ADHD Adult Female Symptoms

ADHD can affect women and men, however it's more difficult for women to recognize it. It's because women do not typically show the same high levels of impulsivity or hyperactivity that men do, which means they are often misdiagnosed or not recognized.

A clear diagnosis is the first step towards managing your symptoms. Stimulant medications are a popular treatment for adults with ADHD however, there are other options.

1. Problems with Focusing

Women suffering from ADHD are prone to being distracted by a variety of things, but they're also having difficulty staying focused on tasks and conversations, especially if they are experiencing sensory or emotional overload. These problems can become worse during menstrual cycle.

Women with inattentive ADHD also have problems with their working memory, which makes it difficult to remember simple things like appointments or upcoming events. They might forget where they left their car keys or the name of the lady who offered them a ride home after a spinning class. They might forget important dates or deadlines.

Other signs of ADHD in females of adulthood include procrastination, as well as difficulty following through with plans. They are more likely to get distracted by shiny objects or social media, making it difficult to finish their projects and assignments. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and underperforming at the classroom or at work.

Many women with ADHD aren't diagnosed due to gender stereotypes. In the end, they are embarrassed and mislabel their struggles as "bad behaviors" or "character imperfections." They also feel like they are an imposter. A diagnosis can be a lightbulb moment, providing them with a clear external explanation of their struggles and allowing them to accept their own uniqueness.

Girls and women with untreated ADHD can suffer from a broad range of negative outcomes, including academic problems and behavioral issues, bad relationships with family members and co-occurring mental health issues. But a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from this condition at any stage of their lives. Treatment options include stimulant medications and therapy. *

2. Difficulty Finishing Projects

Women suffering from ADHD often have difficulty completing tasks and duties. They can miss important details, struggle with switching between tasks or responsibilities, and find it difficult to meet deadlines. They could also be more prone to make erroneous mistakes or having difficulty organizing their time efficiently and underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete their tasks.

Women with ADHD may find the emotional symptoms of ADHD like mood swings or irritability, especially frustrating. Hormonal changes can trigger symptoms, including those that occur in pregnancy, menopause, and during menstruation. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may feel angry and depressed by their performance at workplace or in their relationships.

Women who suffer from ADHD have trouble keeping up with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping and household chores. They might have a difficult time remembering to take out the garbage or turn off the stove and they can be easily distracted by small things around them. They might also struggle with routine tasks, such as washing dishes or folding laundry. The monotonous or repetitive chores can become overwhelming, resulting in impulsive behaviors like excessive talking or sharing. Women who suffer from ADHD might also make unruly decisions and resort to unhealthy coping strategies, like alcohol or drugs.

If you're having difficulty finishing tasks, have memory issues, have a tendency to procrastinate for a long time or are experiencing relationship issues, it is important to seek professional help for ADHD. A proper diagnosis can boost the quality of your life and help you achieve success in both your personal and professional life. It can assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms, and help you develop strategies to manage these. To avoid lapses of focus and attention it is recommended to stick to a regular schedule, use a planner or reminder apps to take notes during meetings, and adhere to good sleep hygiene (avoid screens at least an hour prior to going to bed). Exercise can also help improve focus because it increases brain neurotransmitter levels.

3. Difficulty remembering names

The difficulty in remembering names may be associated with other ADHD symptoms like difficulty in following directions and having trouble finishing projects. The root cause of these difficulties is an inability to prioritize and organize tasks that affects efficient information retrieval. This condition can worsen during times of fatigue, stress or hormonal changes, such as prior to, during, or after menopausal change.

The feeling of forgetting names can be more frustrating when it's followed by a feeling of numbness over bigger items like appointments or events or personal reminders. These lapses may be exacerbated by depression and anxiety which are common co-occurring conditions with ADHD among women.

Due to gender biases and internalized symptoms, ADHD is often misdiagnosed in women. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are more subtle than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, making them harder to detect and identify. This means that they are often not identified and not referred for diagnosis and treatment.

Additionally, there is gender-based discrimination because the disorder tends to be viewed as a disorder that affects boys. Boys who are hyperactive are the ones most often being referred to clinics and analyzed for treatment. In addition to internalized stigma, women's symptoms are often different from men's. Many professionals are unable to diagnose or treat ADHD in females.

Fortunately, it's becoming more common for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis in their adulthood. A diagnosis can help improve your relationships, set you up for success at school and at work, and provide the support you need to excel in your life. Talk to a Salience Health provider if you're interested in being diagnosed. We can evaluate your symptoms using tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced and connect you to a therapist who is right for you.

4. Ailoofs with difficulty

Women who suffer from ADHD can have subtle symptoms of inattention. They may miss appointments, forget to complete chores around the home, or have difficulty making notes at work. They might also be struggling with impulsivity and trouble understanding social boundaries. This could lead them to misinterpret and misunderstandings between family and friends and could result in feelings of isolation and loneliness.

In addition, women with untreated ADHD frequently have difficulty meeting societal expectations for them as women. This can cause a feeling of inadequacy and ADHD symptoms when they are faced with the responsibility of taking care of children and household chores. Many women suffering from untreated ADHD have low self-esteem, and they resort to unhealthy coping strategies such as binge eating or marathons on TV.

The challenges of ADHD in women are amplified by gender bias, both in the way that women and girls are viewed and assessed by clinicians. Certain studies suggest that girls and women are more likely to cover up or disguise their ADHD symptoms, and can be less likely to be referred for treatment and diagnosis than men and boys.

Another issue is that women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty recognizing their own symptoms. ADHD symptoms in adult women might confuse them with anxiety or mood disorders. This could lead to a false diagnosis as well as delayed or incorrect treatment.

These changes can make women more frustrated with her ADHD symptoms. They may also increase the chance that she will be viewed or dismissed as moody or overly emotional. These changes can cause women to be more unhappy with her ADHD symptoms and increase the chance of being misunderstood or viewed as moody or too emotional.

5. Impulsivity

The impulsivity of ADHD affects both men and boys differently, women suffer from it as well. They may also have difficulty managing their emotions, and are prone to "foot in the mouth" moments. These actions that are impulsive can have a significant impact on relationships and professional life.


Prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain that is responsible for controlling thinking and making decisions. This area can prevent individuals from making poor choices since it serves as a check. ADHD sufferers have less functional prefrontal cortex. This makes it harder to resist impulses and stop themselves from doing something reckless. It can also result in an absence of self-esteem. In women, impulsiveness often manifests itself as a problem with social boundaries and conversational self-restraint (interrupting the conversation, not finishing other's sentences, and talking excessively).

Women also have issues with control of impulses when hormones change. Estrogen fluctuates at different times throughout the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Contraceptives and hormone therapy during menopausal perimenopausal cycles can affect estrogen levels and other hormones which could affect the woman's ADHD.

The method by which ADHD symptoms manifest in girls and women can vary from those of boys and men this is one of the reasons they are often underdiagnosed. Many adults with ADHD are not aware of their health issues. The good news is, the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD at any age can improve the quality of life of an individual. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure whether you're suffering from ADHD. They can offer you advice. Treatment options include medication, cognitive therapy and couples counseling.