ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females

While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the capacity of females to mask their symptoms.


Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise and experience to identify ADHD in women. Many females are misdiagnosed and do not receive the treatment they require.

1. Disorganization

Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disordered thinking, which can be a challenge to manage. Your desk, for instance could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and even a ticket to the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Although you may have spent money on products to help you manage your clutter, your office or home is likely still messy and chaotic.

Inability to keep the track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the time required to finish the task. This can leave you frustrated and feeling like you're not doing a great job in your career or personal life, particularly when you feel like other people don't value your efforts.

You may also have difficulty controlling your emotions. This could cause you to react too quickly when confronted by stressful situations. Your high-speed verbal communication can create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your loved ones as well as your coworkers. You may make comments that hurt the feelings of others without even knowing. Since impulsivity is a common trait in people with ADHD it is possible that you will find it difficult to resist saying things before taking a second to think them through.

If you suffer from ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas about how men, women, and boys should behave. This can make it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.

You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root cause of your disorder. Although it might take some time to find the appropriate coping strategies, implementing these strategies can assist you in feeling more in control of your life and improve relationships with family and friends as well as coworkers.

2. Impulsivity

People who suffer from ADHD experience intense emotions. However, their brains are not able to filter them or assess them. They may be overwhelmed by a minor setback, or have difficulty being able to assess the mood of other people. It also makes it easier for them to get distracted by minor issues such as a book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to take a spin class.

Many women with ADHD overcome their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and developing coping strategies. They could be perfectionists or highly conscientious at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping the track of important dates, deadlines and appointments. They may also have issues with self-control and verbal control. They may also speak too much, interrupt others often, or ramble during conversations.

The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. These symptoms include an abrupt urge to begin or stop activities. They can also be characterized by being unable wait for your turn in a conversation and having difficulty reading social cues.

While gender-based stereotypes may play a role in the development of ADHD but it's often difficult to determine if women are suffering from these problems. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior and some health professionals may misunderstand or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms.

Many women who suffer from ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal). This can trigger emotions such as anger and irritability, or depression. They may also feel a persistent feeling of discontent with their lives or relationships. This may lead to substance abuse, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping habits. It is important for women to realize that these symptoms do not indicate their worth or importance as human beings. If you follow a proper treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.

3. Inattention

ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at times, they are so frequent that they can interfere with your daily life. You may make careless errors at work or at school, forget appointments or spend a large deal of time procrastinating. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and are often interrupted by other people.

Inattentive symptoms in adults can include the tendency to get involved in projects without fully planning and analyzing them, which leads to incomplete or subpar results. It is also possible to get lost easily and have a tendency to leave projects unfinished -from the garden that was planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization which was erected and put aside to dust on your nightstand.

People with inattention ADHD also struggle with a constant feeling of disorganization, both in their workplaces and at home. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents, bills or keys and misplace things on a regular basis. You could also lose track of time and be late for work, school or for meetings.

Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. People who suffer from these conditions can perform actions or words without thinking about the consequences. For check out the post right here , they might talk over others or make a lot of nonsensical noises when they are alone. They have difficulty sitting still and can fidget or pace in their seats. They might have trouble keeping their job and may have frequent disputes with their coworkers and manager.

In some instances, the mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can cause frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.

Girls and women with ADHD may face many difficulties when seeking treatment. This includes gender bias, a tendency to hide symptoms or undervalue their severity, as well as gender bias. The rise of high-profile women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have shared their own struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, but many girls and young women do not know they have the condition.

4. Anxiety

Although many people feel anxious or nervous from time to the other, persistently high anxiety is a sign of an anxiety disorder. You might experience an uneasy feeling or fear, as well as rapid pulse, difficulty maintaining calm, and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also experience an increased fear of danger even in situations that aren't likely to be dangerous for you. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, phobias and agoraphobia as well as panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.

Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD than men, and it tends to worsen during certain periods of the woman's life like the time of her menstrual period and pregnancy or perimenopausal. This makes it more difficult to handle everyday activities and social interactions and cause feelings of self-doubt and general discontent with your life.

You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a difficult time accepting criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection and you can be angry about minor things that others don't find to be a problem.

Mood swings are also a symptom of adult adhd in women. You may find that you are prone to having unpredictable moods or find it difficult to manage these. You could also be prone to self-injury that isn't suicidal like burning, scrubbing or hitting yourself.

If you're struggling with any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to establish a clear diagnosis. It will help you comprehend the challenges you're facing and provide you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online, or talk to your physician for an assessment from a professional. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other instances they might suggest a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any case, it's important to change your lifestyle as quickly as possible. This will allow you to take control of your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.