Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often not diagnosed because of inattention to symptoms that may be less obvious, gender bias among healthcare providers, and symptom masking. The need for a diagnosis is essential to improve your relationships and set you up for success, and help you understand your behaviors.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to check for these signs:
Hyperfocus
Many people with ADHD can focus on an activity to the point where they forget about the outside world, even if the activity isn't productive. Hyperfocus is what this is. Unrestrained hyperfocus, although useful for some people such as writers, scientists and artists, can be a liability. It can result in delayed appointments, disappointments at work or school and even strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus is hard to stop if you are unaware of the fact that it is happening. Create a schedule for the day and prioritize daily tasks such as brushing your teeth or taking bath. If you have a hard time keeping track of the time then use a timer or alarm clock to help stay on task or have a friend keep track of you at certain intervals. When working on an assignment, it's also helpful to move around a lot and take frequent breaks.
In children, hyperfocus is sometimes seen as a positive trait, because it allows children to be highly engaged in an enjoyable sport like skating or creating with Legos. Hyperfocus that is not controlled can lead to problems in school, a decrease in productivity at work, and strained relationships between siblings and parents.
Hyperfocus may make it difficult to determine whether a child is experiencing emotional issues such as depression or anxiety, which is prevalent among adolescents. This is why it is important to seek medical attention if your child has symptoms of ADHD that impact her daily life.
ADHD symptoms may be more apparent during certain phases of a woman's pregnancy or menstrual cycle. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms, like irritability and mood fluctuations. It also increases the chance that a woman will be misunderstood by her spouse or colleagues.
The male-to-female ratio for diagnosed ADHD is at 2:1 in childhood the imbalance is less noticeable after age 14, when more females are diagnosed with ADHD. The good news is that there are plenty of resources to help girls and women manage their ADHD, and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a typical ADHD symptom in adult women, and it can cause issues in your personal and professional life. This symptom makes it difficult to start and complete tasks, particularly those that require self-regulation or executive function skills. People who delay their work often miss out on important school or work assignments, which can harm their reputation and relationships.
Missing deadlines and forgetting appointments are a few other typical signs of adult ADHD in women. You could also be susceptible to forgetting important details in conversations or even your own personal needs, such as paying your bills. It can be difficult to concentrate in busy or noisy areas, which could lead you to not take advantage of opportunities at school or work. You may also be easily distracted by your phone or social media and have difficulty staying focused while reading or listening to someone else.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can result in various emotional issues including anxiety and depression and mood fluctuations that can have a significant impact on your life. It can also make it difficult to manage frustrations and misunderstandings within personal and professional relationships.
Women are better at masking their ADHD symptoms than men, which can contribute to the difficulty of being diagnosed and obtaining treatment. This is particularly the case for women with high-functioning ADHD and inattention symptoms aren't so obvious and can be camouflaged by mood or anxiety-related symptoms. School reports typically omit comments concerning relationship issues or social problems and focus more on academic performance and behavior, which may result in under-diagnosis and under-identification of girls and women with ADHD.
There are many treatments for adults with ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavioral treatment, and lifestyle modifications. Talk with your doctor about what treatment plan is right for you. Keep in mind that the aim of any treatment plan is to help you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Discuss the side effects and benefits of every medication you're taking, along with any co-occurring disorders.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. The inattentive symptoms are very frequent, and can lead to problems at work, school or in relationships.
The tendency to be impulsive is one of the traits of the inattentive subtype of ADD/ADHD and can cause trouble when it leads to reckless choices or risky behavior. Impulsivity can be characterized by the tendency to answer questions prior to being asked, interrupting conversations, or buying things without thinking about the consequences. These impulsive actions can lead to embarrassing situations in social settings, relationship issues, and financial issues.
Emotional impulsivity is common in adult female ADHD. It can cause an impulsive response to anger or frustration. This impulsivity could cause mood changes that make it difficult for people to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulties managing their emotions, which can lead to depression and anxiety. These negative emotions can impact work performance, and even cause missing appointments or health issues. Women who suffer from hyper-impulsive ADHD frequently struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. This is why they can become overly dependent on others or may have a hard time keeping their commitments.
Girls and women with ADHD are at a higher risk of engaging in risky sexual behavior throughout adolescence, and even into adulthood. This is compared to peers who don't have the disorder. combined ADHD symptoms in adults is usually due to a recognition of the value of sexual activity for social acceptance. Sexually risky behavior in adolescents and young adults with ADHD is a factor that is responsible for a higher rate of teenage, unplanned or early pregnancies.
There are adult ADHD symptoms quiz of ways you can control your impulsive behavior. Making sure to pause before doing something and to write down thoughts that could be impulsive could help. Meditation or mindfulness exercises can be beneficial in calming the mind and body and removing distractions and controlling impulsiveness. Diet plays a role in controlling impulsiveness. A healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and quality protein can enhance focus and help prevent impulsive behaviors. Sleep is a key factor in reducing the tendency to be impulsive. To get an improved night's sleep you should establish a regular bedtime routine, including a weighted blanket to calm your body and mind prior to sleeping, and limit screen time in the hours leading up to sleep.
Emotional Dysregulation
The disorder of emotional regulation affects a lot of adults with ADHD. It can be difficult to handle daily challenges and relationships when you are not able to control emotions. This can lead to self-destructive behavior like addictions or eating disorders. This can make it difficult to manage a home, work or school life.
You may have difficulty identifying your emotions or understanding what they mean. This can be especially challenging if you suffer from a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Emotional dysregulation is characterized by a difficulty in calming down following an argument, frequent outbursts or being easily frustrated by minor inconveniences. You might also have trouble getting past events out of your mind or holding onto grudges.
Females suffering from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. This is because their symptoms tend to be internalized and they're less likely than men and boys to be diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Girls with ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than men and boys. This can be particularly challenging for teenagers with ADHD as they go into the hormonal changes associated with puberty and the adolescent years. This can cause emotional dysregulation, particularly coupled with the increased sensitivity of girls with ADHD to academic and social pressures.
If you experience emotional dysregulation due to ADHD symptoms treatment or medication may be the best option for treatment. The use of medication can boost your mood and regulate your hormones, while therapy provides a safe place to work through feelings like sadness, anger and rejection. It can also help with anxiety.
If you decide to take medication or therapy the best way to treat this disorder is to adopt steps to improve your sleep. This can be achieved by following a routine for bedtime and meditating or listening to calming music before sleeping. A good night's sleep can help you get more energy throughout the day.
While everyone's experience is different, it's vital that you remember there are ways to deal with ADHD symptoms and lead a life that is enjoyable. It's commonplace for people to test different treatments and medications, or lifestyle changes to find the best solution.