Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are hallmarks of ADHD in childhood, which can cause academic and behavioral issues. It is a chronic condition however, children tend to overcome the symptoms.
In adulthood, the inattention symptom persists and may cause problems in school or work. These symptoms can be triggered or aggravated by hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycle or during pregnancy, or menopausal.
Attentive symptoms
Adults can find the symptoms of inattentive ADHD frustrating. They can thwart relationships, work productivity and school performance. For instance, you could be easily distracted, often lose things, or have difficulty following instructions. You may forget appointments or meetings, leaving unfinished tasks. Your home or office might be messy, and you may have trouble remembering important information about things that happen in your life. It might be difficult to listen to others and may have what's known as the"thousand-yard stare," where you stare at people but do not hear them.
Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may also have difficulty with their memory, especially during times of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. This can be particularly difficult for women, who may feel like their symptoms are exacerbated by these periods of change.
When you have inattention ADHD it is possible to improve your life by learning to recognize and manage your symptoms. Plan ahead and set realistic goals. You can use planners or reminder apps as well as post-it notes to keep track of your appointments or deadlines. Break down large projects into smaller parts and complete them one by one. Make sure to take regular breaks to move around and refocus your focus.
You can also ask for accommodations from your employer or school that can aid in managing your symptoms. For example you may be able to work from home, given additional time to complete tests or assignments and offered notetaking assistance in meetings. Many organizations have policies that require them to provide these accommodations for individuals with disabilities, such as ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD who don't receive a diagnosis could end up with anger or frustration. They may blame themselves for their problems, or they might believe that they were ignored by medical professionals or friends and family members. Many feel a sense of sadness and sorrow for the opportunities missed and the relationships that were damaged because they were not given treatment for their condition.
symptoms of add in adults suggests that, as compared to males and females, girls and women with inattentive ADHD are under-identified and underdiagnosed. This is due to the fact their symptoms can be difficult to detect. They can appear to be anxiety or mood-related, causing doctors to mistakenly diagnose them. They can also develop more effective coping mechanisms than men, which can conceal the root cause of ADHD symptoms.
Hyperactive Signs and symptoms
Hyperactive ADHD symptoms in girls and women may manifest as restlessness, or difficulty sitting still. They may be fidgety, talkative, or have difficulty staying focused in classes or at work. Girls are also emotional and have difficulty regulating their emotions. They struggle to meet the social expectations of the woman's behavior which can cause women to feel inadequate and enduring stress.
While the symptoms of female ADHD differ than those of male ADHD but the condition is still a lifelong disorder. Only 30 percent of adults are believed to overcome ADHD. Women are less likely than men to do so. If you've been diagnosed as having adult ADHD you might find that your symptoms become more severe as you age or undergo hormonal changes.
You may be noticing that your ADHD symptoms are more intense when you reach puberty, during your menstrual cycle as well as during perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause). You may be noticing that you're making more mistakes, have trouble keeping up with deadlines and tasks or forgetting appointments.
If you suffer from the inattention type of ADHD, symptoms may also increase during perimenopause or menopause. This is because estrogen levels decrease during the time of ovulation and also in the middle of your period. This can increase ADHD symptoms. It's possible that these fluctuations are the reason many women don't get an ADHD diagnosis during childhood, and instead are left undiagnosed when they become adults.
When determining the diagnosis, doctors use different methods, including rating scales, interviews and other methods to determine if a patient suffers from ADHD. How you perceive and react to your symptoms is also important. Women and girls may conceal or disguise their ADHD symptoms in order to avoid being assessed. This could lead to them being misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorders. Boys and men however are more likely to be referred for ADHD because their behaviors are more disruptive. This explains why so many of the first ADHD studies were conducted on hyperactive boys and men.
Impulsive Symptoms
ADHD can make it difficult to control impulsive behaviors like picking up things off the floor or pounding your fist on the wall. It can also make it difficult to think before acting, which can lead to problems at work or school where you are expected to follow instructions or complete tasks with no interruptions.
As you grow into adulthood, these trouble with impulse control and organizational skills could become more internalized and less obvious as they were as a child. Hyperactivity can become an inner agitation. Periods of organization could be accompanied by periods of procrastination, and feeling overwhelmed.
Research suggests that women tend to hide their ADHD symptoms better than men or boys. It is partly because men and boys are more likely to be accepted by society for the way they behave particularly impulsive or hyperactive ones. This could also be due to gender stereotypes, such as the belief that boys are more raunchy and less organized than girls, which can reinforce a girl's tendency to conceal her ADHD symptoms in order to fit with the other kids.
The hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy can also exacerbate ADHD symptoms in females. This is because estrogen levels decrease around ovulation and even more when menstrual cycles begin. This causes symptoms to become more severe. This is the reason it's crucial for girls and women with ADHD to be evaluated by a health care provider or mental health professional when they are experiencing these symptoms.
If you're struggling with ADHD, it's possible to learn to manage your symptoms. Combining medication, therapy and lifestyle adjustments can make significant changes. Regular exercise is an excellent method to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters that improve focus, attention and energy levels. Consider participating in sports, cardio or aerobic exercises at home or your local gym.
A good night's sleep is essential. A good night's rest can help reduce fatigue which is often a sign of ADHD. It is important to eat a balanced diet and avoid foods that can cause ADHD symptoms.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD can experience unique difficulties across the different facets of their lives. They are more susceptible to irritability and are able to develop strategies to cope like internalization. This can lead to low self-esteem and a negative body image. It is crucial to identify and treat them as adults. Receiving a diagnosis is an important moment for many. It provides them with an explanation to their struggles and helps them accept themselves more fully (Waite 2010).
The severity of symptoms can vary depending on the hormone levels. They can be improved during pregnancy and ovulation, and may worsen as they approach menopause. At this point, women can be unable to handle the demands of daily life and relationships, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction with life.
Impulsive and forgetful behavior can also affect relationships. The habit of forgetting birthdays, projects that aren't finished or not paying bills on time can make people feel as if you're not interested, leading to conflict between people. People suffering from ADHD frequently struggle with the sensitivity to rejection and have trouble managing their emotions which can cause intense reactions to rejection or failure.
Due to impulsivity, a desire to belong and to be loved, girls and women with ADHD might become sexually active earlier than their peers. This puts them at risk of becoming victims of violence from intimate partners and STIs due to the fact that they are less likely to take protection or make their partners do so. They are more likely to be suffering from anxiety or depression and may have difficulty to maintain friendships.
While more research is required to better understand the impact ADHD affects different genders, it's clear that females are more likely to be undiagnosed and to have a different experience with the disorder. It is possible to receive an diagnosis and receive treatment that will improve your relationships and help you succeed at work or school. In addition to medications the doctor may also suggest therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you manage your thoughts and feelings as well as swapping negative thoughts for more positive ones.