Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often not diagnosed due to inattention or less obvious symptoms, gender biases by health professionals, and symptom maskedness. The need for a diagnosis is essential to improve your relationships, set you up for success, and help you understand your behaviors.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to determine these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
Many people who suffer from ADHD can focus on an event to the point that they are unable to think about the outside world, even when the activity is not productive. This is referred to as hyperfocus. While certain individuals, such as scientists, artists and writers make use of this skill to be successful in their profession, unrestrained hyperfocus can be a problem. It can result in missed appointments, setbacks in school or at work and strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus can be a challenge to stop, particularly when you don't even realize it's happening. Make a plan for your day and prioritize daily tasks, such as brushing your teeth or taking a bath. If you have a difficult time keeping track of time you can use a clock or alarm clock to help stay on task or have a friend keep track of you at certain intervals. When working on a project, it is important to move around frequently and take frequent breaks.
Hyperfocus in children is sometimes thought of as positive, since it allows them to be fully engaged in an activity, such as skateboarding, or creating with Legos. However, excessive hyperfocus can result in setbacks at school, a decrease in productivity at work, and even strained relationships with siblings or parents.
Hyperfocus may make it difficult to determine whether the child is suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety which are common among adolescents. It is essential to seek medical assistance if your daughter's symptoms of ADHD are hindering her daily functioning.
ADHD symptoms can also be more prominent in certain times of a woman's pregnancy, or menstrual cycle. This can increase the frequency and severity of emotional symptoms like mood swings and irritability. It can also increase the likelihood that a female will be misunderstood or misinterpreted by her romantic partner or coworkers.
The male-to-female ADHD ratio is approximately 2:1 during childhood. However, the difference is less apparent when women start receiving more ADHD diagnoses after age 14. There are many sources that can assist girls and women manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a typical ADHD sign in women who are older, and it can cause problems in your professional and personal lives. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, especially those that require self regulation and executive function skills. Procrastinators are often late in important work or school assignments, which can harm their reputation and relationships.
Missing deadlines and forgetting appointments are other common symptoms of adult ADHD among women. You may also forget important information in conversations or even your own personal needs, such as paying your bills. It may be difficult to focus in noisy or busy places, which could cause you to be distracted at work or school. You can also become easily distracted by social media or your phone and have trouble staying focus when listening or reading.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can cause various emotional issues that range from anxiety and depression, to mood changes that can have a major impact on your life. It can also make it difficult to deal with anger and miscommunications in your the workplace and in personal relationships.
Women are more adept than men in hiding their ADHD symptoms, which can make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis and receive treatment. This is especially the case for women who suffer from high-functioning ADHD. The signs of inattention are less obvious, and can be hidden by depression or anxiety. School reports tend to concentrate on academic performance and behavior, but not the relationship or social issues. This can lead to girls and women with ADHD to be misdiagnosed and not diagnosed.
There are many treatment options for adult ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavior treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. Speak to your doctor about the most effective treatment plan for you. Keep in mind that the aim of any treatment plan is to assist you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Make sure you discuss the benefits and side consequences of any medication you're taking, as with any co-occurring issues you suffer from.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. The inattentive symptoms are very frequent, and can lead to difficulties at school, at work, or with relationships.
Impulsivity is a sign of the type of ADD/ADHD that is inattentive and can lead to bad decisions or reckless behavior. The signs of impulsivity include uttering answers before questions are asked, interrupting others in conversations, or buying things on impulse without considering the consequences. These actions of impulsivity can lead to embarrassing situations in relationships, social awkwardness, and financial struggles.
Emotional impulsivity is yet another typical symptom of adult female ADHD. ADHD symptoms adults can cause people to act out in response to feelings of anger or frustration, which can be difficult to control. The impulsivity of this behavior can also trigger mood swings, making it difficult to keep healthy and positive relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulties managing their emotions, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can affect work performance and lead to absences from appointments and health issues. Women suffering from hyper-impulsive ADHD have trouble making decisions or planning ahead. In the process, they may become dependent on others or may be unable to keep their commitments.
Through adolescence and through adulthood, women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexually risky behaviors than their peers who are not affected by the disorder. This is because sexual activity is viewed as a sign of social acceptance. Sexually risky behavior of young adults and adolescents with ADHD are a contributing factor to the higher rate of early, teenage or unplanned pregnancies in these populations.
The good news is that there are a variety of ways to curb impulsive behavior. Making sure to pause before doing something and to write down thoughts that could be impulsive can assist. Meditation or mindfulness can also help to calm the body and mind, and eliminate distractions. Diet also plays a role in managing the impulsiveness. A healthy diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-quality protein, can improve concentration and prevent impulsive behavior. Sleep is a key factor in the reduction of the risk of impulsiveness. Set up a regular sleeping routine, using a heavy blanket to calm your body and mind, and limiting screen use prior to you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
A lot of adults suffer from emotional dysregulation with ADHD. It can be difficult to manage daily challenges and relationships when you are not able to manage your emotions. This could lead to self-destructive behaviours like addictions and eating disorders. This can make it hard to maintain a home, work or school life.
You may be having difficulty identifying your feelings or understanding what they mean. This can be especially challenging when you suffer from a mood disorder such as anxiety or depression. symptoms of emotional dysregulation may include having trouble getting calm after a fight, having frequent outbursts or becoming easily annoyed by minor problems and irritations. You may also have trouble getting past events out of your mind or holding onto grudges.
Females with ADHD are more prone to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because the symptoms they experience are internalized, and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than males or females. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Girls who suffer from ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social norms than boys and men. This can be particularly challenging for teenage girls who have ADHD as they experience the hormonal changes associated with puberty and adolescence. This can cause emotional dysregulation, particularly when coupled with the increased sensitivity of girls with ADHD to academic and social pressures.
If your ADHD symptoms cause you to experience emotional dysregulation, treatment options include therapy or medication. The use of medication can help regulate your hormones and improve your mood while therapy can provide the space to process feelings of sadness, anger or anxiety.
Whether you choose medication or therapy, the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to adopt steps to improve your sleep. This can be achieved by following a routine before sleeping, practicing meditation, or listening to soothing music. Good sleep hygiene practices will also help you to have more energy throughout the day.
While every person's experience with ADHD is different it is important to recognize that there are solutions to manage the symptoms and live a happy life. It's commonplace for people to try various therapies, medications or lifestyle changes to find the best solution.