Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD in childhood is characterised by hyperactivity and impulsivity that leads to behavioral and academic difficulties. It's a condition that can last for a lifetime but children usually overcome their symptoms.
In adulthood, inattentive symptom persists and may cause problems with work or school. These symptoms can be caused or aggravated by hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycle or during pregnancy, or menopausal.
Attention-deficit Symptoms
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD can be very depressing for adults. They can impact relationships as well as productivity at work and school performance. You may be easily distracted, lose things frequently or have trouble following instructions. You may forget appointments or business meetings, leaving tasks unfinished. You may feel overwhelmed by the mess at home or in the office, and have difficulty remembering important details of events that happened in your life. You might find it hard to listen to other people and may have what's known as the thousand-yard stare, in which you look at people, but do not hear them.
Adults with inattentive ADHD may also experience memory issues, particularly when hormonal changes take place, such as during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. This can be especially difficult for women who may feel that their symptoms are worsened by these menstrual cycles.
When you have inattention ADHD it is possible to improve your life by learning to recognize and manage your symptoms. It is essential to establish realistic goals for yourself and plan ahead. Planners, reminder apps and post-it notes to keep track of your appointments or deadlines. Try breaking large projects into smaller tasks and work on them one at a. Take regular breaks and move around to refocus.
You can also ask your employer or school for accommodations that might help you manage your symptoms, such as permitting you to work from home, offering you extra time for tests or assignments or even providing notetaking assistance during meetings. Many places have policies requiring them to offer accommodations for people with disabilities, for example ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD might be frustrated or angry if they aren't diagnosed. They might blame their issues on themselves, or believe that medical experts or family members have brushed aside them. Many feel sadness and sorrow for the opportunities missed and the relationships damaged because they never received treatment for their disorder.
symptoms of adhd adults suggests that, as compared to boys and men women and girls who suffer from inattention ADHD are not recognized and diagnosed. This is primarily due to the fact that their symptoms tend to be concealed. They can appear similar to anxiety or mood disorders and can cause clinicians to not recognize the problem. They also have better strategies to cope than males, which may conceal the true symptoms of ADHD.
Hyperactive Symptoms
Hyperactive ADHD symptoms in women and girls can manifest as restlessness, or difficulty being still. They may be fidgety or constantly on the go or be extremely talkative or have difficulty being able to focus in class or work. Girls may also be prone to mood swings and have difficulties controlling their emotions. They often struggle to meet societal expectations for a woman's behavior, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and chronic stress.
While the symptom-profile of females suffering from ADHD differs from that of men however, it is a chronic disorder. It's estimated that just 30% of adults outgrow their ADHD, and women are less likely to achieve this than men. If you've been diagnosed with adult ADHD, you may find that your symptoms get worse as you age or go through hormonal changes.
You may be noticing that your ADHD symptoms are more intense in puberty, at the time of your menstrual cycle, and during perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). You might notice that you make more mistakes than usual, struggle with staying on top of deadlines and assignments or you forget appointments.
If you have inattentive type of ADHD, symptoms may also rise during menopausal perimenopausal. This is due to estrogen levels decrease around ovulation, and in the middle of your period. This can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations may be the reason for why many women are not diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, but instead go undiagnosed when they become adults.
During the initial diagnostic procedure, doctors will employ a combination of ratings scales, interviews as well as other methods to determine if you have ADHD. It is also crucial to consider how you react and perceive your symptoms. Women and girls may conceal or cover up their ADHD symptoms to avoid being judged. This could result in them being misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorders. Men and boys however are more likely to be referred for ADHD due to their behaviors being more disruptive. This is the reason why a majority of the initial ADHD studies were conducted with hyperactive boys and males.
Instinctive Symptoms
Being diagnosed with ADHD can make it difficult to control impulsive behaviors such as hitting your fist against the wall or picking up objects from the floor. It can also make it difficult to think before acting, which can cause problems at work or school when you have to complete tasks or follow instructions without interruptions.
As you grow older as you age, your issues with impulse control ability to plan and organise could become more internalized and less apparent than when you were a young person. Hyperactivity can become an inner restlessness. Periods of organization could be accompanied by periods of procrastination, and feeling overwhelmed.
Research shows that women tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms more than men or boys. This is due to the fact that it is considered more socially acceptable for boys and men to display ADHD-linked behaviors including hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This could also be due to gender stereotypes, like the idea that boys are more raunchy and less organized than girls. This can reinforce a girl's tendency to hide her ADHD symptoms to blend with the other kids.
The hormonal fluctuations that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy can also exacerbate ADHD symptoms in females. This is because estrogen levels decrease at the time of ovulation, and can increase when menstrual cycles begin. This causes symptoms to become more severe. It is crucial that women and girls suffering from ADHD are assessed by an expert in mental health or health care provider when they are experiencing these symptoms.
If you are struggling with ADHD, it's possible to learn to manage your symptoms. Combining therapy, medication and lifestyle changes can make a a big difference. Regular exercise is an excellent way to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters that increase focus and energy levels. Try to do some aerobics, sports or cardio exercises at your gym at home or in a local one.
It's also crucial to get enough sleep. A good night's rest can reduce fatigue which is often an indication of ADHD. Finally, it's vital to eat well and avoid eating foods that trigger ADHD symptoms in you.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women with ADHD may have issues in different areas of their life. They are more likely to experience the symptoms of inattention and develop coping mechanisms, such as internalization. This can result in low self-esteem and a negative image of the body. Because of this, it's crucial that they get diagnosed and receive treatment as adults. Receiving a diagnosis can be an opportunity for clarity for many. It provides them with an explanation for their struggles and helps them accept themselves better (Waite 2010).
Symptoms can vary in intensity according to the hormone levels. They can be improved when pregnant and ovulation occurs, and then worsen when they reach menopausal. In this period women may struggle with the demands of daily life and relationships, resulting in feelings of discontent with their lives.
Relationships can be impacted by forgetfulness and impulsive behaviors. Inattention to birthdays, incomplete projects or not paying bills on time could make people feel like you're not paying attention, which can lead to interpersonal conflict. People suffering from ADHD frequently struggle with the sensitivity to rejection and have trouble managing their emotions, which can lead to extreme reactions to failure or rejection.
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD are likely to become sexually active earlier in age than their peers, because of impulsivity and a desire to feel included and loved. They are more likely to become victims of intimate partner abuse and STIs since they do not insist that their partners utilize protection. They are also more likely to have anxiety or depression co-occurring with it and may have a difficult keeping friendships.
While more research is needed to better understand the effects of ADHD on different genders, it's clear that women are more likely to go undiagnosed and experience different experiences with the disorder. It is possible to receive diagnosis and receive treatment that can improve your relationships and help you achieve success at work or in school. In addition to medications, your doctor might suggest therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy which will help you manage your emotions and thoughts while swapping out negative thoughts for more positive ones.