Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women with ADHD are often not diagnosed due to inattentive symptoms that may be less obvious, gender bias in healthcare professionals, and symptom masking. The need for a diagnosis is essential to improve relationships and prepare you for success, and help recognize 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 determine these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to become so focused on a particular activity that they lose track of the world outside. This can happen even if the activity is not productive. Hyperfocus is the term used to describe this. While certain people, like writers, artists, and scientists make use of this skill to be successful in their profession however, hyperfocus that is not controlled can be a liability. 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 very difficult to stop, especially if you don't realize that it's taking place. Make a plan for your day and prioritize daily tasks, such as brushing your teeth or taking bath. If you have a hard time keeping track of your time you can use a clock or alarm clock to help remain focused or ask a friend to be in touch with you at regular intervals. It can also help to move around and take frequent breaks when working on a task.
In children, hyperfocus is often considered to be positive, since it allows children to be extremely engaged in a fun activity such as skateboarding or creating with Legos. However, uncontrolled hyperfocus can lead to setbacks at school, lower productivity at work, and strained relationships between siblings and parents.
The ability to hyperfocus can make it difficult to discern if the child is suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety, which is prevalent among adolescents. It is crucial to seek medical assistance when your child's symptoms of ADHD are affecting her daily functioning.
Symptoms of ADHD can also be more severe during certain times in a woman's life for instance, when she is experiencing menstrual cycles or is pregnant. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms, such as anger or mood fluctuations. It can also increase the chance of a woman being misinterpreted by her lover or coworkers.
While the ratio of males to females with diagnosed ADHD is at 2:1 in childhood, this imbalance becomes less pronounced after age 14, when more women receive a diagnosis. There are many sources that can aid girls and women in managing their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a typical ADHD symptom in adult women and can lead to issues in your personal and professional lives. This condition can make it difficult to complete tasks, especially those that require self-regulation and executive function abilities. People who are prone to procrastination often end up behind on important work or school 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 information in conversations or even your own personal requirements, such as paying your bills. You may find it difficult to concentrate in noisy or busy environments, which could result in missed opportunities at work or school. You could also be easily distracted by your smartphone or social media and have difficulty staying focused while listening to or reading a book with another person.
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 a variety of emotional challenges including anxiety and depression and mood changes which can have a profound impact on your life. It can also make it hard to deal with tensions and miscommunications in personal and professional relationships.
Women are more adept at hiding their ADHD symptoms than men, which could cause difficulty in getting a diagnosis and accessing treatment. This is particularly the case for women who suffer from high-functioning ADHD. The signs of inattention aren't as obvious and are often concealed by mood disorders or anxiety. ADHD symptoms in adults males tend to focus 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 under-diagnosed.
There are many treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavior treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan that is right for you. Remember that the purpose of the treatment plan is to improve your daily functioning and assist you to manage your symptoms. Discuss the side effects and benefits of any medication you are taking, as well as any co-occurring disorders.
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. Inattention symptoms are extremely common and can cause problems at work, school or in relationships.
Impulsivity is a sign of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can result in poor choices or risky behaviors. Symptoms of impulsivity can include uttering answers before questions are asked, interrupting others in conversations, and buying things on impulse, without considering the consequences. These actions of impulsivity can lead to embarrassing social situations, relationship problems, and financial struggles.
Emotional impulsivity is another typical sign of adult female ADHD. It can lead to impulsive behavior in reaction to anger or frustration. This impulsivity could cause mood changes that make it difficult for people to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions, leading to depression and anxiety. These negative emotions can affect the performance of a person at work and cause delayed appointments and health problems. Women who suffer from hyper-impulsive ADHD are unable to making decisions or planning ahead. This is why they may become a bit dependent on others, or be unable to keep their commitments.
Through adolescence and through adulthood, girls and women with ADHD are more likely to engage in sexually risky behaviors than their peers who do not suffer from the disorder. This is usually due an appreciation of the importance of sexual activity for social acceptance. Sexually threatening behaviors of adolescents and young adults with ADHD can contribute to the higher rate of teenage, early or unplanned pregnancies among these groups.
There are many ways that you can reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. It can be helpful to take a step back and record your thoughts prior to making a decision. Meditation or mindfulness can also help calm the body and mind and eliminate distractions. Diet is a factor in reducing impulses. A healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and quality protein can improve focus and prevent impulsive behaviors. Sleep is another factor in reducing impulsivity. Set up a regular sleeping routine, with a heavy blanket to relax your body and mind, and limiting screen use during the time before you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
A lot of adults suffer from emotional dysregulation with ADHD. When you're unable to manage your emotions, it can be difficult to navigate daily challenges and relationships. This can lead to self-destructive behaviors such as addictions and eating disorder. This can make it difficult to maintain a home, work or school life.
You might find it difficult to recognize your emotions or to understand what they mean. This can be particularly challenging when you suffer from a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety. Emotional dysregulation is defined as a difficulty in calm after an argument, frequent outbursts or being easily frustrated by small annoyances. It could also be difficult letting go of old experiences or holding grudges.
Females who suffer from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. This is because their symptoms 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 with ADHD typically feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than boys and men. This can be particularly challenging for teenagers suffering from ADHD, as they enter into the hormonal changes that accompany puberty and the transition to adolescence. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, particularly when combined with the increased sensitivity of girls with ADHD to social and academic pressures.
If your ADHD symptoms result in emotional dysregulation, treatment options could include medication or therapy. Medication can improve your mood and regulate your hormones, while therapy offers a safe place to work through feelings like sadness, anger and rejection. It can also help with anxiety.
Whether you opt for medication or therapy, the best way to treat the issue of emotion dysregulation is to adopt steps to improve your sleep. This can be accomplished by following a routine before going to bed, doing a meditation routine or listening to relaxing music. Good sleep hygiene practices can help you get more energy throughout the day.
Although everyone's journey is unique, it's important that you remember there are ways to deal with ADHD symptoms and live an enjoyable life. It's not uncommon for people to encounter the combination of therapies, medications or lifestyle changes to determine the best solution.