Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Women
Dr. Frank says that the symptoms of ADHD in adult women are more difficult to spot than men, as women develop coping mechanisms in order to mask their symptoms. Fortunately, support for lifestyle and medication can help improve their functioning and quality of life.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have six symptoms from the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive subtypes lasting more than six months. These symptoms include:
1. Attention
ADHD symptoms in women include difficulties keeping track of the time, missing appointments, misplacing items, or becoming easily distracted. Women may also experience forgetfulness, procrastination and having difficulty working or studying in a noisy, crowded environment. Women often struggle with their interpersonal skills. They may interrupt other people or make statements that they regret later.
Women with ADHD are better at masking symptoms than men and boys. They can develop healthy coping strategies that include relying on the daily schedule and using reminders on their phones to remind them of important occasions. These coping strategies may not last long and are not sufficient to cope with the complexity of everyday life. In addition, their symptoms may be exacerbated by co-existing disorders like anxiety and depression.
Many people with ADHD have impulsivity or hyperactivity symptoms as well. Adults may experience subtler symptoms that only affect certain areas of their life like social interactions or at work. Those with a hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD may experience frequent fidgeting, talkativeness or trouble sitting still during conversations. They may also find it difficult to relax or settle down. They may also have difficulty to make and maintain friendships.
People who suffer from mild to moderate ADHD might not experience major issues at work or in their relationships, but they struggle with being organized and executing on commitments. They may face issues with finances, schoolwork, or household chores and often experience a sense of being overwhelmed by their responsibilities. Those with severe symptoms are severely disrupted in their daily lives. They might have difficulty keeping a job or maintaining relationships.
2. Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD frequently struggle to organize their home, work, and personal items. They may also lose track of things like keys, wallets eyeglasses, cell phones. They also are prone to lose their tempers and being easily distracted by their thoughts and activities. Their inability to follow instructions and complete tasks negatively impacts their academic performance, as well as their relationships.
Women mask their symptoms with their emotions in order to justify their actions. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. For example women might experience low self-esteem or anxiety as a reason for her forgetfulness and inattention. She may also blame relationship issues or other complaints (such as nausea and headaches) on the stress of daily life or hormonal fluctuations (e.g. menopausal, perimenopausal).
If left untreated, ADHD can lead to serious issues. For instance, women and girls with ADHD could be at greater risk of adolescent sexual activity due to their impulsivity and issues with boundaries within the group and planning. They are more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs to help themselves. Inattention can cause delays in appointments and procedures with doctors. They might have erratic and disordered eating patterns or a higher BMI, in addition to unhealthy coping habits like nail-biting skin picking, obsessive shopping and excessive exercise.
A thorough evaluation by a health care provider or mental health professional is the most effective method to determine ADHD. The specialist will also inquire with the patient about their emotional and physical well-being. They might recommend lab tests or a diagnosis interview. Many adults are shocked discover that they've been suffering from a mental illness for a long time.
3. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD have a harder time controlling their impulses. This could lead to other issues like self-injury and alcohol or drug abuse. This can cause issues in relationships as forgetfulness and impulsive behavior can cause confusion or conflict with family members, friends, and co-workers.
The signs of impulsivity are blurting things out, buying something on a whim and then jumping into the purchase without contemplating the consequences. Remember that acting in an impulsive manner doesn't necessarily mean that you're a bad person. Some people need more time to think before acting. But, it's recommended to talk to your doctor about this and to get tested for ADHD, especially as you start to notice that these symptoms are getting more severe.
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently have trouble managing their emotions. This can result in depression and other mental health problems. Depression symptoms can be hard to identify in women because they can appear similar to other health problems, like chronic headaches and insomnia. Women with ADHD are hesitant to seek help because they believe that their symptoms are the result of low self-esteem.
It is crucial to recognize that sex is a distinct concept from gender and that your inner perception of your identity is not affected by the biological traits that determine if you are a woman, man, or nonbinary. Many people with ADHD struggle to identify with their gender. This can cause them to feel shame and a sense of despair. These can be exacerbated by the stress of living with untreated ADHD and can result in the absence of professional or personal support.
4. Distractions
As girls with ADHD become women, they may experience difficulties handling adult responsibilities. This can lead to problems at work or school and can cause tension in relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners. Women who suffer from ADHD might also have difficulty managing finances or a home, and may be at risk of ignoring health-related issues like regular health checkups and exercising. They may also have difficulty managing negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression.
Symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults may include misplacing items or forgetting appointments, getting easily distracted by noise or movement, having difficulty working with others, or getting overwhelmed by tasks. They may also be more likely to experience mood-related symptoms like poor self-esteem, low self-confidence or somatic complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches.
It's important for women to recognize the signs of ADHD and receive an assessment. It's also beneficial to speak with a mental health professional about their struggles and create strategies to cope with ADHD. Cognitive-behavioral therapies can help, for instance, to alter negative thinking patterns and increase coping skills. A women's club can provide valuable information about living with ADHD, and coping techniques for everyday life.
It's important to note that women who suffer from ADHD can suffer from different symptoms than men. These can change during transitional times such as puberty or pregnancy. They may change as a result of menopausal hormone treatments. This is due to hormonal fluctuations, and the fact that women have a bigger hippocampal region that plays a key role in education and memory. Women are also more adept in masked ADHD symptoms than men, and this could make it difficult to get a proper diagnosis. Despite these issues it is still possible to live an enjoyable life with ADHD.
5. Anxiety
It can be hard for women suffering from ADHD admitting they have anxiety issues, however, getting the right diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference in their lives. It can also help them gain a better understanding of their behavior and how it affects others.
Anxiety is one of the most prominent symptoms in women with ADHD. It could look like this:
Distractions, such as daydreaming or appearing to be distracted. Making a few mistakes. Avoiding symptoms of ADHD in adults that require concentration or could be boring. Finding it difficult to concentrate in the classroom or at work. Forgetting or being late to appointments and meetings. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of people around you or under pressure at home or work. Having difficulty relaxing or falling to sleep. Being easily upset or sensitive to criticism and rejection.
Women with ADHD may be more likely to develop co-occurring disorder of mood, like depression, and they may have a harder time establishing friendships. They might also have issues in their relationships with their spouses that can result in an increase in violence between partners and substance abuse.
Women and girls may struggle to get a proper ADHD diagnosis due to the fact that their symptoms are different from the symptoms of men and boys. Health professionals must be aware of these differences in order to make an accurate diagnosis. This involves identifying specific characteristics, such a more distinct symptom-profile, difficulty with social relationships and a tendency to use ways to cope with underachievement or performance problems, as well as the coexistence between anxiety and depression. It is also important to take into consideration the effect of a woman's hormone levels on her symptom presentation.