ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD might have difficulties at work or in relationships. It's crucial to recognize the signs of ADHD and seek an effective treatment for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can assist you in improving your life by managing your symptoms and focusing on what is important most.
1. It is difficult to pay attention
Women may struggle with their inability to pay attention to details, remember appointments and deadlines or underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete their tasks. They may also have difficulty keeping track of their responsibilities at workplace or in relationships, become distracted easily and fail to keep their word on promises. They may also be impulsive, struggle with managing their emotions, and may blurt out thoughts without thinking them through.
The difficulty in paying attention experienced by ADHD symptoms in adult women can lead to issues with relationships and friendships, which is why it's crucial to spot the signs and seek treatment. Women might find it harder to make new friends, or may struggle in their current relationships due to recurring fights, missed opportunities for fun and being ignored. They can also have a harder time managing the demands of work, home and childcare.
It can be difficult for health professionals and therapists alike, to identify ADHD in many people. This doesn't mean that it's not real, or that a person has to be more focused. Diagnoses are based on the symptoms and the way they affect daily functioning in multiple areas.
It's more common for females to have inattentive symptoms - as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive symptoms which could explain why this group of people often go undiagnosed. In addition many women suffering from ADHD feel a sense of guilt about their condition because they don't fit into the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This can make it more difficult for those who suffer from ADHD to seek help or receive treatment.
In some cases women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a long time because they're trying to manage and conceal their symptoms. They are more likely to have other comorbidities, including depression or anxiety which may conceal the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could cause their symptoms to flare up or disappear. This is especially true during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Problems
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently experience a lack of memory, disorganization and emotional dysregulation. These signs can cause them to be difficult to manage daily tasks, meet their obligations, or maintain relationships. They may also experience low self-esteem or be anxious. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often feel as if they're not meeting societal expectations and have a difficult time keeping up with their peers in terms of academic performance as well as job performance and social interactions.
ADHD in women can manifest itself as procrastination, hyperfocus, or forgetfulness. These problems can cause women to miss appointments, fail to pay bills on time, and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to an inability to focus on other important activities and a poor sense of time, which could make it difficult to shift from one task to another. Procrastination can also lead to an increase in anxiety, stress and a constant feeling of being left behind.
Communication issues that are nonverbal as well as verbal are a common manifestation of ADHD. This can include excessive talking or interrupting others or using inappropriate words. This could include an inability for her to wait or a difficulty understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to remember that these behavior patterns don't necessarily suggest a lack of the ability or intelligence.
Many women suffering from ADHD have coping strategies to mask their symptoms, which can have both positive and negative effects. Some of these coping mechanisms might be healthy. For instance using a calendar for the day or creating reminders for important events. Some of these coping strategies could be healthy, such as creating reminders for events, or using alcohol and drugs to mask symptoms. It is therefore important that women who suspect they may have ADHD seek professional help.
Women suffering from ADHD may benefit from medications, lifestyle changes or therapy, as well as other treatment options. Some of these include cognitive behavioral therapy to address underlying negative thoughts and beliefs mindfulness and relaxation techniques as well as exercise, a balanced diet, and a sufficient amount of sleep. A medical professional can also recommend accommodations that will make school or work easier to manage.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women who suffer from ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. They can become frustrated and depressed if life's challenges can't be easily solved. It can be challenging to maintain relationships, whether with romantic partners, coworkers or family members. For example, forgetfulness or insanity can increase frustration or confusion in relationships with loved ones and lead to feelings of loneliness, abandonment or depression. In addition, a tendency to seek excitement on a whim could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or indifference by other people.
This is why ADHD symptoms are often overlooked or under-diagnosed in women and girls. It is possible that they are unable to recognize their struggles due to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms that define gender and sexuality.
Women and girls with ADHD often conceal their symptoms to avoid causing embarrassment. This can result in being referred to a specialist less often than boys and men with the same symptoms. This discrepancy may also be due to gender bias in research that informs the diagnosis criteria. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger discovered that girls and women are more likely to be misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed than men and boys with the same ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are trained to view hyperactive and hyperactive and ADHD symptoms as more common to males and females which makes them easier to recognize and referred for evaluation.
In adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are common ADHD symptoms however they can be a significant influence on an adult's life. People with ADHD may feel restless or find it difficult to stay still. This is particularly the case when they're anxious or stressed. They tend to fidget and are often overly active. They often interrupt or finish sentences of other people without even realizing they're being rude.
If you suspect that you may be suffering from ADHD, you can be directed to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) as well as members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. The content was updated in November 2022.
4. Problems with Social Skills
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulties managing their emotions or communicating effectively at work. This can cause problems that affect relationships between people and professional goals. They may have trouble recognizing and responding appropriately to feedback. This can lead to disappointment or anger. Additionally, they might struggle to maintain healthy sleeping and eating routines, which can cause anxiety. In some instances women suffering from ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope with these issues. These include eating disorders, addiction to substances, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI) which includes cutting, burning or scratching.
As women grow older, those with ADHD are more likely to seek treatment than men, as they are more likely to hide their symptoms. To be accepted by society and meet expectations, they usually develop coping strategies. what is adult ADHD symptoms can make it harder to be recognized by others as having ADHD symptoms. These coping mechanisms may be as simple as setting reminders and creating lists, or they could be more complex such as finding ways to control their emotions or developing mindful strategies.
However, these coping methods could backfire and make symptoms worse. They can also make it difficult to achieve good sleep, which is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms. Women suffering from ADHD are also prone to feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, which can cause ADHD symptoms.
While it's true that a greater number of boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, the gap becomes smaller when they reach the age of adulthood. This is because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which may result in a diagnosis at different times.
Changes in hormone levels could also impact ADHD symptoms in women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for example their symptoms could get better. This is because estrogen levels can aid in the regulation of brain chemicals that influence attention. If they start to experience low levels of estrogen due to perimenopausal changes or age or perimenopausal symptoms, their ADHD symptoms could become more severe.
Fortunately, it's possible for adults suffering from ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and access effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy, which will assist people with ADHD build the necessary skills to improve their daily functioning. Additionally, they can also attend support groups for ADHD to discuss their experiences with other people who are on the same path and gain valuable insights from their peers.
