Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women with ADHD often go undiagnosed due to inattention or less obvious symptoms, gender biases by healthcare providers and the maskedness of symptoms. The need for a diagnosis is essential to improve relationships, set you up for success, and help you understand your behaviors.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to check for these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to become so focused on a specific activity that they lose track of the world around them. This can happen even if the activity is not productive. Hyperfocus is what this is. Hyperfocus that is unrestricted, though beneficial for some people, such as writers, scientists, and artists, can be a problem for others. ADHD symptoms adults can lead to delays in appointments, a loss of time at work or school and strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus can be a challenge to stop, particularly when you don't know it's happening. Make a plan for your day and prioritize daily tasks such as brushing your teeth or taking a bath. Utilize an alarm clock or alarm to assist you in keeping the time. You can also ask a trusted friend or family member to check on you regularly. When working on an assignment, it's beneficial to move around a lot and take frequent breaks.
Hyperfocus in children is often considered to be positive because it allows them to be fully engaged in an activity, such as skateboarding, or making things with Legos. However, excessive hyperfocus can lead to setbacks in school, decreased productivity at work, and even strained relationships with parents or siblings.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to discern whether the child is experiencing emotional issues like anxiety or depression, which is prevalent among adolescents. This is why it is important to seek medical attention if you suspect your child exhibits symptoms of ADHD that interfere with her daily activities.
Symptoms of ADHD can also increase at certain times of women's lives, such as when she is menstruating or is pregnant. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms such as anger or mood fluctuations. It can also increase the possibility that a female will be misunderstood or misinterpreted by her romantic partner or coworkers.
While the ratio of males to females with diagnosed ADHD is 2:1 in childhood the imbalance is less noticeable after age 14 when more women receive a diagnosis. There are numerous sources that can assist girls and women manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a common adult female ADHD symptom and can cause difficulties in your personal and professional life. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, particularly those that require self-regulation and executive functioning abilities. Procrastinators are often late in important work or school assignments, which can harm their reputation and relationships.
The inability to remember appointments and the failure to meet deadlines are other common symptoms of adult ADHD in women. You might also be prone to forgetting important information in conversations, or even your own personal requirements, such as paying bills. It can be difficult to concentrate in busy or noisy areas, which could lead you to miss opportunities at work or school. You could also be easily distracted by your phone or social media accounts and find it difficult to stay focused when reading or listening to another person.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can cause various emotional issues including anxiety and depression, to mood changes which can have a profound impact on your life. It can also make it difficult to handle frustrations and misunderstandings within personal and professional relationships.
Women are better at masking their ADHD symptoms than men, which may contribute to the difficulty of getting a diagnosis and accessing treatment. This is particularly relevant for women with high-functioning ADHD. The inattentive signs aren't as obvious and can be hidden by depression or anxiety. School reports tend to focus on academic performance and behavior, and not the relationship or social issues. This can lead girls and women with ADHD to be overlooked and under-diagnosed.
There are a variety of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD which include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle adjustments. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Remember that the purpose of a treatment plan is to improve your daily functioning and help you manage your symptom. Discuss the possible side effects and benefits of any medication you're taking, together with any co-occurring conditions.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. However, the inattentive symptoms are very common and can interfere with school, work, or relationships.
Impulsivity is a symptom of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can result in poor decisions or reckless behavior. Impulsivity is defined as a tendency to respond to questions prior to being asked, interrupting conversations and purchasing things without thinking about the consequences. These impulsive behaviors can result in embarrassing situations in social situations, relationship issues and financial problems.
Emotional impulsivity is a common symptom of adult female ADHD. It can lead to acting out in reaction to feelings of anger or frustration, which can be difficult to control. This impulsivity can also result in mood changes that make it difficult for people to maintain supportive and healthy relationships.
Women suffering from ADHD may have difficulties managing their emotions, leading to depression and anxiety. These negative emotions can impact the performance of a person at work and cause absences from appointments and health issues. Women suffering from hyper-impulsive ADHD frequently struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. This is why they may become a bit dependent on others or have a hard time keeping their commitments.
In the adolescent years and into adulthood, women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexually risky behaviors than their peers who do not suffer from the disorder. This is usually due to the recognition of the importance of sexual activity for social acceptance. The risky sexual behavior of young adults and teens with ADHD can contribute to higher rates of teenage, early or unplanned pregnancy in these populations.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to decrease the impulsivity of your behavior. It is beneficial to take a moment to think and record your thoughts prior to acting. Meditation or mindfulness can help to calm the body and mind, and block out distractions. Diet can play a part in reducing impulses. A healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains and high-quality protein can increase focus and reduce impulse-driven behaviors. Sleep is a key factor in decreasing the risk of impulsiveness. Set up a regular sleeping routine, with a heavy blanket to soothe your mind and body and limiting your use of screens during the time before going to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
A lot of adults suffer from emotional dysregulation with ADHD. When you're unable to manage your emotions, it can be difficult to navigate daily challenges and relationships. This can lead to self-destructive behavior like addictions and eating disorders. This can make it hard to maintain a school, home or work life.
It can be difficult to identify your emotions or figuring out what they mean. This is especially difficult in the case of a mood disorder such as anxiety or depression. Emotional dysregulation can be characterized by the difficulty of calm after an argument, frequent outbursts or being easily frustrated by small annoyances. You may also have trouble let go of past experiences or retaining grudges.
Females who suffer from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than boys or men. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
In addition girls with ADHD are typically under greater pressure than males and boys to meet societal expectations. This can be particularly challenging for teenagers with ADHD as they go into the hormonal changes of puberty and the transition to adolescence. With their increased sensitivity to social and academic pressures, these can be an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If you're ADHD symptoms result in emotional dysregulation, treatment options can include therapy or medication. Medicine can help improve your mood and regulate your hormones, while therapy offers a safe place to work through feelings like sadness, anger, rejection, or anxiety.
Whether you choose therapy or medication, the best way to treat this disorder is to take steps to improve your sleep. You can do this by following a routine for bedtime such as practicing meditation or listening to soothing music before you go to sleep. A good night's sleep can make you feel more energetic throughout the day.
While every person's experience with ADHD is unique it is important to recognize that there are solutions to manage the symptoms and live a happy life. It's not uncommon for people to encounter an array of therapies, medications or lifestyle adjustments to find the most effective treatment.