Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD are often not diagnosed due to symptoms that may be less evident, gender bias among healthcare providers, and symptom masking. It is crucial to be diagnosed to improve relationships and prepare you for success, and help you identify your own 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 look for these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
Many people who suffer from ADHD are able to focus on a particular activity until they are unable to think about the outside world, even if the activity isn't productive. This is referred to as hyperfocus. While certain individuals, such as writers, artists, and scientists, use this skill to be successful in their profession but uncontrolled hyperfocus can be a problem. It can cause you be late for appointments, suffer setbacks at school or work and can cause tension with your family and friends.
Hyperfocus can be very difficult to stop, particularly when you don't even realize it's taking place. The best method to get out of an ADHD hyperfocus session is to make a plan and prioritize tasks for the day, which includes daily chores such as brushing teeth or taking showers. If you're having a difficult time keeping track of your time, use a clock or alarm to help you stay on task or ask a trusted friend to check in with you at certain intervals. When working on a project, it's also helpful to move around and take frequent breaks.
In children, hyperfocus is sometimes seen as positive, since it allows kids to become completely engaged in an activity like skating or building with Legos. However, uncontrolled hyperfocus can lead to setbacks in school, a decrease in productivity at work, and even strained relationships between parents and siblings.
The ability to hyperfocus can make it difficult to determine the signs that the child is experiencing emotional issues like anxiety or depression that is common among adolescents. This is why it is important to seek medical attention if your daughter is showing signs of ADHD that interfere with her daily activities.
Symptoms of ADHD can also be more severe at certain times in the life of a woman like when she is menstruating or pregnant. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms such as irritability and mood swings. It can also increase the chance of a woman being misunderstood either by her lover or colleagues.
While the ratio of males to females with diagnosed ADHD is 2:1 in childhood but this disparity becomes less pronounced after age 14, when more women are diagnosed with ADHD. The good news is that there are a variety of options to help girls and women manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a typical adult female ADHD sign and can cause issues in your professional and personal life. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, especially ones that require self-regulation and executive function skills. People who are susceptible to procrastinating often find themselves in a bind with important school or work assignments and this can hurt their reputations and relationships.
Other signs of adult ADHD include the inability to remember appointments and missing deadlines. You may also be prone to forgetting important details in conversations, or even your own personal needs such as paying your bills. You may have trouble concentrating in busy or noisy environments, which can cause you to miss opportunities at work or school. You may also be easily distracted by your smartphone or social media and find it difficult to stay focused when listening or reading with someone else.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can lead to many emotional problems, from depression and anxiety to mood swings that can impact your life in different ways. It can also make it difficult to manage frustration and misunderstandings in personal and work relationships.
Women are more adept than men in hiding their ADHD symptoms which makes it harder to obtain a diagnosis and receive treatment. This is especially relevant for women who have high-functioning ADHD, where the inattentive symptoms aren't as obvious and can be camouflaged by mood or anxiety-related symptoms. School reports typically omit comments concerning relationship issues or social problems and focus on academic performance and behavior, which may cause under-diagnosis and mis-identification of girls and women with ADHD.
There are a variety of treatments for adults with ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavioral treatment, and lifestyle modifications. Speak to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Remember that the goal of a treatment plan is to improve your daily performance and help manage your symptom. Make sure you discuss the advantages and side effects of any medication you're taking, as any co-occurring conditions you have.
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. However, the inattention symptoms are very common and can affect work, school, and relationships.
It is a characteristic of the inattentive subtype of ADD/ADHD and can cause trouble when it leads to reckless choices or risky behavior. Impulsivity can be characterized by a tendency to respond to questions before they are asked, interrupting conversations, and buying things without thinking about the consequences. These actions of impulsivity can result in embarrassing social situations, relationship problems, and financial struggles.
Emotional impulsivity can also be common in adult female ADHD. It can lead to an impulsive reaction to anger or frustration. This impulsivity may also cause mood swings that make it difficult to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to manage their emotions, which leads to low self-esteem and anxiety. These negative emotions can negatively impact the performance of a person at work and cause absences from appointments and health issues. Women who suffer from impulsive ADHD frequently struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. They can become dependent on others, or have trouble staying on track with their commitments.
In what is adult ADHD symptoms and into adulthood, women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexually risky actions than those who are not affected by the disorder. This is often due to a recognition of the value of sexual activity for social acceptance. The risky sexual behavior of young adults and teens with ADHD are a contributing factor to the increased rates of teenage, early or unplanned pregnancies in these populations.
The good news is that there are a variety of ways to curb impulsive behavior. It can be helpful to learn to pause and write down thoughts before making a decision. Meditation or mindfulness can aid in calming the body and mind and help block out distractions. Diet can also play an important role in controlling impulses. A healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and high-quality protein can enhance focus and help prevent impulse-driven behaviors. Sleep is a key factor in the reduction of the tendency to be impulsive. To ensure an improved night's sleep, try establishing a consistent bedtime routine, utilizing a weighted blanket to calm the mind and body prior to going to bed, and limiting screen time during the time prior to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a typical issue that is often experienced by adults with ADHD. When you're unable to manage your emotions it can be difficult to manage everyday challenges and relationships. This can lead to self-destructive behavior like addictions or eating disorder. This can make it difficult for people to keep the demands of school, work or home life.
You may have difficulty identifying your emotions or figuring out what they mean. This can be particularly challenging if you have a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression. symptoms of emotional dysregulation may include difficulty getting calm after a fight or having frequent outbursts. You may also find yourself becoming easily annoyed by minor irritations and inconveniences. It could also be difficult getting rid of past experiences or repressing grudges.
Females with ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is that their symptoms tend to be internalized and they're less likely than males and females to be diagnosed with ADHD. 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 with ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than men and boys. This can be particularly challenging for teenage girls with ADHD as they go into the hormonal changes of puberty and the adolescent years. Combined with their heightened sensitivity to social and academic pressures, they can create an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If you are experiencing emotional dysregulation due to ADHD symptoms therapy or medication could be the best choice for treatment. Medication can aid in regulating your hormones and improve your mood, while therapy can provide the space to process feelings of anger, sadness, anxiety or rejection.
Whether you choose therapy or medication the best method to treat the issue of emotion dysregulation is to implement steps to improve your sleep. You can achieve this by following a bedtime routine, practicing meditation or listening to soothing music before you go to sleep. Good sleep hygiene practices can help you get more energy throughout the day.
Although every person's story is unique, it's important to keep in mind that there are ways to manage ADHD symptoms and lead a life that is enjoyable. It's not uncommon for people to experience the combination of treatments, medications or lifestyle adjustments to find what works best.