Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are hallmarks of ADHD in childhood, which can lead to academic and behavioral issues. It is a chronic condition however, children tend to overcome the symptoms.
In adulthood, the symptom of inattention persists and may cause problems in school or work. These symptoms can be triggered or worsened by hormone fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause.
Attentive symptoms
The symptoms of inattention ADHD can be extremely frustrating for adults. They can hinder relationships, work productivity and school performance. You might be easily distracted, lose things frequently or have difficulty following directions. You might forget appointments or business meetings, leaving tasks unfinished. You may be overwhelmed by the mess at home or in the office, and have difficulty remembering important details about events that took place in your life. You may find it difficult to listen to others and have what's called the thousand-yard stare, where you stare at people but don't hear them.
Adults with inattention ADHD may also have difficulty with their memory, especially during times of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy as well as perimenopausal and menopausal changes. This can be particularly challenging for women who think that their symptoms are exacerbated due to these changes.
When you have inattentive ADHD, you can often improve your life by becoming aware of and managing your symptoms. Set goals and plan ahead. goals. Planners as well as reminder apps, and post-it notes to keep track of appointments or deadlines. Try to break up large projects into smaller tasks and tackle them one at a time. Take regular breaks to move around and refocus your attention.
You may also ask your employer or school for accommodations that could assist you in managing your symptoms, for example, permitting you to work from home, allowing you extra time for assignments or tests, or providing notetaking assistance during meetings. Many organizations have policies that require them to provide accommodations for those who have disabilities, such as ADHD.
Women with ADHD who aren't given a diagnosis may be left with anger or frustration. They might blame themselves for their difficulties or think that they were dismissed by doctors or other friends and family members. Many also feel sadness and sorrow for the opportunities lost and the relationships that were damaged because they were not given treatment for their condition.
Research suggests that, as compared to men and boys, girls and women with inattentive ADHD are not recognized and diagnosed. This is due to the fact that their symptoms are often difficult to identify. They can look like mood disorders or anxiety, which leads clinicians to misdiagnose the condition. They may also develop more effective coping mechanisms than men, which may conceal the root cause of ADHD symptoms.
Hyperactive symptoms
In girls and women Hyperactive ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or trouble sitting still. They may be fidgety or constantly on the go or be extremely talkative or struggle to focus in class or work. Girls can also be susceptible to mood swings and have difficulties controlling their emotions. They often struggle to meet the expectations of society for women's behavior, which can lead to feelings of unworthiness and stress.
While the symptom profile of females suffering from ADHD differs from men however, it is a long-lasting disorder. Only 30% of adults are believed to have overcome ADHD. Women are less likely than men to experience this. If you have a diagnosis of adult ADHD, your symptoms might worsen as you age and go through hormonal changes.
For example, you might discover that your ADHD symptoms are more severe in puberty, at or around the menstrual cycle, as well as in menopausal perimenopause, which is the period before menopausal full-on. You may find yourself making more mistakes than usual, have trouble staying on top of deadlines and assignments or you forget appointments.
If you suffer from the inattentive type of ADHD symptoms, they may be heightened during perimenopausal or menopausal. This is due to the fact that estrogen levels decrease around ovulation and in the middle of your menstrual cycle which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations could be the reason why many women are not diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, but instead go undiagnosed when they become adults.
In the initial diagnosis, doctors use different methods, including interviews, rating scales, and other methods, to determine if a patient is suffering from ADHD. It is also important to take note of the way you react and interpret your symptoms. For instance, women and girls may conceal or cover up their ADHD symptoms to avoid being judged which can cause them to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or a mood disorder. Boys and men however are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD due to their behaviors being more disruptive. This explains why so many of the original ADHD studies were conducted on hyperactive boys and men.
The symptoms of an impulse
Being diagnosed with ADHD can make it difficult to control impulsive behaviors such as hitting your fist against the wall or picking objects from the floor. It can also make it difficult for you to think before you act which could cause issues at work or school when you must complete tasks or follow instructions without interruptions.
As you grow into adulthood, the issues with controlling your impulses and planning and organisational skills may be more internalized and less obvious as they were as young. Hyperactivity that is obvious could develop into an inner feeling of anxiety, and the time spent being organised could coincide with an inclination to delay or feeling overwhelmed.
Research shows that women tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms better than men or boys. It's partly due to the fact that males and boys are more likely to be socially accepted for their ADHD-related behavior, particularly hyperactive or impulsive ones. This could be due to gender stereotypes, like the notion that boys are more boisterous and less organized than girls, which could reinforce a girl's tendency to conceal her ADHD symptoms in order to blend into the crowd.
The hormonal fluctuations that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy can also exacerbate ADHD symptoms in females. This is because estrogen levels drop during ovulation and then increase when menstrual cycles begin. This causes symptoms to increase. It is crucial that women and girls with ADHD are evaluated by a mental health professional or a health care professional when they are experiencing these symptoms.
You can master the symptoms of ADHD. Combining therapy, medication and lifestyle modifications can make significant changes. Regular exercise can improve your mood, release neurotransmitters and increase energy and focus. Consider participating in aerobic or cardio exercises at home or at your local gym.
Getting enough sleep is also essential. A good night's sleep can reduce fatigue, which is often a sign of ADHD. It's important to eat healthy and avoid foods that could trigger ADHD symptoms.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD may experience particular difficulties throughout the various aspects of their lives. They are more vulnerable to irritability and may develop strategies to cope like internalization. This can lead to poor self-esteem and a negative image of the body. For these reasons, it's crucial to be diagnosed and receive treatment as they grow older. For many, getting an diagnosis can be a turning point giving an external explanation for the struggles they've been having and allowing them to accept themselves more fully (Waite 2010).
The intensity of symptoms can vary depending on hormone levels. These symptoms may improve when pregnant or ovulation occurs and can worsen as you approaching menopause. In this period, women can struggle with daily tasks and relationships, which can lead to feelings of discontent with their lives.
Relationships can be impacted by impulsive or forgetful behaviors. Inadvertently forgetting birthdays, unfinished projects, or not paying your bills on time can make people feel that you don't give a damn, leading to conflicts. People with ADHD are often afflicted by the sensitivity to rejection and have trouble regulating emotions which can cause intense reactions to rejection or failure.
symptoms of adult attention deficit disorder and girls who suffer from ADHD are likely to become sexually active at a younger age than their peers, due to impulsivity and the desire to belong and be loved. This puts them at risk of being victims of violence from intimate partners and STIs, because they are less likely to take protection or demand that their partners do so. They are more likely to be suffering from anxiety or depression, and may find it difficult to maintain friendships.
While more research is needed to determine the impact of ADHD on the different genders, it's evident that women tend to be more likely to go undiagnosed and experience different experiences with the disorder. It is possible to get a diagnosis and receive treatment that will improve your relationships and allow you to achieve success at work or in school. Your doctor might also suggest therapy, like cognitive behavioral treatment, to assist you in managing your emotions and thoughts and replace negative thought patterns with healthier ones.