ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD may have issues at workplace or in relationships. It is essential to recognize the signs of ADHD and find the right treatment for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can aid in improving your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing on what matters most.
1. It is difficult to pay attention.
symptoms of add and ADHD in adults might have trouble paying attention to details, recollecting appointments and deadlines or underestimating the time it takes to complete a task. They might also have difficulties managing their time at work or in relationships, become distracted easily and fail to follow through on promises. They might also struggle with an impulsive nature, trouble controlling their emotions and the tendency to mutter things without thinking it through first.
The difficulty in paying attention experienced by ADHD symptoms in adult women can cause problems with relationships and friendships and relationships. That's why it's crucial to spot the signs and seek treatment. Women may have difficulty to make new friendships or struggle in their relationships due to frequent arguments and opportunities to have fun, and a lack of attention. They can also find it difficult balancing the demands of home, work and childcare.
Many people who suffer from ADHD don't meet the diagnostic criteria, and it can be hard for health professionals or therapists to identify the disorder. However, that doesn't mean it's not real or that the person doesn't need to try harder to stay on task. Diagnoses are based upon the symptoms and the way they affect the daily activities in a variety of areas.
Women are more likely to experience inattentional symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones, which could explain why they go undiagnosed. Many women suffering from ADHD are also embarrassed by their symptoms because they don't fit the stereotypes of ADHD. This makes it harder for women who suffer from ADHD to seek help or seek treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed for a prolonged period of time because they try to hide their symptoms and cope. In addition, they are more likely to have complications that may conceal their ADHD symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and digestive issues. They are also more likely to experience hormonal fluctuations that can cause their symptoms to flare up or fade away, for instance during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Problems with Organization
Women with ADHD often experience forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation. These symptoms can cause them to be difficult to manage daily tasks, meet obligations, or maintain relationships. They may also have a low self-esteem and suffer from anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may feel that they're not achieving society's expectations. They may also struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem.
In addition to a lack of organization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can manifest as hyperfocus or procrastination. These problems can cause women to miss appointments, not pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a loss of focus on other crucial tasks, as well as a lack of understanding of time. This can make it difficult to switch from one task to another. Procrastination can also result in a buildup of anxiety, stress and an unending feeling of being behind.
Communication problems both non-verbal and verbal are a common symptom of ADHD. This could include talking too much, interrupting others, or saying inappropriate things. This could include a lack of ability to be patient or having difficulty understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to keep in mind that these issues don't always indicate a lack in ability or intelligence.
Many women suffering from ADHD develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. This can have positive as well as negative consequences. Some of these coping strategies may be healthy. For example, using a daily calendar or setting reminders for important events. Others could be harmful for example, using alcohol or drugs to hide symptoms or not paying attention to them at all. It is therefore important that women who suspect they may have ADHD seek help from a professional.
Women suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medication treatment, lifestyle changes, therapy, and a myriad of other treatment options. Some of these include cognitive behavior therapy to deal with negative thoughts and beliefs, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, exercise, a balanced diet, and a sufficient amount of sleep. A doctor can also suggest accommodations to help make work or school easier to manage.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD might struggle with emotional dysregulation. They become frustrated and discouraged when their problems aren't easily overcome. It can be challenging to maintain relationships, whether it's with romantic partners, coworkers or even friends. For instance, forgetfulness and impulses can cause frustration or confusion in relationships with loved ones and lead to feelings of abandonment, loneliness or depression. Additionally, a tendency to seek excitement on a whim could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or indifference by other people.
Because of this, ADHD symptoms are frequently missed or under-diagnosed in women and girls. It is possible that they are unable to recognize their struggles due to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms regarding gender and sexuality.
Girls and women with ADHD often camouflage their symptoms in order to avoid embarrassment. This can result in them being referred for diagnosis less often than men and boys with the same symptoms. This discrepancy may also be due to gender bias in research that informs the diagnosis criteria. Hartung and Widiger discovered in an earlier study that women and girls who suffer from ADHD symptoms are more likely to go undiagnosed and under-identified than boys and adults. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are taught to see hyperactive and aggressive ADHD symptoms as more typical of men and boys which makes them more easily identified and referred to assessment.
In adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are common signs of ADHD, but in adulthood, they can have a significant impact on one's life and well-being. People with ADHD might feel anxious or find it difficult to stay still. This is particularly when they're feeling anxious or stressed. They are also prone to fidget and tend to be extremely talkative, frequently interrupting or ending sentences of other people without even thinking that they're being rude.
If you suspect you may be suffering from ADHD or other disorders, you may be recommended to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and other members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.
4. Social Skills Problems
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. For example, they might struggle to understand and respond to feedback, which can cause frustration and even disappointment. They may also have trouble maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can lead to feelings of anxiety. Women who suffer from ADHD employ unhealthy methods of coping to compensate for their problems. These include eating disorders, substance abuse, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI), like cutting, burning, or scratching.
As adults, women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to seek treatment than men, as they tend to mask their symptoms. In an effort to be accepted by society and to meet expectations, they usually create coping mechanisms. This makes it difficult to be recognized by others as having ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could be as simple as creating lists and establishing reminders, or more complicated, such as developing a strategy to manage their emotions or implementing mindfulness techniques.
However, these coping methods could backfire and make symptoms worse. They can also make it difficult to get adequate sleep, which is crucial to manage ADHD symptoms. Women with ADHD may also feel overwhelmed by the demands of their daily life, which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are diagnosed more often with ADHD than girls. However, the gap narrows as they get older. It's because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which can result in being diagnosed at different instances.
Changes in hormone levels can impact ADHD symptoms in women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for instance the symptoms could improve. This is because higher levels of estrogen can aid in the regulation of brain chemicals that affect attention. If their estrogen levels decrease due to perimenopausal or aging, ADHD symptoms may worsen.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to receive a precise diagnosis, and they can get effective treatment. These include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), neurocognitive psychology, as well as other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their everyday functioning. They are also able to attend meetings of support groups for ADHD in order to share their experiences with others on the same journey, and gain valuable insights from their peers.