Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often undiagnosed due to inattention or less evident symptoms, gender biases among health professionals, and the maskedness of symptoms. It is crucial to receive a diagnosis in order to improve your relationships, set yourself up for success, and understand your behavior.
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. Check this checklist for these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to be so focused on a particular activity that they lose track of the world around them. This can happen even if the activity is not productive. This is referred to as hyperfocus. While certain individuals, such as writers, artists, and scientists, use this skill to do their best work, unrestrained hyperfocus can be a liability. It can cause you miss appointments, have setbacks at school or work and can cause tension with your family and friends.
Hyperfocus can be extremely difficult to stop, particularly when you don't even realize it's occurring. Create a schedule for the day and prioritize daily tasks like brushing your teeth or taking a bath. Use an alarm or clock to assist you in keeping the time. You could also ask a friend or family member to check on you at regular intervals. It is also helpful to move around and take frequent breaks when working on a project.
In children, hyperfocus can be thought of as a positive trait, because it allows children to be completely engaged in an activity like skateboarding or creating with Legos. However, excessive hyperfocus can lead to setbacks in school, lost productivity at work, and even strained relationships with parents or siblings.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to determine if your child suffering from a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety. These are common in adolescents. It is essential to seek medical assistance in the event that your child's symptoms of ADHD are affecting her daily functioning.
ADHD symptoms can be more apparent in certain times of a woman's pregnancy or menstruation. This can increase the frequency and severity of emotional symptoms, such as mood swings and irritability. It can also increase the chance that a woman will be misunderstood or misinterpreted by her coworkers or romantic partners.
While the ratio of males to females with diagnosed ADHD is 2:1 in childhood the imbalance is less pronounced after age 14 when more women are diagnosed with ADHD. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available to help women and girls manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a common adult female ADHD symptom that can lead to problems in both your professional and personal life. ADHD and adults symptoms can make it difficult to complete tasks, particularly those that require self regulation and executive function skills. Procrastinators are often late in important school or work assignments, which could damage their reputation and damage relationships.
The inability to remember appointments and the failure to meet deadlines are a few other typical signs of adult ADHD in women. You may also be prone to forgetting important details in conversations, or even your own personal needs like paying bills. You might have difficulty focusing in noisy or busy environments, which can cause you to miss opportunities at school or at work. You may also be easily distracted by social media or your phone and may have difficulty staying focused while 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 many emotional problems that range from anxiety and depression to mood swings that affect your life in many ways. It can also make it hard to manage tensions and miscommunications in personal and professional relationships.
ADHD and adults symptoms are better at concealing their ADHD symptoms than men, which could cause difficulty in getting a diagnosis and accessing treatment. This is particularly the case for women with high-functioning ADHD as the inattention symptoms aren't so apparent and are more easily disguised by mood or anxiety symptoms. School reports tend to concentrate on academic performance and behavior and not the relationship or social issues. This can lead girls and women with ADHD to be overlooked and not diagnosed.
There are many treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavioral treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. Discuss with your doctor what treatment plan is right for you. Keep in mind that the aim of a treatment plan is to improve your daily performance and help manage your symptom. Be sure to discuss the advantages and side effects of any medications you're taking, as well as any co-occurring conditions that 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. However, the inattentive symptoms are very common and can interfere with work, school, and relationships.
Impulsivity is a sign of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can lead to bad choices or dangerous behaviors. It is characterized by an inability to answer questions prior to being asked, interrupting conversations, and buying things without considering the consequences. These actions of impulsivity can result in embarrassing social situations, relationship problems and financial difficulties.
Emotional impulsivity is yet another typical symptom of adult female ADHD. It can cause an impulsive response to anger or frustration. The impulsivity of this behavior can also trigger mood swings, making it difficult to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women suffering from ADHD are often unable to manage their emotions, which can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can impact the performance of a person at work and cause missed appointments and health issues. Women who suffer from an impulsive ADHD often struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. They might become too dependent on others, or have trouble staying on track with their commitments.
ADHD hyperactivity symptoms in adults and women with ADHD are at a higher risk of engaging in sexually risky behaviors throughout their adolescence and even into adulthood. This is in contrast to their peers who do not suffer from the disorder. This is often due to the recognition of the importance of sexual activities for social acceptance. Sexually risky behaviors of adolescents and young adults with ADHD are a major contributor to higher rates of early, teenage or unplanned pregnancies in these groups.
The good news is that there are many ways to reduce impulsive behaviors. Learning to pause before acting and to record thoughts that could be impulsive can assist. Meditation or mindfulness practices can also help in calming the mind and body by blocking out distractions and reducing the impulsiveness. Diet plays an important role in controlling impulses. A healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables along with whole grains and high-quality protein can enhance focus and help prevent impulsive behaviors. Sleep is also key to reducing the tendency to be impulsive. To get an improved night's sleep, try establishing a consistent bedtime routine, including the blanket with weight to settle the body and mind before sleeping, and limit screen time in the days prior to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a typical issue that is often experienced by adults with ADHD. If you're not able to manage your emotions, it is difficult to deal with everyday challenges and relationships. It can result in self-destructive behaviours such as eating disorders and addictions. This could make it difficult to keep the demands of school, work or even a home life.
You may have difficulty identifying your emotions or understanding what they mean. This can be especially challenging in the case of an emotional disorder like depression or anxiety. Emotional dysregulation is defined as the difficulty of slowing down after an argument, frequent outbursts or being easily upset by small annoyances. You might also have trouble letting go of past experiences or holding onto grudges.
Females with ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than men or boys. 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 typically feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than boys and men. This can be especially difficult for teenagers with ADHD as they experience the hormonal changes associated with puberty and adolescence. With their increased susceptibility to academic and social demands, this can be an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If your ADHD symptoms cause you to experience emotional dysregulation, treatment options can include medication or therapy. Medication can help regulate your hormones and improve your mood while therapy can offer an environment that allows you to process feelings of sadness, anger or anxiety.
Whether you choose medication or therapy the best way to treat this disorder is to adopt steps to improve your sleep. You can do this by following a routine for bedtime and meditating or listening to soothing music prior to bed. A good night's sleep can make you feel more energetic throughout the day.
Although every person's story is different, it's vital to remember that there are ways to manage ADHD symptoms and lead an enjoyable life. It's common for people to test various therapies and medications, or lifestyle changes to find the most effective solution.