, forget appointments or spend long hours delaying. You're not able to wait your turn and interrupt other people in conversations.
Adults who are inattentive can also have a tendency to rush into projects before having a complete plan and research them. This results in a lack of results or poor ones. You may also get distracted easily and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -for example, from the vegetable garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization which was erected and left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattention ADHD also struggle with a constant sense of disorganization at home and at work. You may have difficulty finding important documents such as keys or bills, and lose things regularly. You could also forget to keep track of time and be late for school, work or meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive adhd in women symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. Women who suffer from these conditions may make or do actions without considering the impact, like talking over others or making nonsensical sounds when they are alone. They might have difficulty sitting still, and fidget in their seat or pace. They might have trouble keeping a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and supervisor.
In certain cases, the mood swings and emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration and misunderstandings in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD also have a higher likelihood of having co-occurring conditions like bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD might face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment. This includes gender bias as well as a tendency to cover up symptoms or undervalue their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of famous women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their own struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, however many young women and girls still don't know they have the disorder.
4. Anxiety
Although many people feel anxious or anxious from time to moment, a constant and overwhelming anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might feel an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also feel a sense of danger in situations that you are aware aren't risky. The most commonly encountered types of adhd in women of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common in women with adhd test for women than in men and it tends to worsen during certain times of women's lives, such as around her menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to manage daily activities and social interactions and cause feelings of low self-esteem and a general feeling of discontent with your life.
You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a hard time accepting criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipating rejection and you might get angry over small things that others do not see as an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms and you could find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be prone 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 important to establish a clear 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 consult your doctor for an assessment from a professional. In some cases your doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they might suggest the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either situation, it's crucial to make positive changes to your lifestyle as soon as you can. This will allow you to gain control over your life and make you feel more confident, productive and competent.