Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often not diagnosed because of inattentive or less obvious symptoms, gender biases by health professionals and symptom maskedness. Getting a diagnosis is important to improve relationships, set you up for success, and assist you to 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 these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to become so focused on a specific task that they lose sight of the outside world. This happens even if the activity is not productive. Hyperfocus is what it is. Unrestrained hyperfocus, while beneficial for certain people like scientists, writers, and artists, can be a liability. It can result in delayed appointments, disappointments at school or at work and strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus can be difficult to stop if unaware of the fact that it is happening. The most effective way to get rid of an ADHD hyperfocus is to create a schedule and prioritize your tasks for the day, such as everyday chores like brushing teeth or taking a shower. If you're having a difficult time keeping track of the time then use a timer or alarm to help you keep track of your time or ask a trusted friend to keep track of you at specific intervals. When working on a project, it is also helpful to move around a lot and take frequent breaks.
Hyperfocus in children is often seen as positive, as it allows them to be fully engaged in a fun and exciting activity, such as skateboarding, or building 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 determine if your child is suffering from a mental illness such as anxiety or depression. These are common in adolescents. It is crucial to seek medical help when your child's symptoms of ADHD are affecting her daily functioning.
ADHD symptoms may be more apparent during certain phases of a woman's pregnancy or menstrual cycle. This can increase the severity and frequency of emotional symptoms, like irritability and mood swings. It also increases the chance of a woman being misunderstood either by her lover, or coworkers.
The male-to-female ADHD ratio is about 2:1 in childhood. However, the difference is less apparent as women receive more ADHD diagnoses after age 14. There are many resources to help women and girls manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination can be a common ADHD sign in women who are older and can create issues both in your personal and professional life. This condition can make it difficult to complete tasks, especially those that require self regulation and executive functioning abilities. People who delay their work often miss out on important school or work assignments, which could damage their reputation and damage relationships.
Other signs of adult ADHD include the inability to remember appointments and missing deadlines. You might also be prone to forgetting important information in conversations, or even your own personal needs such as paying bills. You may find it difficult to concentrate in busy or noisy areas, which could lead you to miss opportunities at school or work. You could also be easily distracted by your mobile or social media and have difficulty staying focused while listening to or reading a book with someone else.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can result in many emotional problems, from depression and anxiety to shifts in mood that affect your life in a variety of ways. It can also make it difficult to deal with frustration and misunderstandings in the workplace and in personal relationships.
Women are more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms than men, which may contribute to the difficulty of being diagnosed and obtaining treatment. This is especially relevant for women who have high-functioning ADHD and inattention symptoms aren't so apparent and are more easily disguised by anxiety or mood symptoms. School reports typically omit comments regarding relationship or social issues and concentrate more on academic performance and behavior, which may cause under-diagnosis and mis-identification of women and girls suffering from ADHD.
There are many treatments for adults with ADHD which include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor about what treatment plan is right for you. Keep in mind that the aim 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 are 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 symptom set is very common and can affect work, school, and relationships.
Impulsivity is a symptom of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can lead to bad choices or dangerous behaviors. Signs of impulsivity could include blurting out answers before questions are asked, interrupting people in conversations, and buying things on impulse without considering the consequences. These impulsive behaviors can lead to embarrassing situations in relationships, social awkwardness, and financial struggles.
Emotional impulsivity can also be an underlying symptom of adult female ADHD. It can cause people to act out in reaction to feelings of anger or frustration, which may be difficult to manage. The impulsivity of this behavior can also trigger mood swings, which makes it difficult to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women with ADHD can find it challenging to manage their emotions, which leads to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can impact productivity and may cause missing appointments or health issues. Women who suffer from an impulsive ADHD have a hard time making decisions or planning ahead. In the process, they can become overly dependent on others or struggle to keep their commitments.
Through adolescence and through adulthood, girls and women with ADHD are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors than their peers without the disorder. This is because sexual activity is valued for social acceptance. Sexual risky behavior among adolescents and young adults with ADHD is a factor that is responsible for the higher incidence of teenage, unplanned or early pregnancies.
There are many ways that you can decrease your the impulsive behavior. It is beneficial to take a step back and record your thoughts prior to acting. Meditation or mindfulness exercises can be beneficial in relaxing the body and mind, blocking out distractions, and controlling impulsiveness. Diet is a factor in controlling the impulsiveness. A healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein of high quality can help enhance focus and help prevent impulse-driven behaviors. Sleep is another factor in reducing impulsivity. Try establishing a consistent sleep routine, using a heavy blanket to relax your mind and body and limiting screen use during the time before you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
The disorder of emotional regulation affects a lot of adults with ADHD. It can be difficult to manage daily challenges and relationships when you are not able to control emotions. This can lead to self-destructive behaviors like addictions or eating disorder. This could make it difficult to keep an occupation, school or even your home life.
You may have difficulty identifying your feelings or understanding what they mean. This can be especially challenging when you suffer from a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Symptoms of emotional dysregulation can include having trouble relaxing after an argument and having frequent outbursts, or becoming easily annoyed by minor problems and irritations. You might also have trouble letting go of past experiences or holding grudges.
ADHD adult female symptoms suffering from ADHD are more prone to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than males or females. 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 often under more pressure than men and boys to conform to social norms. This can be especially difficult for teenagers with ADHD as they experience the hormonal changes associated with puberty and the transition to adolescence. Combined with their heightened awareness of academic and social pressures, these can be a recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If your ADHD symptoms cause you to experience emotional dysregulation, treatment options can include medication or therapy. The use of medication can boost your mood and regulate your hormones while therapy provides a safe space to process emotions such as anger, sadness and rejection. It can also help with anxiety.
Whether you choose therapy or medication, the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to adopt steps to improve your sleep. You can achieve this by following a bedtime routine, practicing meditation or listening to soothing music prior to bed. A good night's sleep can also help you have more energy throughout the day.
While every person's experience with ADHD is unique, it's important to remember that there are methods to manage symptoms and live a fulfilling life. It's not unusual for people to experience an array of therapies, medications or lifestyle changes to determine the most effective treatment.