Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Women
Dr. Frank says that the symptoms of ADHD in adult women are often harder to detect than in men, since women have coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms. Fortunately lifestyle changes and medications can improve their lives and function.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have six symptoms from the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive subtypes lasting more than six months. These symptoms include:
1. Inattention
The signs of ADHD in adults women often include difficulty keeping track of time, missed appointments, misplacing objects or being easily distracted. Women may also experience procrastination, forgetfulness and difficulty working or studying in a noisy or busy environment. They often have trouble with interpersonal skills, including interrupting other people and making remarks that later become regrettable.
Women with ADHD are better at hiding symptoms than men and boys. They may come up with healthy ways to cope, such as using a daily schedule or setting up phone reminders for important events. These coping strategies may not be sustainable over time and may not be sufficient to deal with the complexities of everyday life. In addition, their symptoms may be exacerbated by co-existing conditions like depression and anxiety.
Many people with ADHD also exhibit hyperactivity and impulsivity. Adults may experience subtler symptoms that affect only certain aspects of their lives like social interactions or work. Those with a hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may experience frequent fidgeting, talkativeness or trouble sitting still during conversations. They might also have trouble relaxing or finding a way of calming down, as well as struggling to form and maintain friendships.
People with moderate to mild ADHD may not have any major issues at work or in their relationships, but they struggle with staying organized and following through on commitments. They may have issues with household chores, finances or schoolwork and find themselves overwhelmed by the demands of their jobs. In severe cases, the condition can cause disruptions to a person's daily life. They may also experience difficulty maintaining relationships or keeping a job.
2. Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD struggle with organizing their home, work and personal things. They can also lose track of important things like their keys, wallets and eyeglasses. They are also susceptible to losing their temper and becoming easily distracted by other thoughts and activities. The difficulty they have in adhering to instructions and completing tasks can affect their academic performance, work performance, and relationships.
Women often hide their symptoms by using their emotions as a reason for their behavior, making it difficult to be diagnosed and treated. For example women may feel low self-esteem or anxiety as the reason for her lack of attention and forgetfulness. She could also blame relationship problems or somatic complaints, such as nausea and headaches, on the stress of life or fluctuations in hormones (e.g. menopausal symptoms, perimenopausal symptoms or menopause).
Untreated ADHD can cause serious problems. Girls and women with ADHD may be more likely to engage in sexual adolescence due to their impulsivity, difficulties with boundaries between people and lack of planning. They may be more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs to help themselves. Inattention could result in missed doctor's procedures and appointments. They may have disordered eating habits or having a high BMI. They might also use unhealthy coping strategies, such as shopping excessively, nail-biting and skin picking.
The best method of diagnosing ADHD is to conduct an exhaustive evaluation by an experienced mental health professional or health care provider. In addition to examining the patient's physical and mental well-being, the doctor may seek feedback from close family members and friends. They might also suggest some lab tests or a diagnostic interview. Many adults are shocked learn that they have been suffering from mental illness for many years.
3. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD are more difficult in controlling their impulses. This can lead to other problems such as self-injury or alcohol or drug abuse. It can also cause relationships problems as forgetfulness or impulsive behaviors can cause confusion and conflict with family, colleagues, and friends.
Impulsivity is characterized by the tendency to speak loud, purchase something on impulse, or act without thinking about the consequences. It is important to keep in mind that acting in a rash manner isn't always an indication of bad character. In fact, some people require more time than others to process their thoughts before deciding to act. However, it's still an excellent idea to speak with your doctor about this and be checked for ADHD especially when you observe that your symptoms are becoming more severe.
It's also common for females with ADHD to have trouble controlling their emotions, and this can lead to depression, as well as other mental health issues. Depression symptoms can be hard to identify in women because they may resemble other health issues, such as insomnia and chronic headaches. Some women suffering from ADHD are hesitant to seek help since they believe that their symptoms are indicative of low self-esteem or a personality flaw.
It is crucial to recognize that sex is a different concept than gender and that your internal perception of your identity is not affected by the biological characteristics that determine if you are a man, woman or a nonbinary. Many people with ADHD struggle to identify with their assigned gender. This can lead people to feel embarrassed and a sense of despair. These feelings can be further exacerbated by the stress of living with untreated ADHD, which may also result in an absence of support from a professional or personal perspective.
4. Distractions
As girls with ADHD develop into women, they could have difficulty handling adult tasks and interactions. This could cause issues at work or school and can cause tension in relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners. Women with ADHD may also have trouble managing finances or a home, and they may be at risk of neglecting health-related concerns like regular checkups and exercises. They may also have trouble dealing with negative emotions such as anxiety and depression.
ADHD symptoms in women can include forgetting things, losing things, becoming easily distracted, having trouble working with others, or feeling overwhelmed by work. They are also more likely to experience mood-related symptoms like poor self-esteem, low self-confidence or physical complaints such as headaches or abdominal pain.
It is crucial for women to identify the signs of ADHD and seek a diagnosis. It's also beneficial to talk to a mental health professional about their difficulties and develop strategies for coping with ADHD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help, for instance, to alter negative thinking patterns and improve coping skills. In addition being a part of a women's supportive group can provide valuable information about living with ADHD and coping strategies for daily life.
It's also worth noting that women with ADHD have different symptoms than men, and symptoms may differ during transitional times such as puberty and childbirth, pregnancy, or hormonal treatments during menopausal. This is due to hormone fluctuations and the fact that females have a bigger hippocampus, which plays a role in memory and learning. Women are also more adept at masking their ADHD symptoms than men, and this makes it more difficult to get a proper diagnosis. Despite these obstacles it is still possible to live a full and fulfilling life with ADHD.
5. Anxiety
Although it can be a challenge for women with ADHD to admit they suffer from anxiety issues, obtaining an assessment and finding the appropriate treatment can make their lives so much better. It can also assist women to understand their behavior and how it affects other people.
Anxiety can be a major indicator of ADHD in women who are adults and it may look like:
Distractions, such as being distracted or appearing distracted. Making careless mistakes. Avoiding inattentive ADHD in adults symptoms that require concentration or can be boring. Finding it difficult to concentrate in school or work. Forgetting or being late to meetings and appointments. Feeling overwhelmed by symptoms of inattentive ADHD in adults or feeling pressured at home or work. Finding it difficult to relax or fall to sleep. Being easily agitated or being too sensitive to criticism.
Women with ADHD are more likely to suffer from a co-existing mood disorder, like depression. They might also have difficulty to establish friendships. They might also have issues in their relationships with their spouses, which can lead to an increased rate of violence between partners and drug abuse.
It can be challenging for women and girls to obtain a precise ADHD diagnosis because symptoms for girls and women differ from those of men and boys. Health care professionals must be aware of these differences in order to make an accurate diagnosis. This means identifying certain traits that are more distinct, like a clear symptom-profile, difficulty in social relationships and a tendency to employ ways to cope with the signs of performance issues or underachievement and the coexistence between depression and anxiety. It is also important to take into consideration the effect of a woman's hormone levels on her symptom presentation.