Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Impulsivity and hyperactivity are the hallmarks of ADHD in the early years of childhood, which can lead to problems with academics and behavior. It is a lifelong condition but children usually overcome their symptoms.
In adulthood, inattentive symptoms persist and can cause issues at work or school. These symptoms can be caused or worsened by hormonal fluctuations during menstrual periods, pregnancy or menopause.
Inattentional symptoms
The symptoms of inattention ADHD can be very frustrating for adults. They can cause problems with relationships, work productivity and school performance. You might be easily distracted, lose items frequently or have trouble following instructions. You may forget appointments or meetings, leaving unfinished tasks. Your office or home may be messy, and you might have trouble remembering important details about events in your life. It might be difficult to be attentive to others and may have what's known as the thousand-yard stare, in which you stare at people but you don't listen to them.
Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may also have difficulty with their memory, especially during periods of hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy as well as perimenopausal and menopausal changes. This can be particularly challenging for women, who may think that their symptoms are exacerbated by these periods of change.
You can live a better life if you're diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. It is essential to establish realistic goals for yourself and plan ahead. You can make use of reminder apps such as planners, post-it notes and planners to keep on top of deadlines or appointments. Break down large projects into smaller parts and complete them one by one. Make adhd symptoms in adults to take regular breaks and move around to refresh.
You can also ask for accommodations from your school or employer that can assist you in managing your symptoms. For adhd in adult women symptoms may be able to work from your home, given extra time to finish assignments or tests and offered notetaking assistance during meetings. Many places have policies that require them to offer these accommodations to people with disabilities, including ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD might be annoyed or angry when they aren't diagnosed. They might blame themselves for their problems or believe that they were ignored by doctors or other friends and family members. Many also feel a sense of sadness and sorrow for the opportunities missed and the relationships that were damaged due to the fact that they did not receive treatment for their disorder.
According to research, women and girls who suffer from inattention ADHD have been under-diagnosed compared to boys and men. This is due to the fact their symptoms are often difficult to detect. They may appear to be anxiety or mood-related, leading clinicians to mistakenly diagnose them. They can also develop more effective coping strategies than men, which could cover up the underlying ADHD symptoms.
Hyperactive symptoms
In girls and women, hyperactive ADHD symptoms can manifest as a lack of rest or difficulty sitting still. They might feel fidgety or constantly on the move and talkative or find it hard to concentrate at school or work. Girls may also be prone to mood swings, and have difficulty regulating their emotions. They have to work hard to meet the social expectations of women's behavior which can cause women to feel inadequate and enduring stress.
While the symptom profile of females suffering from ADHD differs from those of males however, it is a long-lasting disorder. It's estimated that just 30% of adults can overcome their ADHD, and women are less likely to do so than men. If you've been diagnosed as having adult ADHD You may discover that your symptoms get worse as you age or go through hormonal changes.
For instance, you could find that your ADHD symptoms are more severe during puberty, at or around the menstrual cycle, and also in perimenopause, the years before menopausal full-on. You may be noticing that you make more mistakes than usual, have difficulty managing your deadlines and assignments or forget to make appointments.
If you have the inattentive-type of ADHD the symptoms may be more severe during perimenopausal and menopausal. This is because estrogen levels decrease around ovulation and in the middle of your menstrual cycle which can cause an increase in your ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations could be the reason why many women are not diagnosed with ADHD in their early years and are instead left undiagnosed when they become adults.
In the initial diagnosis process, doctors will use a combination of rating scales, interviews, and other methods to determine if you have ADHD. The way you respond to your symptoms is also vital. For instance, girls and women may camouflage or hide their ADHD symptoms to avoid being judged which can cause them to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or a mood disorder. Boys and men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with ADHD due to their unpredictable behaviors. This is the reason that many of the initial ADHD studies were conducted with hyperactive boys and males.
Impulsive Symptoms
A condition known as ADHD can make it hard to control impulsive behaviors such as hitting your fist against the wall or picking up things off the floor. It also makes it more difficult to think before you act and can cause problems at work or school where you might be required to follow instructions or complete tasks with no interruptions.
As you reach adulthood, the problems with impulse control, planning and organisational skills may be more internalized and less obvious as they were as a child. Hyperactivity may become an inner agitation. Periods of organisation may occur in conjunction with periods of procrastination and feeling overwhelmed.
Research shows 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 socially accepted for the way they behave, particularly hyperactive or impulsive ones. This could be due to gender stereotyping and stereotypes, for instance, that boys are more impulsive than girls, and less organized. This may encourage a girl to hide her ADHD symptoms to fit in with.
The hormonal fluctuations that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy can also cause ADHD symptoms in females. This is due to the fact that estrogen levels decrease at the time of ovulation, and can increase during the beginning of menstruation. This causes symptoms to become more severe. It is essential that girls and women with ADHD are assessed by an expert in mental health or a health professional if they are experiencing these symptoms.
If you are struggling with ADHD, it's possible to reduce your symptoms. Combining medication, therapy and lifestyle adjustments can make significant changes. Regular exercise can boost your mood and release neurotransmitters, as well as boost your energy and focus. Try doing some aerobics, sports, or cardio exercises in your gym at home or in a local one.
It's also crucial to get enough rest. A good night's sleep can reduce fatigue which is often a sign of ADHD. Finally, it's important to eat healthy and avoid eating foods that can trigger ADHD symptoms in you.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD may experience particular difficulties across the different facets of their lives. They are more likely to experience the inattentive symptoms and can develop coping mechanisms, such as internalization. This can cause low self-esteem and a negative body image. Because of this, it's essential that patients are diagnosed and receive treatment as adults. Receiving a diagnosis can be an important moment for many. It gives them an explanation to their struggles and helps them accept themselves better (Waite 2010).
The intensity of symptoms can vary based on the hormone levels. They may improve when pregnant and ovulation occurs, and can become more severe as they approach menopause. Women may experience difficulties to maintain relationships and manage everyday tasks during this period. This could lead to feelings of unsatisfaction.
Relationships can be impacted by impulsive or forgetful behaviors. Inattention to birthdays, incomplete projects or not paying bills on time could leave people feeling like you don't care, leading to interpersonal conflict. People with ADHD are often highly sensitive to rejection and have trouble regulating their emotions. This can cause intense reactions even to perceived rejection or failure.
Due to the impulsivity, desire to belong, and to be loved, women and girls with ADHD are likely to be more sexually active than their peers. They are more likely to become victims of abuse from intimate partners and STIs because they don't insist that their partners utilize protection. 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 understand the impact ADHD affects different genders, it's clear that females are more likely to not be diagnosed, and to have a distinct experience with the disorder. It is possible to receive diagnosis and receive treatment to improve your relationships and help you succeed at work or school. In addition to medication, your doctor might suggest therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy that can help you learn to manage your thoughts and feelings as well as swapping negative thoughts for more positive ones.