ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may have issues at workplace or in relationships. It is important to identify the signs and find treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. symptoms of inattentive ADHD in adults can improve your life, by addressing your symptoms and focusing your attention on what is important.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women may have difficulty paying attention to the details, remembering deadlines and appointments or underestimating the time it takes to complete a task. They can also have trouble keeping track of their obligations at work or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to follow through on promises. They may also be afflicted by the urge to be impulsive, difficulty managing their emotions and the tendency to mutter things without thinking it through first.
The inability to pay attention that is experienced by ADHD symptoms in adult women can lead to issues with relationships and friendships and relationships. That's why it is important to identify the signs and seek treatment. Women may find it difficult to make new friends, or they may struggle in their current relationships due to constant fights and missed opportunities for fun and being neglected. Women also may struggle to manage the demands of work, home and childcare.
Many people with ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it can be difficult for health care providers or therapists to detect the disorder. However, that doesn't mean it's not real or that the person needs to do more to stay on task. A diagnosis is based on how the symptoms interfere with everyday functioning across a variety of aspects of life.
Women are more likely to suffer from inattentional symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones, which could explain why they aren't diagnosed. Additionally, many women with ADHD are afflicted with a sense of shame about their symptoms because they don't fit the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This can make it more difficult to reach out for assistance or seek treatment.
Certain women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a lengthy period of time because they are unable to hide their symptoms and cope. Additionally they are more likely to have comorbidities that can cover up their ADHD symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and digestive issues. They are also more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could cause their symptoms to flare up or fade away, for instance during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Problems with Organization
Inattention, forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can cause them to be incapable of completing daily tasks, meet obligations, or maintain relationships. They may also experience a low self-esteem and suffer from anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may feel that they're not meeting society's expectations. They might also be afflicted by anxiety and low self-esteem.
ADHD in women may manifest itself as procrastination, hyperfocus, or forgetfulness. These problems can cause women to skip appointments, not pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a lack of attention to other things that are important and a lack of sense of time, which could make it difficult to switch from one activity to another. Procrastination may also lead to anxiety, stress and a constant feeling of being behind.
Communication issues both non-verbal and verbal, are another common sign of ADHD. This can mean talking too much, interrupting others or saying inappropriate words. It can also indicate an inability to wait his or her turn or difficulty recognizing social boundaries. It is important to keep in mind that these signs don't necessarily mean the absence of intelligence or ability.
Many women with ADHD develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms, which can have both positive and negative impacts. Some of these coping strategies could be healthy, such as keeping a schedule for the day or setting reminders for events. Some of these strategies might be healthy, for instance, making reminders for events or using alcohol and other drugs to disguise symptoms. Therefore, it is essential that women who suspect they may have ADHD seek professional help.
Women suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medication, lifestyle changes, therapy, and a range of other treatment options. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses the underlying negative beliefs and thoughts such as mindfulness and relaxation, exercising, a healthy diet, and adequate rest. A doctor might also suggest accommodations to make working or school simpler.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women who suffer from ADHD are often afflicted by emotional dysregulation. This is why they often become discontent and frustrated when life's challenges aren't easily resolved. It can be difficult to maintain relationships, whether with romantic partners, coworkers or family members. For instance, forgetfulness or impulsivity may cause confusion or frustration in romantic relationships and can cause feelings of depression or loneliness. In addition the desire to find excitement on a whim could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or apathy by others.
These are the reasons why ADHD symptoms for girls and women are often missed or underdiagnosed. They may also have difficulty understanding that their issues are related to the disorder due to stereotypes and social norms regarding the behavior of women and men.
Women and girls with ADHD often camouflage their symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may lead to them being diagnosed less frequently than men and boys with the same symptoms. This discrepancy may also be due to gender bias in the research that informs diagnosis criteria. Hartung and Widiger discovered in a recent study that girls and women who suffer from ADHD symptoms tend to be more likely to go undiagnosed and not being recognized than boys and adults. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are trained to think of hyperactive and aggressive ADHD as more prevalent for both genders. This makes them easier to detect and to refer to a specialist for evaluation.
Adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty relaxing. These are common signs of ADHD however, in the later years of adulthood, they can have a major impact on a person's life and wellbeing. People suffering from ADHD may feel restless or find it hard to remain still. This is particularly true if they're feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget, and are often very active. They frequently interrupt or end sentences of other people without even realizing they're being rude.
If you suspect you may have ADHD, your doctor or a registered psychologist can refer you to a psychiatrist to conduct an assessment. Or, you can self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and other members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024, and updated in November 2022.
4. Social Skills Problems
Women with ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions and communicating effectively at work. This can lead to issues that affect relationships between people and professional goals. For instance, they may struggle to understand and respond to feedback, which can lead to frustration and disappointment. They also may struggle to keep a healthy diet and sleep habits, which could increase anxiety. In some instances women suffering from ADHD develop unhealthy coping strategies to cope with these issues. This includes substance abuse, eating disorder, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI) which includes cutting, burning, or scratching.
Women who suffer from ADHD might find it more difficult to receive treatment as adults than men because they tend mask their symptoms. They frequently create strategies for coping to conform to social expectations, which may make their ADHD symptoms harder for others to recognize. These strategies for coping could be as simple as making lists and establishing reminders, or more complex, such as managing their emotions or implementing mindfulness techniques.
These coping mechanisms could be counterproductive and cause worse symptoms. These coping methods can also make it hard to get a good night's sleep which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. Women with ADHD are also prone to feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, which can cause ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However the gap gets smaller as they age. This is because women typically suffer from a variety of symptoms throughout the course of their lives. This can result in different diagnoses.
Changes in hormone levels can also impact ADHD symptoms among women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for instance, their symptoms may improve. This is because estrogen levels can aid in regulating brain chemicals that affect attention. If they start to experience low levels of estrogen due to age or perimenopause or perimenopausal symptoms, their ADHD symptoms may become worse.
It's now possible for adults suffering from ADHD to get a correct diagnosis and receive effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy, which can assist people with ADHD build essential skills to improve their everyday functioning. They are also able to attend support group meetings for ADHD in order to share their experiences with others on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their peers.