Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Symptoms of ADHD in females of adulthood are often missed or misdiagnosed. However, a proper diagnosis can help improve your quality of life including relationships at work and in personal relationships.
The most common symptoms are forgetfulness, difficulties in staying organized, impulsive behavior, poor emotional regulation and difficulty in recognizing social signals. Treatment may include therapy and medication.
Inattention or lack of Focus
A typical symptom of ADHD is a lack of sustained focus. People with ADHD tend to find it difficult to stay on task for more than an hour regardless of whether or not the task is something that interests them. However, when they do get attracted to something, they could become hyperfocused to the point of neglecting other tasks or obligations. This can lead to procrastination, missed appointments and even incomplete work projects.
People suffering from ADHD can also have difficulty remembering instructions and retaining specifics. This can make it difficult to perform tasks in the workplace or at school and can cause misunderstandings and frustrations between colleagues. It could also be a major factor in time management issues, such as not paying bills or showing up at meetings on time, or not showing up at all.
Women suffering from ADHD are able to develop strategies to hide their symptoms. This can lead to being viewed as unorganized or inattention by others. This can lead them to feel shame and guilt. This can also affect their self-confidence.
Use a planner to manage this symptom. You can also make use of post-it notepads or a planner to track deadlines and appointments. Use a noise-canceling headset block out any distractions, as well as listen to music to improve concentration (be sure that the music doesn't contain lyrics that interfere with your concentration). Avoid drinking caffeine prior to bedtime since it can disrupt sleep patterns. Practice good sleep hygiene including creating a regular bedtime routine and turning off your devices an hour before going to sleep. You can also consider taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music or using a blanket with weights to relax your mind prior to going to bed.
Inattention
Women who have the inattentive ADHD subtype often have difficulty finishing tasks, recalling important dates and deadlines, or even completing routine chores. They might also be unable to focus on details in conversations or get distracted by other activities around them. Many times, they make mistakes at school or at work and fail to review their work prior to making sure they submit it. In addition, they have difficulty planning and setting priorities.
Forgetfulness and impulsivity can heighten the frustration and miscommunications between romantic partners, friends, family members colleagues, teachers or coworkers and make it more difficult for these individuals to seek treatment for their symptoms. For instance, if are frequently late for meetings or have trouble keeping your schedule, this can cause people to assume that you aren't interested in your partner or don't care about the relationship. Your forgetfulness or inability of focus can lead to misunderstandings with those who live with you.
Women who suffer from ADHD experience high-functioning symptoms, which don't have any significant impact on their everyday lives. For example, they may forget appointments, miss deadlines or delay tasks. They still experience other symptoms like anxiety and lack of organization skills.
Symptoms of adult ADHD can become more severe during the perimenopause (perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause). A good night's sleep and exercise can help with these symptoms.
Inattention ADHD one of the most common types of ADHD is a condition that develops when a person is not paying attention. To determine ADHD, a medical professional must conduct a thorough evaluation. This can include an examination of your body, cognitive or behavioral test and an interview with your physician of your family. Note: Sex is a part of biology, which includes chromosomal make-up, hormones, and anatomy which determines if someone is a woman, man, or nonbinary. Gender identity, on the other hand, is an internal feeling of who you are, which includes cultural and social beliefs.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD struggle to control their impulses and have the capability of delaying action or refraining from acting based on thoughts. They may have difficulty self-restraining, interrupting others without thinking, and have a hard time understanding social boundaries. They also have a difficult time waiting for their turn and are likely to be impatient throughout the day. These signs can cause problems at home, school, work and in social relationships.
It can be difficult to keep up with a variety of tasks including phone calls, emails, and meetings can be especially difficult for people with ADHD. Additionally, they might be unable to remember names and their handwriting might be messy. They may also be suffering from an inability to organize their lives and a tendency to delay projects, which could affect their job performance and cause stress. In certain instances the impulsive behavior can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs.
Since many women suffering from ADHD are unaware that they suffer from the condition, they are underdiagnosed. The symptoms of ADHD can be difficult to identify because they are often obscured by hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
At Salience Health, we help people with ADHD manage their symptoms through a combination of medication and therapy. The use of medication can be especially beneficial in treating the issue of impulse control. To learn more about treatment options for adults with ADHD, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Hyperactivity
Women who have ADHD might have difficulty staying still and quiet for extended durations of time. Their flittering and restlessness frequently hinders their ability to concentrate on tasks at school or work. They also have trouble playing or engaging in leisure activities at a relaxed pace. They may appear to be easily distracted and not care about what other people think. They might also have trouble remembering details of conversations and events they've attended.
In addition, they can struggle to keep plans and commitments. As adults women who suffer from ADHD develop strategies to disguise their symptoms to keep their promises and keep relationships. This can cause feeling like they are out of control and overwhelmed. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood fluctuations can be misinterpreted by male partners and colleagues, which could contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Men and women experience different symptoms of ADHD, but it is essential to have a thorough assessment by a qualified healthcare provider. A Salience Health provider can use tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to establish an assessment and suggest treatments.
Adult women with ADHD are typically treated with a an array of therapies and medication. Techniques for therapy like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal skills training, and other therapies can help change negative thought patterns and behavior. The use of stimulant and non-stimulant drugs can aid in managing the symptoms of ADHD among adult women. A health professional can prescribe the right medication for you based on your symptoms, age, stage in life, primary responsibilities, and any other conditions or illnesses you suffer from.
Social Skills
Many people suffering from ADHD feel lonely, despite having many family members, friends, coworkers and acquaintances. what are ADHD symptoms in adults have difficulty making new friends or maintaining relationships due to their lack of memory and focus issues, as well as the tendency to be impulsive. This can result in long periods of time with no a meaningful discussion, being late to meetings and missing social events.
These social problems can cause difficulties at school, work and in relationships. The inability to follow through on promises or commitments creates feelings of being rejected and unloved by family members, coworkers and friends. This can cause depression and anxiety, as well as low self-esteem, and a feeling of failure or loss of control. In some cases, the inappropriate behavior of a social group can cause a break-up in the relationship or marriage due to the fact that the spouse or partner does not have ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD often hide their symptoms by altering their behavior to conform to social expectations and norms. This makes it harder to get an diagnosis, since they might not be as open about their struggles. They might have developed a healthy repertoire of coping strategies to mask their symptoms.
For instance, they could keep track of their appointments in a calendar app or set up phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They might also be able to deal with their inability to multitask by doing more than one thing at once, but they can still struggle with executive function and memory issues that limit their ability to plan and manage time.
They might also have trouble reading between the lines or interpreting subtexts when listening to other people, which can contribute to social issues. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step to finding solutions and establishing more connections with others. There are many solutions and resources, including treatments and medications.