ADHD in Adult Women Symptoms
Women with ADHD can struggle to get the help they need. Symptoms can be managed by medication and therapy.
The symptoms include forgetfulness, restlessness and impulsivity, mood swings and difficulties managing daily activities. These can lead to unhealthy relationships and co-occurring disorders, such as eating disorders.
1. Hyperfocus
Hyperfocus is the tendency of people suffering from ADHD to concentrate on a single particular thing and not pay attention to other distractions. When used for tasks like writing or making art, it can be beneficial. However, if it is extended to other activities, such as watching TV or using social media, the result can be less effective. In this way hyperfocus is a frequent sign of ADHD in women of all ages that can cause significant problems at work or in their personal lives.
Women may also experience the inattentive-type symptoms of ADHD (difficulty staying on task or forgetting important tasks) more than they do the hyperactivity/impulsive symptoms. This is why their ADHD symptoms may be more difficult to identify. They may not be able to keep track of their schedule or pay bills or have trouble making and keeping friends.
Hyperfocus can result in an inability to manage emotions, which usually can make it difficult for women with ADHD to be assertive or maintain healthy relationships at home or at work. The disorder of emotional regulation is a major indication of ADHD in adults women and can be caused by hormonal changes during menstrual cycles and pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
If you go back to them, they might not understand what you are saying. This can be frustrating to everyone affected. However, it is possible to come up with strategies that can help you snap out of hyperfocus and regain control of your time. For instance, set an alarm for 15 minutes to remind you to stop spending your time online or to change your focus when you're watching television. You could also interrupt your focus with a simple wiggle.
Some people with ADHD find hyperfocus to be an effective superpower, allowing them achieve amazing feats such as Olympic gold medals or major artistic projects. This is only possible when they can identify their own impulsive behaviors and learn to manage their attention and turn off hyperfocus when required. For most people, this requires an effective support system that is willing to keep them accountable and help them set reasonable boundaries.
2. Procrastination
Women with ADHD have difficulty getting started on tasks or projects. They tend to put off tasks until the last minute, and then feel overwhelmed by their workload and are unable to motivate themselves to get started. They may also have difficulty keeping track of their time and tend to overestimate the amount of time required to complete.
Procrastination can be a problem for many people. However, it can be a major issue for people with ADHD. It can be challenging to keep up with administrative tasks like registration to health services, booking appointments with your doctor, or responding to your friends in a timely fashion. It can also cause anxiety and stress and affect your health.
You may also have difficulty making plans for future events or with homework. You could get so caught up in the details of planning that you fail to get anywhere and then find yourself not getting the job done. It is also possible that you struggle to stay in touch with family or friends, or struggle to discern nonverbal cues from others. You may talk excessively or ramble on the topic, or have difficulty understanding social boundaries.
Certain women with ADHD are unable to cope when it comes to forming friendships and making new ones. They may also have difficulties maintaining their jobs and keeping up with their household chores. They might have low self-esteem and find it challenging to connect with other people. Some are unable to read body language or pick up on social signals. This could make them appear distant and inaccessible.
Although it's true that women who suffer from ADHD are less likely to be diagnosed than men, lots of women do experience the symptoms of the disorder. Some suffer from what's known as high-functioning ADHD, which is when symptoms don't cause significant disruption to their lives. Certain people suffer from mild symptoms or specific symptoms that only affect specific areas of their life such as school or work.
Anyone suffering from ADHD should be aware that they can improve their functioning by seeking treatment. Therapy and medication are two treatment options. There are also accommodations you can request from your workplace or educational institution. They can assist you to better manage your symptoms and prepare you for success.
3. Impulsivity
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to control their emotions, leading to an impulsive behavior that can cause social issues. This may manifest as blurting things out without thinking, buying on impulse or engaging in fights. ADHD sufferers may also have difficulties waiting for their turn and might not know the boundaries of social interaction. This can lead to relationship issues and a lack of confidence in themselves that can impact women's mental health.
This is a more frequent occurrence for adults who have the inattention-deficit kind of ADHD. It can lead to problems in the workplace or at school, including missing deadlines, forgetting important events and misplacing important items. It can also create problems at home, like having trouble completing chores and household tasks and having difficulty to begin or finish projects. Women who are struggling with impulsive symptoms can find themselves being overwhelmed by their daily responsibilities and can feel like they're failing in life or not measuring up to their peers.
A lot of people with ADHD are unable to recognize their impulsive signs It's vital to get help if you suffer from them. Asking for an evaluation from an therapist is a great idea if you are experiencing mood fluctuation, low self-esteem or a lack of confidence that affects your daily life. You can also reach Salience to get an evaluation and treatment.
Females and females are diagnosed with ADHD less frequently than boys. This isn't because they're more susceptible to the condition, but because it typically presents differently in females. This means they're more likely to develop coping mechanisms that cover up symptoms or have a comorbid condition. They're also more likely struggle with relationships, which can further reduce the awareness of their symptoms.
There are medications that can treat ADHD in adult women and improve their lives. They include stimulants, like methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts (Adderall) and Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Non-stimulants like atomoxetine and antidepressants like bupropion (Wellbutrin) can be used by those who cannot take stimulants due to health problems or severe side-effects. Behavioral therapy, like psychotherapy or group therapy, is also effective for some.
4. Emotional Dysregulation
ADHD in adult women is usually a result of emotional dysregulation, which manifests in frequent and intense emotions that are insignificant to the circumstance. Women with this symptom frequently struggle to manage their emotions. This can lead to an impulsive behavior that harms relationships and hinder career growth. ADHD hyperactivity symptoms in adults may also have difficulty in expressing their feelings and understanding them and become overwhelmed by their emotions.
The concept of emotional dysregulation is not as well understood than hyperactivity and impulsivity in adults with ADHD. It may cause problems with self-restraint in conversations, speaking impulsively and interrupting others and also having difficulty understanding social boundaries, leading to issues like getting angry or disrupting other people's conversations and activities. It can also be an issue in identifying and expressing feelings, such as frustration and anger, sadness, depression and anxiety.
Women with emotional dysregulation may struggle to maintain relationships and working effectively. They are more likely to experience anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. They are more likely to be suffering from depression and anxiety which may also contribute to symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions, like bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. They may also suffer from depression and anxiety which can complicate treatment.
Because women with ADHD frequently experience a combination of symptoms that are overlapping, they can be more difficult to identify than men with the same symptoms. This is due to the fact that women have fewer externalizing symptoms than men, and are more apparent to others. It is essential to determine the diagnosis of the patient by taking into consideration all symptoms, not just externalizing symptoms.
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are different concepts and sex refers to a person's genetics, chromosomal makeup and hormones and gender refers to the person's internal sense of self, as a woman, man, nonbinary or any other gender. While the male-to-female ratio for ADHD is higher in the early years of childhood but the ratio is more equal as we get older. As a result, women with ADHD are often not diagnosed. A diagnosis can help them manage their symptoms, improve their relationships, help them achieve success at home and at work and assist them in accepting themselves more fully.