5 Killer Quora Answers On Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
The condition is often misdiagnosed by women, despite the fact that it affects both men and woman equally as adults. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the ability of females to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise and experience to detect adhd symptoms women in women. In the end, many females are misdiagnosed before receiving the proper treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often struggle with disordered thinking, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 chapsticks, and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. As you buy products that promise to aid in your organization, your home and office probably still feel messy and chaotic.
Inability to keep track of your tasks could result in missed appointments and forgotten deadlines. You might also be struggling with "time blindness," where you don't know or remember how long it takes to finish a task. This can cause you to be in a state of discontent and feeling as if you're not doing a good job in your career or in your personal life, particularly when it seems like other people don't value your efforts.
You might also have trouble controlling your emotions, which may cause you to overreact in stressful situations. You might also say things that are not intended to hurt people's feelings. Since impulsivity is a common trait for those with ADHD, you might find it difficult to resist making statements without taking a second to think them through.
If you have ADHD it's possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas regarding how women, men and boys should behave. This can make it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root cause of your disorder. It may take a while to find the best strategies to cope, but using them can help you feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed by intense emotions however their brains do not have a way to evaluate or filter them. This means they may be overwhelmed by one setback or find it hard to discern the mood of others. This makes them more susceptible to being distracted by small inconveniences like a book out of stock or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD manage their attention problems by hiding symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They could be highly organized or a perfectionist at school or work and have trouble keeping the track of appointments and bills or important dates. They may also struggle with verbal self control and speak too much or interrupt others frequently.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. These symptoms include a sudden desire to begin, stop or change activities and being unable to hold for your turn during a conversation and difficulty in interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender-based stereotypes can influence the development of adhd women assessment, it's not always easy to tell if a woman has these issues. The scales of rating used to determine ADHD symptoms are still geared towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals may not be aware of a woman's adhd in young women symptoms.
Many women with ADHD also report that their symptoms become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, for example during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can cause emotions such as anger or irritability as well as depression. They may also experience a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives or relationships. This can contribute to depression, substance abuse and unhealthy coping strategies. This is the reason it's so important for women to realize that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. With a good treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these symptoms.
3. Attention!
Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms are experienced so frequently that they interfere with your daily routine. You could make a few mistakes at work or in school, or miss appointments or spend a good amount of time delaying. You are unable to stand in line and interrupt other people in conversations.
Adults who are not attentive may also have a tendency to jump into projects without thoroughly planning them and researching them. This leads to incomplete results or even subpar ones. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted but not watered, or an organizational system that you assembled and then put on your nightstand for it to rot.
People with inattentive ADHD also have an ongoing sense of disorganization in their home and workplaces. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and lose items on a regular basis. You may also forget to keep track of time and be late for school, work or for meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive adhd in adult women symptoms are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. People with these signs may say or do things without thinking about the impact such as yelling at other people or making strange sounds when they are on their own. They may have trouble sitting still, and may flitter around in their seats or at a fast pace. They may have difficulty keeping their job and could have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings or emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People with ADHD also are more likely having co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD can face a variety of difficulties in seeking treatment and diagnosis which include gender discrimination and a tendency to hide their symptoms or undervalue the severity of their symptoms. The rise of famous women like Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have spoken out about their own struggles with ADHD has increased awareness, however many young women and girls aren't aware of the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is characterized by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone is anxious or nervous occasionally anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might feel an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and difficulty thinking clearly. You might also have an increased fear of danger, even in situations that aren't likely be dangerous to you. The most commonly encountered types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common in women with ADHD than in men, and tends to get worse at certain times in a woman's life like the time of her menstrual period, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult for women to manage everyday tasks and social interaction, and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss or unsatisfaction.
You are extremely sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection. You may be upset over small issues that others don't see an issue with.
Mood swings are also one of the adult female adhd symptoms (redirect to Blogbright) and you could find that your emotions are unpredictable or difficult to control. You may also be prone self-injury that is not suicidal, like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's crucial to receive a diagnosis. It can help you understand the issues you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a thorough evaluation. In some cases doctors may prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In some instances, your doctor may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either situation, it's crucial to start making some positive changes to your life as soon as you can. This can help you take control of your life and make you feel more confident, productive and capable.