Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Adult females with ADHD are often misdiagnosed or missed. A correct diagnosis can make a difference in your life both professionally and personally.
Symptoms include forgetfulness and inability to keep track of time, impulsiveness, poor emotional regulation, and difficulty understanding social signals. Treatment may include medication and therapy.
Insufficient Focus
One of the most prominent symptoms of ADHD is the difficulty in maintaining focus. People with ADHD often find it hard to stay on a task for longer than two minutes regardless of whether or not the task interests them. In contrast, when they do get attracted to something, they can get focused to the point of neglecting other tasks or obligations. This symptom can cause procrastination and delayed appointments, and a lack of completion of work projects.
Additionally, those with ADHD may have difficulty following instructions and remembering details. This can make it difficult to accomplish tasks at school or at work, which can cause misunderstandings and anger in relationships. It could be a significant factor in problems with time management like not paying bills on time or not showing up for meetings on time, or not showing up at all.
Women with ADHD have strategies for coping to hide their symptoms. This can result in them being perceived as chaotic or unfocused by other people. This can lead to them feeling shame and guilt which may affect their self-confidence and ability focus.
To manage this condition try using a planner or post-it notes to track appointments and deadlines. Use a noise-cancelling headset to block distractions and listen to music to improve your concentration (make sure that the lyrics don't interfere with your focus). Avoid caffeine prior to the time you go to bed, as it can alter sleep patterns. Practice good sleep hygiene, such as setting a routine for bedtime and removing all screens one hour before you go to bed. You can also try taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, or using a blanket that is weighted to relax your mind prior to going to bed.
Attention
Women who have the inattentive ADHD subtype usually have trouble finishing tasks, remembering important deadlines and dates or even finishing routine chores. They may also miss out on details in conversations or be distracted by other events happening around them. Often, they make careless mistakes at work or school and don't check their work prior to sending it. They also have trouble organizing their time and setting priorities.
Forgetfulness and impulse can lead to confusion and frustration between lovers or colleagues, family members or even teachers. This makes it difficult for people with these issues to seek treatment for their ailments. If you are often late for meetings or have difficulty keeping the track of your time People may conclude that you are not concerned about them or are not committed to the relationship. Your inability to concentrate can also cause misunderstandings and conflicts with those you live with.
Women who suffer from ADHD have high-functioning symptoms that do not have an impact on their lives. For
adult symptoms of ADHD , they may forget about appointments, miss deadlines, or delay tasks. However, they still suffer from other signs such as anxiety and a lack of organization skills.
Symptoms of adult ADHD can become more severe during perimenopausal, the period that leads up to menopause. Getting enough sleep and exercising can help with these symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD is one of the most prevalent types of ADHD. A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to diagnose ADHD. This can include an examination of your body, cognitive or behavioral test, as well as an interview with your physician of your family. *Note: Sex is biology which refers to chromosomal makeup hormones, anatomy, and hormones which determines if someone is a woman, man, or nonbinary. Gender identity is, on the other hand is a sense of who you are, including cultural and social beliefs.
Impulsivity
Women with ADHD struggle to control their impulses and are capable to delay action or refrain from acting based on thoughts. They may struggle with self-control in conversations, or interrupt others without thinking and have difficulty understanding social boundaries. They also have difficulty waiting for their turn and tend to be impatient throughout the day. These symptoms can cause issues at home, at the workplace, at school and with social relationships.
The task of keeping up with multiple tasks such as phone calls, emails, and meetings can be difficult for adults suffering from ADHD. In addition, they may struggle to remember names and their handwriting could be messy. They may also lack organizational skills and stall on tasks, which can impact their job performance and create stress. In some cases, impulsive behavior leads to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol or using drugs.
Since many women with ADHD are unaware that they have the condition, they are underdiagnosed. Their symptoms are difficult to detect because they are often obscured by hormonal changes caused by puberty, pregnancy, and menopausal changes.
At Salience Health, we help patients with ADHD manage their symptoms using a combination of therapy and medication. The use of medication can be particularly helpful in the treatment of impulse control. To find out more about treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Hyperactivity
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulty sitting still and being quiet for extended durations of time. Their restlessness and fidgeting often hinders their ability to concentrate during school or work. They also have trouble playing or taking part in leisure activities with a calm attitude. They can appear disoriented and not concerned about what other people want. They might also have trouble remembering details of conversations and events they've attended.
They might also have issues following through with plans and commitments. As they age women with ADHD develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms, keep up with expectations and maintain relationships. This can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood swings could be interpreted as signs of depression by male colleagues and partners.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for women and men, but a thorough evaluation by a qualified health care provider is vital. Salience Health providers can use tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing or Brainview Advanced Testing to determine the cause and recommend treatments.
Adult women suffering from ADHD are typically treated with a an array of therapies and medication. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and training in interpersonal skills can assist to change negative thoughts and behaviors. Drugs such as stimulant and non-stimulant drugs can help manage the symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. A health professional can prescribe the right medication for you based on symptoms and age, your stage in life, primary responsibilities and any other medical conditions or illnesses you may have.
Social Skills
Many people with ADHD struggle to connect with others and feel isolated despite having many coworkers, friends, acquaintances and family members. They have difficulty making new acquaintances and maintaining relationships due to their lack of memory, focus problems and impulsivity. This can lead to prolonged periods without a meaningful conversation or being late to appointments and being absent from social occasions.
These social issues can lead to difficulties at school, work and relationships. Inability to keep up on promises or commitments creates a feeling of being disregarded and unloved by loved ones, coworkers and friends. This can lead to depression anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and a sense of failure or loss of control. In some cases it could lead to marriage or relationship breakups because the inappropriate social behavior is too much for the partner or spouse who does not have ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD tend to hide their symptoms by changing their behavior to meet societal expectations and norms. This makes it more difficult for them to receive diagnosed because they may not be as transparent about their struggles. They may also have developed a set of healthy coping strategies that mask the impact of their symptoms.
For example, they might keep track of their appointments in the calendar app or set up phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They may be able cope with their inability to multitask by focusing on more than one thing at a single time, but still struggle with memory or executive function limitations that limit their ability to plan and handle time.
In addition, they might be unable to read between the lines and understanding the subtext of other people, which can also contribute to social problems. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward finding solutions and building more connections with others. There are many solutions and resources available, such as treatments and medications.