Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women with ADHD are often subjected to different expectations from society regarding how they should handle their family, careers and their home lives. This can cause you be embarrassed and frustrated if your symptoms cause problems.
Research has shown that girls are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than both males and females. This could be due to the fact that they conceal their symptoms or develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms.
1. Inattentiveness
One of the most common signs of adhd is difficulty paying attention in the classroom or at work. Women with adhd often forget important meetings or tasks or are misled by instructions. They may also have trouble staying focused in noisy or crowded settings. Certain people who suffer from ADHD may have "thousand-yard gazes" or a tendency to lose focus during conversations. These symptoms can lead to problems at work or in relationships.
Women and girls are at a higher risk of developing undiagnosed ADHD as they age. They develop coping strategies that cover up their symptoms and continue to do so into adulthood. They might even begin to recognize their symptoms as personal characteristics, which could make it more difficult to seek help.
In addition, many teachers don't suggest ADHD evaluations for girls as frequently as they do for men. If a girl's numbness or ADHD is impacting her school performance or social interactions it is recommended that she consult an expert in health.
Inattentive ADHD is a frequent reason for emotional stress. adhd in adult women symptoms can be frustrating when you feel that you're not able to meet the expectations of friends or family members as well as colleagues. It can be a bit depressing to feel that you're not getting along with your siblings or kids. Inattention and impulsivity can cause anxiety and depression in some people suffering from ADHD. In addition to seeking assistance, there are things that you can do to lessen the impact of these symptoms. Regular exercise can help release neurotransmitters that boost concentration and attention. It can also help reduce anxiety, mood swings and other symptoms that are common to people with ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
The impulse-driven symptoms of ADHD can be difficult to manage. You may utter things you shouldn't, purchase something on impulse or be a target for the law due to your actions. The urge to be impulsive can make it difficult to control your feelings and emotions. This can lead to self-injury such as burning, cutting, or scratching yourself. It could also lead to drinking and drug abuse.
People who are impulsive may have issues with their relationships, work or school performance. Your doctor can help manage your impulsivity by prescribing medications. Drugs like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall Ritalin) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin) can improve your control over impulses. Nonstimulant drugs like clonidine and Guanfacine can also enhance your ability to control yourself.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. This type of ADHD can be difficult to detect, leading to an incorrect diagnosis. Women may hide symptoms in order to conform to social standards and expectations. This can be particularly challenging in the adolescent or early adulthood. Women may turn to unhealthy ways of coping, such as excessive drinking and drug abuse to hide their ADHD challenges.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD can conceal their symptoms by thriving in certain areas of their lives, like school or work. This can give you an illusion of security and make you feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life. Ask your healthcare provider about accommodations at school or work that will assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms. This is a great chance to raise awareness among your colleagues or professors about the challenges you are facing.
3. Disorganization
If you have ADHD then you may be unable to attend appointments, arriving late for work, not remembering dates and not paying attention to conversations can result in frustration and make others feel unimportant or offended. The disorder can make it difficult to keep track of tasks and manage your finances and schedules. If you aren't able to remember what you'll need for groceries, then you may miss out on meals or spend too much on unnecessary items.
Women suffering from ADHD have difficulty keeping the daily chores, homework, and bills. The disorder can also lead to messy homes, messy workspaces and a tendency to hoard. The "time blindness" that ADHD sufferers are prone to makes it difficult to gauge how much time has been spent or how long they've worked on a specific task. Combined with difficulty staying focused, problems with time management can cause feelings of guilt and shame being not organized.
While research suggests that girls and women are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than boys and men the symptoms can be hidden and undiagnosed. Many women don't receive a diagnosis until adulthood and their symptoms become more apparent. Moreover, social stigma and stereotypes could make it difficult for women to access the help and treatment they require.
Your doctor might prescribe medication to help manage your ADHD symptoms. stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine are able to boost and balance levels of neurotransmitters, which are the brain chemicals that communicate with each other. Non-stimulant drugs like antidepressants and atomoxetine are also used to treat ADHD, but they work slower than stimulants. Your doctor may refer you to an expert in mental health who can assist in developing a treatment program tailored to your requirements.
4. Impulsiveness
Women who suffer from ADHD may have a difficult to control their emotions, and are often more vulnerable to rejection. The chemical imbalance that comes with ADHD disrupts the communication between brain regions that regulate emotions and interpret how to deal with these emotions.
People suffering from ADHD are more prone to depression and moodiness. This, in conjunction with a difficulty in managing their obligations, can cause problems with family and romantic relationships. Women with ADHD may also have low self-esteem and have difficulty in forming relationships and managing social situations. They can wander off on tangents or struggle to comprehend what other people are saying. This makes it difficult for them to find a spot in a group.
Women suffering from ADHD may find it difficult to keep themselves motivated to complete simple or boring tasks like washing dishes, cleaning, and washing laundry. This can lead them to develop unhealthy coping methods like binge-watching TV shows or abusing substances. These types of behaviors are particularly dangerous for young girls as well as adolescents with ADHD who are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, such as early beginning of sexual activity, fewer sexual partners who are protected and more casual sex than their peers.
As adults, women with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed than men because they tend to have inattentive symptoms instead of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Many women hide their ADHD due to the numerous expectations placed on them by society (managing home and family for instance). It can be difficult for doctors to identify that there is a problem since the symptoms are easier to recognize in both boys.
5. Hyperactivity
For women who suffer from ADHD, everyday tasks can be overwhelming. They may have trouble managing their lives, paying off bills on time, and keeping up with schedules or school/work requirements. A variety of emotional symptoms, including mood swings and difficulty managing emotions, can make it difficult to interact with others and create difficulties in relationships with family and friends.
People with ADHD often have trouble picking the social cues and understanding body language. They might have trouble following a conversation or go off on a tangent, causing difficulties at school or at work and causing tension in relationships. They may also have trouble making new friends or finding the right balance between their work, home, and social life.
Symptoms of ADHD are different throughout the day and be influenced by hormone levels, like those that occur during menstruation or pregnancy, or as they progress through perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can result in an incorrect diagnosis or a wrong type of medication being prescribed.
There are certain symptoms and signs that are typical of ADHD that can aid you or a loved one recognize the condition. Being aware of these symptoms is a good first step towards getting the help and treatment you require to manage your symptoms effectively.
Being diagnosed with ADHD isn't a guarantee that you don't have any other physical or mental health conditions, so it's important that your doctor or therapist performs a thorough evaluation. They'll ask questions about your past and present behaviors, look over your medical history, and talk about how your symptoms impact you in various settings.