ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women

Women who have undiagnosed ADHD may face challenges at work or in their relationships. It's crucial to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and seek the right treatment for you.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A correct diagnosis can improve your life by managing your symptoms and paying attention to the things that matter.

1. It is difficult to pay attention.

Women can be troubled by their inability to pay attention to specifics, remember appointments and deadlines or underestimate how long it will take to complete a task. They can also have trouble keeping track of their obligations at work or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to deliver on promises. They might also struggle with an impulsive nature, trouble managing their emotions, and a tendency to blurt out things without thinking about them first.

It is important to recognize and treat symptoms of ADHD in adult women. Inability to focus can lead to problems with relationships and friendships. Women might find it harder to make new acquaintances, or they may have difficulty in their current relationships with frequent fights and missing opportunities to have fun and being left out. Women may also find it difficult to balance the demands of home, work and childcare.

Many people who have ADHD don't meet the diagnostic criteria, and it could be difficult for health care providers or therapists to detect the condition. It doesn't mean that it's not real, or that the person has to be more focused. The diagnosis is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact daily functioning across multiple areas of life.

It's more common for females to exhibit inattention symptoms rather than hyperactive or impulsive signs - and this could be the reason why this population often goes undiagnosed. Many women with ADHD are also embarrassed by their symptoms because they don't fit the stereotypes of ADHD. This makes it harder for those with ADHD to seek help or seek treatment.

In a few cases women suffering from ADHD go undiagnosed for a long time due to the fact that they're trying to manage and hide their symptoms. They are more likely to have other comorbidities, including depression or anxiety that can cover up the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations, which can cause their symptoms flare up or disappear. This is especially true during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.

2. Problems with Organization

Women with ADHD often experience forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation. These symptoms can make it difficult for women to manage daily tasks, keep track with their commitments, and maintain relationships. They may also have low self-esteem or be anxious. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may feel that they are not meeting societal expectations. They might also be afflicted by anxiety and low self-esteem.


In addition to disorganization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can manifest as procrastination or hyperfocus. These issues can lead to women not attending appointments, not paying their bills on time and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can cause a lack in concentration on other important tasks as well as a misunderstood understanding of time. This can make it difficult to switch from one job to another. Procrastination can also cause anxiety, stress and a constant feeling of being behind.

Communication problems, both verbal and nonverbal, are another common manifestation of ADHD. This could include a lot of talking and interrupting other people or uttering inappropriate phrases. It could also be the inability to wait for her turn or having difficulty understanding social boundaries. It is important to keep in mind that these behavior patterns don't necessarily indicate a lack in the ability or intelligence.

Many women suffering from ADHD come up with strategies to hide their symptoms. no title can have both positive and negative consequences. Some of these coping strategies can be healthy, such as using a daily schedule or setting reminders for certain events. Others may be unhealthy, such as using alcohol and drugs to mask symptoms or ignoring them altogether. Therefore, it is important for women who suspect they have ADHD to seek out help from a mental health professional.

Women with ADHD might benefit from medication, lifestyle modifications, therapy, or other treatments. Some of these include cognitive therapy to address the root of negative thoughts and beliefs mindfulness techniques and relaxation, exercise and a balanced diet and a sufficient amount of sleep. A health care provider might also suggest accommodations to make working or school easier.

3. Disruptive Behaviors

Women who suffer from ADHD can struggle with emotional dysregulation. As a result, they are often discontent and frustrated when their problems aren't solved. This makes it difficult to keep relationships with friends, romantic partners, and co-workers. For example, forgetfulness and impulsivity can heighten anxiety or confusion in relationships with loved ones and lead to feelings of loneliness, loss or depression. A tendency to look for thrills on a whim may be taken to mean a lack of interest or indifference.

These are the reasons why ADHD symptoms in women and girls are often missed or underdiagnosed. They may also have difficulty realizing that their problems are related to the disorder because of social norms and stereotypes about gender roles and behavior.

Women and girls with ADHD may camouflage symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This can result in them being referred for diagnosis less often than boys and men with the same symptoms. Additionally, gender bias in the research that determines diagnostic criteria could contribute to this disparity. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger discovered that women and girls are more likely to be unidentified and undiagnosed than men and boys with the same ADHD symptoms. This could be because clinicians are trained to view hyperactive and aggressive ADHD symptoms as more common among men and boys and can make them easier to identify and referred for evaluation.

Adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are common signs of ADHD however, as we age they can have a profound impact on a person's life and wellbeing. People with ADHD are often anxious and have difficulty sitting still, especially when they're feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget, and are often overly talkative. They often interrupt or complete sentences of others without even realizing they are being rude.

If you suspect you may have ADHD, your doctor or a registered psychologist can refer you to a psychiatrist to conduct an assessment. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) as well as members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.

4. Social Skills Problems

Women with ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions or communicating effectively at work. This can result in issues with personal relationships and with professional goals. They may have trouble recognizing and responding properly to feedback. This can lead to frustration or disappointment. They may also have difficulty maintaining healthy sleeping and eating routines, which can cause anxiety. Some women with ADHD utilize unhealthy strategies for coping to cope with their issues. This includes substance abuse, eating disorder and non-suicidal harming oneself (NSSI), like cutting, burning or scratching.

Women with ADHD might be more hesitant to get treatment as adults than men, because they tend mask their symptoms. In order to fit in with society and conform to expectations, they usually develop coping mechanisms. This can make it harder for others recognize their ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies may be as simple and straightforward as setting reminders or making lists, or they could be more complex such as being able to manage their emotions or implementing mindful strategies.

However, these strategies can backfire and cause symptoms to become worse. They can also hinder good sleep, which is essential in managing ADHD symptoms. Women who suffer from ADHD are also prone to feeling overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life, which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms.

While it's true that more boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, the gap is less when they reach the age of adulthood. This is due to the fact that it's normal for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, and this can result in being diagnosed at different times.

Changing hormone levels can also impact ADHD symptoms in women. For example in the event that they have an elevated estrogen level during pregnancy, their symptoms could improve. This is because higher levels of estrogen can aid in the regulation of brain chemicals that affect attention. If they start to have low estrogen levels due to perimenopausal or age-related decline the ADHD symptoms might get worse.

It is possible for adults suffering from ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and get effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurocognitive psychology, as well as other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. They can also attend meetings of support groups for ADHD in order to share their experience with others who are on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their colleagues.