ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD might have difficulties at work or in relationships. It is essential to recognize the signs of ADHD and find a treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can help improve your life, by managing your symptoms and focus your attention on the things that matter.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women might have trouble paying attention to details, recollecting deadlines and appointments or underestimating the time it takes to complete an assignment. They may also struggle to keep track of their obligations in relationships or work, get easily distracted, and fail to keep their commitments. They might also struggle with an impulsive nature, trouble managing their emotions and an inclination to talk about things without thinking about them first.
It is important to recognize and treat the symptoms of ADHD in women of adulthood. The inability to focus can lead to problems with friendships and relationships. Women may have difficulty to make new friends, or may have difficulty in their current relationships due to recurring fights and missed opportunities for fun activities and being neglected. Women can also find it difficult to balance the demands of work, home and childcare.
It's not easy for health professionals and therapists alike to recognize ADHD in a lot of people. This doesn't mean that it's not real or that a person has to work harder to stay focused. Diagnoses are based on symptoms and the way they affect daily functioning in multiple areas.
Women tend to have more inattentive symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive and this could be the reason why they aren't diagnosed. Additionally many women who suffer from ADHD feel a sense of shame about their symptoms because they don't fit the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This makes it harder for those who suffer from ADHD to seek assistance or receive treatment.
Certain women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a prolonged period of time due to the fact that they attempt to conceal their symptoms and manage. In addition, they are more likely to have multiple comorbidities that may mask their ADHD symptoms, like depression, anxiety, and digestive issues. ADHD symptoms in adult women are also more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could cause their symptoms to flare or disappear, such as during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Problems with Organization
Forgetfulness, disorganization, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are common ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can cause them to be difficult to manage daily tasks, meet obligations, or maintain relationships. They may also have low self-esteem or experience anxiety. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might feel like they are not meeting societal expectations. They may also experience anxiety and low self-esteem.
In addition to disorganization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can be manifested as hyperfocus or procrastination. These issues can result in women not attending appointments, not paying their bills on time and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to an inability to focus on other important activities and a shaky sense of time, which can make it difficult to switch from one activity to another. Procrastination can cause stress, anxiety, and a constant sense of being in a lag.
Communication issues, both verbal and nonverbal are a typical sign of ADHD. This can include talking excessively, interrupting others, or saying inappropriate things. It can also indicate an inability to wait for her turn or trouble understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to remember that these signs are not necessarily indicative of a lack of intelligence or capability.
Many women with ADHD develop strategies to manage their symptoms. These strategies can have positive and negative effects. Some of these coping strategies might be healthy. For example, using a daily calendar or setting reminders for important events. Others could be harmful, such as using alcohol or drugs to hide symptoms or not paying attention to them at all. As a result, it is crucial for women who suspect ADHD to seek out help from an expert in mental health.
Women with ADHD might benefit from taking medication, lifestyle modifications or therapy, as well as other treatments. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative beliefs and thoughts, mindfulness and relaxation, exercising and a balanced diet and adequate rest. A health professional may also recommend adjustments to make work or school simpler.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women suffering from ADHD can struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they often become unhappy and depressed when life's challenges aren't easily resolved. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships with romantic partners, friends and colleagues. For example the tendency to forget or be impulsive can cause confusion or frustration in romantic relationships and cause feelings such as loneliness or depression. A tendency to seek thrills on a whim may be misinterpreted by others as a lack of interest or apathy.
This is why ADHD symptoms are often missed or misdiagnosed for girls and women. It is possible that they are unable to recognize their issues due to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms that define gender and sexuality.
Girls and women with ADHD can disguise their symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may result in being referred to less frequently for diagnosis than boys and men who have the same symptoms. This discrepancy may also be due to gender bias in the research that determines diagnostic criteria. In a recent study Hartung and Widiger discovered that girls and women are more likely to be under-identified and not diagnosed than men and boys with the same ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that healthcare professionals are conditioned by their education to view hyperactive and hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as being more common in both men and boys. This makes them easier to detect and refer to an assessment.
Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest themselves as anxiety and a struggle to settle down. These are common ADHD symptoms however they can be a significant influence on the life of an adult. People with ADHD may be irritable or find it hard to sit still. This is particularly the case when they're anxious or stressed. They tend to fidget and are often very active. They frequently interrupt or complete other people's sentences without even realizing they're causing offence.
If you think you have ADHD, your doctor or registered psychologist can refer you to psychiatrists for an assessment. You can also self-refer. This information was reviewed in October 2024 and revised in November 2022 by Madeline Dykes, clinical psychologist and a member of the Thriving Madly peer support network in Christchurch.
4. Problems with Social Skills
Women with ADHD might have trouble managing their emotions or effectively communicating at work. This can lead to issues in personal relationships as well as with professional goals. They may have trouble recognizing and responding in a timely manner to feedback. This can result in disappointment or anger. Additionally, they might have trouble maintaining healthy eating and sleep habits, which could lead to feelings of anxiety. Women with ADHD use unhealthy coping methods to compensate for their problems. These include eating disorders, addiction to substances and non-suicidal harming oneself (NSSI) which includes cutting, burning or scratching.
ADHD symptoms adults with ADHD may be more hesitant to get help as adults than men, because they tend mask their symptoms. They often create strategies for coping to fit in and conform to the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms difficult to be recognized by others. These coping strategies could be as simple and straightforward as setting reminders and creating lists, or they could be more complex such as learning how to control their emotions or implementing mindful techniques.
These coping mechanisms could be counterproductive and cause more symptoms. These strategies for coping can cause problems in getting the rest you need which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. Women with ADHD are also prone to feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, which can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are diagnosed more often with ADHD than girls. However the gap is narrowing as they get older. It's because it's common for women to experience a variety of symptoms throughout their lives, and this can result in the diagnosis at various dates.
The fluctuation in hormone levels can impact ADHD symptoms in women. For example in the event that they have high levels of estrogen during pregnancy, their symptoms could improve. This is because higher levels of estrogen can aid in regulating brain chemicals that affect attention. However, if they begin to notice a decrease in estrogen levels due to age or perimenopause, their ADHD symptoms could become more severe.
Adults with ADHD can get a correct diagnosis, and they can receive effective treatment. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychology, as well as other treatments that can help those with ADHD improve their everyday functioning. In addition, they can also attend support groups for ADHD to share their experiences with other people who are on the same path and gain valuable insights from their colleagues.