Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
The symptoms of ADHD in females of adulthood are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. But a proper diagnosis can improve your quality of life, including work and personal relationships.
The most common symptoms are forgetfulness, difficulty staying organized or in a controlled manner, impulsive behavior, poor emotional regulation, and difficulty interpreting social cues. Treatment may include therapy and medication.
Inattention or lack of Focus
ADHD is characterized by difficulties staying focused. People with ADHD typically find it difficult to stay on task for more than two minutes, regardless of whether or not the subject is interesting to them. When they are enthralled by a task, they may become hyper-focused and neglect other tasks or tasks. This can lead to procrastination, missed appointments, as well as incomplete work projects.
Additionally, those who suffer from ADHD may have trouble keeping track of instructions and remembering specifics. This can make it difficult to perform tasks at work or school and can lead to miscommunications and anger in relationships. It could also play a role in problems with time management, such as not paying bills on time or not making appointments.
Women suffering from ADHD may develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms, which can cause them to be perceived as unorganized or sloppy by others. This can lead them to feel embarrassed and guilt. This can affect their self-confidence.
To help manage this symptom, try to use a planner or post-it notes to keep track of appointments and deadlines. Use a headset that blocks out noise to block distractions, and listen to music to improve your concentration (make sure that the lyrics don't hinder your focus). Avoid drinking caffeine prior to bedtime since it can disrupt sleep patterns. Good sleep hygiene includes establishing an established routine for bedtime and turning off screens an hour prior to going to bed. You can also try an oversized quilt or a warm bath, or soothing music to relax your mind before you sleep.
Inattention
Women with the inattention ADHD subtype typically have trouble working through tasks in the morning, recalling important deadlines and dates or even completing routine chores. They may also lose important details in conversations, or become distracted by other things going on around them. They frequently make mistakes at work or school and do not double-check their work before submitting. They also have difficulty making plans and establishing priorities.
Inattention and forgetfulness can result in frustration and misunderstandings between lovers or family members, colleagues, or even teachers. This makes it difficult for those with this condition to seek treatment for their issues. For example, if you frequently miss meetings or have trouble keeping the track of your time it could lead others to believe that you aren't interested in them or aren't committed to the relationship. Your inability to concentrate can also cause conflicts and misunderstandings with those you share your life with.
Certain women with ADHD suffer from high-functioning symptoms which don't impact their lives. They may forget about appointments, missing deadlines, or delaying tasks. However, they may experience other symptoms like restlessness and ineffective organization skills.
Symptoms of adult ADHD may become more severe during menopausal phase (perimenopause is the period preceding menopausal). A good night's sleep and exercise can ease the symptoms.
Inattention ADHD, one of the most common types of ADHD is a disorder that occurs when a person isn't paying attention. A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is necessary to determine ADHD. This can include a behavioral, cognitive or physical test, in addition to an interview with your physician. Note: Sex refers to biology - the chromosomal makeup, hormones and anatomy that determine whether you are a man, woman, non-binary or another gender and gender identity, an internal sense of being a woman, a man or another gender, including the social and cultural beliefs about roles, behaviors and expressions.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD have trouble controlling their impulses and have the capability of delaying action or refraining from taking action based on thought. They may have difficulty self-restraining and interrupting others without thinking about it, and having 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, in school, at work and even in social interactions.
The task of keeping up with multiple tasks, phone calls, emails, and meetings can be difficult for people with ADHD. Additionally, they might be unable to remember names, and their handwriting may be messy. They may also lack organization skills and delay projects, which could affect their job performance and cause stress. In some cases the impulsive behavior can lead to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol or using drugs.
Many women with ADHD are not diagnosed because they don't know they have it. Their symptoms can be difficult to identify because they can be masked by the hormonal changes of puberty, pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes.
Salience Health helps people with ADHD manage their symptoms with a combination therapy and medication. Medications can be especially helpful to treat the issue of impulse control. To learn more about the treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD contact us today to set up a consultation.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty sitting still or be still for long periods of time.
ADHD symptoms in adulthood and restlessness could interfere with their ability focus on tasks at school or at work. They have a difficult time playing or engaging in leisure activities while in silence. They may seem like they aren't interested in the things that others are interested in, and are easily distracted. They might also have trouble remembering the specifics of conversations or events they attended.
They can also have trouble keeping track of plans and commitments. As they grow older, many women who have ADHD come up with strategies to mask their symptoms to meet expectations and maintain relationship. This can result in 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 swings can be interpreted as signs of depression by male colleagues and even spouses.
Men and women experience different symptoms of ADHD however an extensive evaluation is required by a qualified healthcare provider. A Salience Health provider can use tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to establish diagnose and suggest treatment options.
Adult women with ADHD are typically treated using 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. Drugs, such as stimulant medication and non-stimulant medicines can be beneficial in the treatment of symptoms of ADHD in adult women. A doctor can prescribe the best medication for you based on your symptoms of age, stage of life, primary responsibilities and any other conditions or illnesses you suffer from.
Social Skills
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to connect with others and feel isolated despite having many coworkers, friends acquaintances, family members, and acquaintances. They have trouble making new friends and maintaining relationships due to their lack of memory and focus issues, as well as impulsivity. This can lead to long periods of time with no a meaningful discussion or being late for meetings, and not attending social events.
These social issues can lead to trouble in work, school and relationships. The inability to fulfill on commitments or promises creates feelings of being rejected and not appreciated by loved ones, coworkers and peers. This can cause depression and anxiety, as well as low self-esteem and a feeling of failure or lack of control. In some cases it could lead to separation or divorce because the inappropriate social behavior can be too excessive for the partner or spouse who does not have ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD often hide their symptoms by changing their behavior to meet societal expectations and norms. This makes it more difficult to get a diagnosis, as they may not be as forthcoming about their difficulties. They could also have developed a repertoire of healthy coping strategies to mask the impact of their symptoms.
For example, they might keep the track of their appointments using a calendar app or set reminders on their phones to pay bills or attend important events. They may also be able to cope with their inability to multitask, by doing more than one task at once however, they may struggle with executive and memory issues that limit their ability to plan and manage time.
They may also have difficulty in reading between the lines or interpreting subtexts when listening to other people which could lead to social problems. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards finding solutions and building stronger connections with others. There are many solutions and resources that can help with therapy and medication.