ADHD in Adults Symptoms Women May Not Be Aware Of

Women suffering from ADHD are often misdiagnosed, or left undiagnosed, because their symptoms aren't as evident like those of males. Many develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms and blame themselves for their own problems.

Symptoms include trouble staying organized, high distractibility and memory problems. Medicines can help with these symptoms.

Self-Esteem Issues

Women who suffer from ADHD often feel that they're not as skilled or worthy of success as their peers. They may be struggling to deal with disappointment and anger due to daily challenges like keeping track of appointments, delivering on deadlines, commitments, or getting organized at home or at work. This can create an endless cycle of internal self-criticism, stress, and depression (Foster and Wolpe, 2010).

Women may be unable to develop healthy coping mechanisms. In order to manage their symptoms women may resort to harmful or unhealthy behaviors particularly during the adolescent stage. These harmful coping strategies can make their problems worse and negatively affect their lives. In addition, they may make it difficult for professionals to recognize their symptoms and delay an accurate diagnosis.

The urge to be reckless can lead to irresponsible behavior or outbursts, that are not in accordance with the values one holds. This can cause feelings of shame. Many women with ADHD struggle with expressing themselves or regulating their emotions, which can make social interactions a challenge. This makes it difficult for people with ADHD to form or maintain relationships. As time passes, this can lead to feelings of guilt and isolation.

If family members don't know why things happen like not being able to remember birthdays, ignoring appointments, or falling behind in their work and assignments, they may be frustrated. Women who suffer from ADHD are also prone to having difficulty in expressing their feelings, which is why they might accidentally utter things that cause harm to people around them or cause trouble at school or at work.

Additionally, those with ADHD tend to procrastination and finding it hard to start or finish tasks. This could lead to missing health checkups or other important appointments, which can leave them feeling overwhelmed and uncontrollable.

Today, it's more common for professionals to identify the signs of adult ADHD in women and refer them for treatment. Additionally advancements in understanding the differentiators between women and men suffering from ADHD have led to more effective treatments that allow women to manage their symptoms and gain confidence and self-esteem.

Relationship Issues

ADHD can make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. Women with ADHD may have trouble communicating with family members and friends ones because of their impulsivity, inability to focus on conversations, and the tendency to wander off into off-topic topics. These problems can cause misunderstandings and hurt feelings. The good news is that with the right care and treatment women can form loving and supportive relationships.

One of the most common issues in relationships for people with ADHD is "love bombing." Love bombing is a tactic where people shower their partners with affection and attention early on in the relationship to induce strong feelings of dependency and to ignore any problematic behavior. This behavior is often caused by untreated ADHD.

ADHD can also render people incapable of planning ahead. This is crucial to maintain the health of a relationship. If a neurotypical spouse asks an ADHD partner to wash dishes, the person could be distracted by other chores and not complete the task. Similarly, people with ADHD tend to switch from hobby to hobby spending time and money into their latest obsession. This can result in financial issues and a messy house.

Mood swings are an issue for people suffering from ADHD in relationships. They may lash out in anger at their partners or experience sudden, sweeping mood swings ranging from extreme anxiety to extreme joy. They may be overwhelmed and unable control the situation.

People with ADHD should work on self control, including calming themselves down and avoiding triggers that could cause emotional outbursts. They should also engage in relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and mindfulness meditation. They should also seek support from a mental healthcare professional or ADHD specialist in order to improve their coping skills and devise a treatment plan.

It's important that people who suffer from ADHD be aware of how their behavior affect other people. In intimate relationships, both partners must cultivate empathy and compassion. It is also important to set clear boundaries to avoid feelings of resentment. It's also helpful for people with ADHD to learn about accommodations like notetaking, organizing, and taking breaks from conversations to help them deal with their symptoms in the workplace and school.

Work Problems

Work can be overwhelming for women with ADHD. Working from home or at the office can be challenging. It is possible to deal with calls, emails and meetings all day. Add to that the agitation and disorganization, as well as difficulty keeping track of tasks or deadlines that are associated with ADHD and it can seem as if your job is unattainable.

There are a myriad of ways you can assist. Talking with your doctor or a mental health professional is one method. They can evaluate your symptoms and recommend the diagnosis. They may ask how ADHD affects your daily routine and suggest ways to manage it. They may suggest using a calendar for appointments or arranging your workspace. Some people with ADHD benefit from a routine and taking their medication regularly and limiting distracting activities such as television or social media.


Women who suffer from ADHD can have their symptoms worsened by hormonal changes, like the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. They are more likely to have mood swings or feelings of dissatisfaction in their lives. This could make them difficult to understand by male friends or colleagues.

The good news is a combination of treatment and self-care can help you overcome this challenge. Your doctor can prescribe medications, such as stimulants and non-stimulants, which may help improve your symptoms. They could also refer to a group of women who suffer from ADHD.

NIMH's Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider fact sheet will help you prepare for this conversation. The fact sheet contains a practice script and questions you can ask. You can also download the factsheet. NIMH also has resources to help you find a doctor or mental health professional who is experienced with treating ADHD in adults. Then, a complete examination can be performed to see whether ADHD is the root cause of your troubles. You can also request an appointment with a specialist, if needed. Find out more about Adult ADHD on the NIMH page.

Social Problems

Women suffering from ADHD may experience mood disorders or anxiety in addition to ADHD. They may also have trouble navigating social situations because they are unable to read body language or pick up social cues. combined ADHD symptoms in adults can lead to difficulties in relationships with others as well as at work and at home. In addition, the symptoms of adult ADHD can affect physical health, leading to issues with weight, chronic stress, anxiety and depression.

Women are often unable to be diagnosed as adults because they are more adept at concealing ADHD symptoms. They might have had treatment for other conditions prior to receiving an ADHD diagnosis. They may have developed strategies for coping and learned to mask their attention deficit disorder over time which can lead to self-blame for their inability or a sense that they'll never get their lives together.

It can be a massive relief for women suffering from ADHD when they finally get a diagnosis that is accurate. They understand that their problems aren't their fault and that the issues are not a result of a personal weakness or character flaw. A diagnosis can also be a great source of inspiration and motivation to change, since these women now are aware of what they must do to reach their maximum potential.

There are many resources that can help women find solutions to ease symptoms and improve their quality of life. These include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and special ADHD medication. Medications used to treat ADHD in adults are typically stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall(r)) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse(r)). Those who do not wish to take stimulant medication may choose to use non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine (Strattera(r)), viloxazine (Qelbree(r)), or clonidine (Kapvay(r)).

It is crucial to seek the advice of a trusted healthcare provider to obtain a precise diagnosis. In addition, to medication treatments, other options for treatment include lifestyle changes and a mix of other treatments.