ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women

Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can face difficulties at work or in relationships. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and to find the right treatment for you.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can improve your life by managing your symptoms and paying attention to what is important.

1. It is difficult to pay attention.

Women may have difficulty paying attention to the details, remembering appointments and deadlines or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete the task. They can also have trouble keeping track of their responsibilities at workplace or in relationships, get distracted easily and fail to deliver on promises. They may also have issues with an impulsive nature, trouble managing their emotions and an inclination to talk about things without thinking them through first.

It is crucial to recognize and treat the symptoms of ADHD in adult women. Inability to concentrate can lead to difficulties with friendships and relationships. Women may find it difficult to make new friends, or might struggle in their relationships, with frequent fights and missed opportunities for fun and being neglected. They may also face difficulties balancing the demands of home, work and childcare.

Many people with ADHD don't meet the diagnostic criteria, and it could be hard for health professionals or therapists to identify the condition. But that doesn't mean it's not real or that the person has to do more to stay on task. Diagnoses are based upon the symptoms and how they affect daily functioning in various areas.

Women tend to have more inattentional symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones which is why they aren't diagnosed. In addition, many women with ADHD are afflicted with a sense of guilt about their condition because they don't conform to the stereotypes of someone with ADHD. This makes it harder for those with ADHD to seek help or receive treatment.

Women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed for a lengthy period of time, because they try to hide their symptoms and cope. Additionally, they are more likely to suffer from complications that may cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and gastrointestinal issues. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations, which can trigger symptoms that flare up or disappear. This is particularly relevant during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.

2. Organizational Problems

Disorganization, forgetfulness, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are common ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can make it difficult for women with ADHD to manage daily tasks, keep up with their responsibilities and maintain relationships. They may also have low self-esteem or experience anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may feel that they're not achieving society's expectations. They might also be afflicted by anxiety and low self-esteem.

ADHD in women can manifest itself as hyperfocus, procrastination or forgetfulness. These issues can lead women to miss appointments, not pay bills on time, and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can cause a lack in focus on other important tasks and a poor understanding of time. This can make it difficult to switch from one task to another. Procrastination can cause anxiety, stress and a constant feeling of being lagging behind.


Communication issues both non-verbal and verbal are a typical symptom of ADHD. This can include talking excessively, interrupting others, or saying inappropriate things. It can also indicate an inability to wait for her turn or trouble understanding social boundaries. It is important to keep in mind that these behaviors don't necessarily indicate a lack in the ability or intelligence.

Many women with ADHD develop coping mechanisms to manage their symptoms. These strategies can have positive and negative consequences. Some of these coping mechanisms could be healthy. For example using a calendar for the day or making reminders for important dates. Some of these strategies might be healthy, for instance, making reminders for events or using alcohol and drugs to disguise symptoms. It is therefore important that women who suspect they may have ADHD seek help from a professional.

Women suffering from ADHD can benefit from medication, lifestyle changes, therapy and a variety of other treatment options. They can avail cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative beliefs and thoughts, mindfulness and relaxation, exercising as well as a healthy diet and enough rest. A health professional may also recommend accommodations to make work or school more comfortable.

3. Disruptive Behaviors

Women suffering from ADHD are often afflicted by emotional dysregulation. As a result, they often become frustrated and discouraged when the challenges of life aren't solved. It can be challenging to maintain relationships, whether it's with romantic partners, co-workers or family members. For example, forgetfulness and impulsivity can heighten frustration or confusion in relationships with loved ones and lead to feelings of loneliness, loss or depression. Additionally, ADHD adult female symptoms to seek an instant thrill could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or indifference by other people.

These are the reasons why ADHD symptoms for girls and women are often not recognized or diagnosed. They may be unable to understanding that their issues are related to the disorder due to social norms and stereotypes about gender roles and behavior.

Women and girls with ADHD may camouflage symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may lead to being referred to a specialist less frequently than men and boys who suffer from similar symptoms. Furthermore, gender bias in the research that informs diagnostic criteria could contribute to this asymmetry. In ADHD symptoms adults male and Widiger found that girls and women are more likely to be misdiagnosed and undiagnosed than boys and men with the same ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that healthcare professionals are conditioned by their training to view hyperactive and hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as being more common in both men and boys. This can make them easier to recognize and to refer to a specialist for evaluation.

For adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty settling. These are typical ADHD symptoms, but they can affect an adult's life. People who suffer from ADHD may feel agitated and find it difficult to sit still, especially if they're anxious or stressed. They are also prone to fidget and tend to be overly talkative, often interrupting or ending sentences of others without thinking that they're being rude.

If you suspect you may have ADHD, your doctor or registered psychologist can refer you to a psychiatrist for an assessment. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed in October 2024 and revised in November 2022 by Madeline Dykes, clinical psychologist, and members of the Thriving Madly peer support network in Christchurch.

4. Social Problems Skills

Women suffering from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions or effectively communicating at work. This can create problems that can hinder personal relationships and professional goals. For instance, they could have trouble recognizing and responding to feedback, which can cause frustration and even disappointment. They may also struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can lead to increased anxiety. Many women with ADHD employ unhealthy methods of coping to deal with their issues. They may include substances abuse or eating disorders, or self-injury that is not suicide-related (NSSI) which includes cutting, burning, or scratching.

As adults, women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to seek treatment than men because they are more likely to hide their symptoms. In an effort to be accepted by society and to meet expectations, they usually develop coping mechanisms. This makes it difficult for others recognize their ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies may be as simple as setting reminders and creating lists, or they can be more complicated, like learning how to control their emotions or implementing mindful strategies.

However, these coping methods can backfire and cause symptoms to become worse. They can also make it difficult to achieve good sleep, which is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms. In addition, women with ADHD often find themselves overwhelmed by their daily demands, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms.

While it's true that a greater number of boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, the gap shrinks when they reach the age of adulthood. This is due to the fact that women frequently suffer from a variety of symptoms throughout the course of their lives. This could lead to different diagnoses.

Changes in hormone levels can also impact ADHD symptoms among women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for instance, their symptoms may improve. This is because estrogen levels that are higher aid in the regulation of brain chemicals that affect attention. If ADHD symptoms adults male start to have low estrogen levels due to perimenopausal or age-related decline the ADHD symptoms could become more severe.

Fortunately, it's possible for adults with ADHD to receive a precise diagnosis and access effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurocognitive psychology, and other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. They are also able to attend support group meetings for ADHD to share their experience with others on the same journey and gain valuable information from their colleagues.