Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD are often not diagnosed because of inattention to symptoms that may not be evident, gender biases in healthcare professionals and symptom masked. It is crucial to receive an assessment to improve your relationships, prepare yourself for success, and gain a better understanding of 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. Use this checklist to check for these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
Many people who have ADHD are able to focus in on an activity to the point where they are unable to think about the outside world, even when the activity is not productive. This is called hyperfocus. Unrestrained hyperfocus, although useful for some people such as writers, scientists and artists, can be a problem for others. It can cause you to delay appointments, experience setbacks at school or work and can cause tension with your family and friends.
Hyperfocus can be extremely difficult to stop, particularly if you don't realize that it's taking place. Set a schedule for the day and prioritize daily tasks, such as brushing your teeth or taking a bath. If you have a hard time keeping track of time then use a timer or alarm clock to help you keep track of your time or have a friend be in touch with you at regular intervals. It can also help to move around and take frequent breaks while working on a task.
In children, hyperfocus is often seen as positive, since it allows children to be completely engaged in an sport like skating or building with Legos. However, uncontrolled hyperfocus can lead to setbacks at school, decreased productivity at work, and strained relations between siblings and parents.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to determine if your child suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety. These are very common among adolescents. This is why it is important to seek medical attention if your child is showing signs of ADHD that impact her daily life.
ADHD symptoms may also be more prominent in certain times of pregnancy or menstrual cycle. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms like irritability and mood swings. 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 about 2:1 in the early years of childhood. However, the difference is less apparent as women receive more ADHD diagnoses after age 14. The good news is that there are plenty of resources to help women and girls manage their ADHD, and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a common adult female ADHD symptom, and it can cause difficulties in your personal and professional life. This symptom causes difficulty to begin and complete tasks, particularly those that require self-regulation and executive functioning abilities. People who are susceptible to procrastination often end up in a bind with important work or school assignments, which can damage their reputations and relationships.
Missing deadlines and forgetting appointments are a few other typical signs of adult ADHD among women. You may also forget important details during conversations or your own personal needs, such as paying your bills. You may find it difficult to concentrate in noisy or busy environments, which could result in missed opportunities at school or work. You could also get easily distracted by social media or your phone and find it difficult to stay 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 lead to various emotional problems ranging from depression and anxiety and mood swings that can have a major impact on your life. It can also make it difficult to deal with confusion and frustration in workplace and personal relationships.
Women are better than males in obscuring their ADHD symptoms, which can make it harder to obtain an accurate diagnosis and get treatment. This is particularly the case for women who suffer from high-functioning ADHD. The signs of inattention are less apparent, and can be hidden by anxiety or mood disorders. School reports typically omit comments about social or relationship difficulties and focus more on academic performance and behavior, which can result in under-diagnosis and under-identification of girls and women with ADHD.
There are many treatments for adults with ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavioral treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. Talk with your doctor about which treatment plan is best for you. Keep in mind that the purpose of any treatment plan is to assist you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Be sure to discuss the advantages and side effects of any medication you're taking, as well 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. The symptoms of inattention are common and can cause problems at work, school or in relationships.
The tendency to be impulsive is an attribute of the inattention subtype of ADD/ADHD and can cause trouble when it causes reckless choices or risky behavior. Impulsivity can be characterized by the tendency to answer questions before they are asked, interrupting conversations, or purchasing things without thinking about the consequences. These impulsive behaviors can result in embarrassing situations in social settings, relationship issues, and financial difficulties.
Emotional impulsivity can also be a common symptom in adult female ADHD. It can result in an impulsive response to anger or frustration. The impulsivity of this behavior can also trigger mood swings, which makes it difficult to keep healthy and positive relationships.
Women with ADHD are often unable to manage their emotions, leading to low self-esteem and anxiety. These negative emotions can impact the performance of a person at work and cause absences from appointments and health issues. Women with hyper-impulsive ADHD often have difficulty making decisions or plan ahead. In the process, they can become overly dependent on others, or struggle to keep their commitments.
Throughout adolescence and into adulthood, women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior than peers who are not affected by the disorder. This is because sexual activity is valued for social acceptance. Sexually threatening behavior of adolescents and young adults with ADHD are a major contributor to higher rates of early, teenage or unplanned pregnancies among these groups.
The good news is that there are a variety of ways to curb impulsive behavior. Learning to pause before acting and writing down thoughts that could be impulsive could help. Meditation or mindfulness can also help calm the mind and body and help block out distractions. Full Piece of writing can play a part in managing the impulsiveness. A balanced diet that contains plenty of vegetables and fruits as well as whole grains and high-quality protein can enhance focus and help prevent the impulsive behavior. Sleep is another important factor in reducing impulsiveness. Make sure you have a regular sleep routine, using a heavy blanket to relax your mind and body and limiting screen use in the hours before you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a typical problem that often affects people with ADHD. It is difficult to manage daily stress and relationships when you are unable to control emotions. It could also lead to self-destructive behaviors such as eating disorders and addictions. This can make it hard to keep a clean school, home or work life.
It can be difficult to recognize your feelings or comprehend what they mean. This is especially difficult in the case of a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Emotional dysregulation is defined as the difficulty of calm after an argument, frequent outbursts or becoming easily annoyed by small inconveniences. It is also possible to have trouble in letting go of past events or repressing 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 boys or men. 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 difficult for teens with ADHD because they are going through the hormonal changes associated with puberty and the transition to adolescence. In addition, their increased susceptibility to academic and social pressures, they can create an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If your ADHD symptoms cause you to experience emotional dysregulation, treatment options include therapy or medication. The use of medication can boost your mood and regulate your hormones, while therapy provides a safe place to work through feelings like sadness, anger or rejection.
You can enhance your sleep by following a bedtime routine and practicing meditation, or listening to soothing music prior to bed. This can be achieved by implementing a routine prior to going to bed, practicing meditation or listening to relaxing music. Good sleep hygiene can help you feel more energetic throughout the day.
While every person's experience with ADHD is different, it's important to remember that there are methods to manage symptoms and lead a fulfilling life. It's not uncommon for people to encounter the combination of therapies, medications or lifestyle adjustments to find the most effective treatment.