Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Symptoms of ADHD in females of adulthood are often misdiagnosed or missed. A proper diagnosis can improve your life both professionally and personally.
The most common symptoms are forgetfulness, difficulty staying organized or in a controlled manner, impulsive behavior, poor emotional regulation and trouble reading social cues. Treatment options include medication and therapy.
Inattention and lack of Focus
ADHD is characterized by difficulties staying focused. People suffering from ADHD tend to find it difficult to stay on task for more than two minutes regardless of whether or not the task interests them. If they are interested in the task, they can be absorbed in the task and neglect other tasks or obligations. This can lead to procrastination, missed appointments, as well as incomplete work projects.
Additionally, people with ADHD might have difficulty keeping track of instructions and remembering specifics. This can make it difficult to accomplish tasks at school or at work which can result in miscommunication and frustration between colleagues. It could also play part in time management issues like not paying bills on time or not making appointments.
Women with ADHD have strategies for coping to mask their symptoms. This can lead to them being perceived as disorganized or unfocused by others. This could cause people to feel shame and guilt. This can further affect their self-esteem.
To manage this condition try using a planner or post-it notes to track deadlines and appointments. Utilize a headset that blocks out noise to block out distractions, and also listen to music to improve concentration (be sure the music doesn't have lyrics that compete with your focus). Avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime because it can disrupt sleep patterns. A healthy sleep routine involves establishing the routine of bedtime and turning off screens an hour prior to going to bed. You can also try taking a warm bath and listening to soothing music or using a weighted blanket to help calm your mind before going to bed.
Inattention
Women who suffer from the inattentive subtype of ADHD often find it difficult to finish tasks and stay on top of important deadlines and dates, remember appointments or complete daily chores. They might also be unable to remember particulars in conversations, or be distracted by the other things happening around them. Many times, they make mistakes at work or school and forget to check their work before submitting it. In addition, they have difficulty establishing priorities and planning.
Forgetfulness and impulse can cause confusion and frustration between lovers, colleagues, family members, or teachers. This makes it difficult for those with this condition to seek treatment for their symptoms. If you're often late for meetings or are having trouble keeping the track of your time, people may assume that you are not concerned about them, or lack commitment to the relationship. Your inability to focus can also lead to conflicts and misunderstandings with those you live with.
Certain women who suffer from ADHD have high-functioning symptoms which don't have any significant impact on their everyday lives. For instance, they might forget appointments, miss deadlines, or delay tasks. They still experience other symptoms like restlessness and poor ability to organize.
Adult symptoms of ADHD may become more severe during menopausal perimenopausal period (perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause). Regular exercise and adequate sleep can help to manage these symptoms.
Inattention ADHD one of the most well-known types of ADHD is a condition that develops when a person isn't paying attention. To diagnose ADHD, a healthcare professional must conduct a thorough evaluation. This may include an examination of your body, cognitive or behavioral test and an interview with your physician of your family. *Note: Sex is biology which refers to chromosomal makeup hormones, anatomy, and physiology, that determines whether someone is a woman, a man, or nonbinary. Gender identity however, is an internal sense of who you are, which includes social and cultural beliefs.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD typically struggle with impulse control, which is the ability to delay action or refrain from taking action based on thoughts. They may have trouble self-restraining and interrupting others without thinking, and have a hard time understanding social boundaries. They have a difficult waiting to be the first and are generally impatient. These issues can lead to problems at home, in school, at work and with social relationships.
Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to manage multiple tasks. This includes phone calls, emails, and meetings. They may also have difficulty remembering names and their handwriting can be messy. They might also have an inability to organize their lives and procrastinate on projects, which can affect their work performance and create stress. In some cases, impulsive behavior leads to unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol or drugs.
Because many women with ADHD are unaware that they have the condition, they are underdiagnosed. The symptoms of ADHD are difficult to identify because they are often masked by hormonal changes, such as menopausal, puberty, or pregnancy.
At Salience Health, we help those suffering from ADHD manage their symptoms through a combination of therapy and medication. The use of medications can be particularly helpful in treating impulse control. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more about the treatment options available for adults with ADHD.
Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD may have trouble being still and calm for extended durations of time. Their fidgeting and restlessness often interferes with their ability to focus during tasks at school or work. They also have difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly. It could appear that they aren't interested in the things that others are interested in, and they are easily distracted. They might also have trouble remembering the specifics of conversations or events they have attended.
They may also have difficulty staying on track with plans and commitments. As adults many women with ADHD develop strategies to mask their symptoms in order to meet expectations and maintain relationships. This can result in feeling overwhelmed and out of control. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood swings may be misinterpreted as a sign of depression by male colleagues and even spouses.
Women and men experience different symptoms of ADHD and an extensive evaluation is required by a qualified healthcare provider. A Salience Health provider can use tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment options.
ADHD adult female symptoms suffering from ADHD are typically treated using a an array of therapies and medication. Therapy techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and training in interpersonal skills can assist to change negative thoughts and behaviors. Medication such as stimulant and non-stimulant medications can aid in managing the symptoms of ADHD among adult women. A health care provider can prescribe the right medication for you based on your symptoms of age, stage of life, primary responsibilities, and any other medical conditions or illnesses you suffer from.
Social Skills
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to connect with others and feel isolated despite having a large number of coworkers, friends, acquaintances and family members. They have trouble making new friends and maintaining relationships due to their lack of memory, focus problems and impulsivity. This can result in lengthy periods of time without engaging in meaningful conversations and being late to appointments and being absent from social gatherings.
These social problems can cause difficulties at school, work and in relationships. Inability to keep up on promises or commitments creates a feeling of being disregarded and not appreciated by loved ones, coworkers and friends. This can cause depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and a sense of being in a state of denial or losing control. In some instances it may cause marriage or relationship breakups because the inappropriate social behavior can be too excessive for the partner or spouse who is not suffering from ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD often mask their symptoms by changing their behavior to conform to social expectations and norms. This can make it difficult for them to get diagnosed because they may not be as open about their struggles. They may have developed a repertoire of coping strategies to hide their symptoms.
For instance, they could keep the track of their appointments using an app for calendars or set phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They may be able cope with their inability to multitask by doing more than one thing at a single time but struggle with executive function or memory limitations that limit their ability to plan and handle time.
They might also have trouble understanding the language or interpreting subtexts when listening to others which could lead to social problems. An accurate diagnosis is the most crucial step to finding solutions and establishing relationships with others. There are a variety of solutions and resources available, including medication and therapies.