Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often underdiagnosed due to inattentive symptoms that are less obvious, gender bias between healthcare professionals and symptom-masking. Getting a diagnosis is important to improve relationships and set you up for success, and help you identify your own behaviors.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to look for these signs:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to be too focused on one particular task that they lose sight of the world outside. This is even when the activity isn't productive. Hyperfocus is the term used to describe this. Unrestrained hyperfocus, although beneficial for some people, like scientists, writers and artists, can be a liability. It can lead to missed appointments, setbacks in the workplace or at school, and even strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus can be difficult to stop if you're unaware that it is taking place. The best way to break out of an ADHD hyperfocus session is to make a plan and prioritize tasks for the day, such as everyday chores like brushing teeth or taking shower. Set an alarm or a clock to aid in keeping track of time. You could also ask a friend or family member to check on you regularly. It can also help to move around and take frequent breaks while working on a task.
In children, hyperfocus is sometimes thought of as positive, since it allows kids to become extremely engaged in a fun sport like skating or creating with Legos. However, uncontrolled hyperfocus could lead to setbacks in school, decreased productivity at work and strained relationships with parents or siblings.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to determine if your child suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety. These are very common among adolescents. This is why it is important to seek medical attention if your daughter has symptoms of ADHD that affect her daily functioning.
The symptoms of ADHD can also increase at certain times of a woman's life, such as when she is menstruating or is pregnant. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms, such as mood swings and irritability. It can also increase the likelihood that a female will be misunderstood or misinterpreted by her romantic partner or coworkers.
The male-to-female ADHD ratio is about 2:1 in the early years of childhood. However, the imbalance decreases as women begin to receive more ADHD diagnoses after age 14. There are numerous sources that can aid girls and women in managing their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a typical adult female ADHD symptom, and it can cause difficulties in your personal and professional life. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, particularly those that require self-regulation and executive function skills. Procrastinators often fall behind in important work or school assignments, which could damage their reputation and relationships.
Other symptoms of adult ADHD include not remembering appointments and ignoring deadlines. You may also forget important information in conversations or even your personal needs such as paying your bills. You might have difficulty focusing in busy or noisy environments, which can cause you to miss opportunities at school or at work. You could also get distracted by your smartphone or social media, and struggle to concentrate when reading or listening to someone else.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can result in various emotional issues, from depression and anxiety to mood swings that affect your life in many ways. It can also make it hard to manage conflicts and miscommunications in your personal and professional relationships.
Women are better than males at hiding their ADHD symptoms and this can make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis and receive treatment. This is especially relevant for women who have high-functioning ADHD as the inattention symptoms aren't as evident and are often disguised by mood or anxiety symptoms. School reports tend to focus on academic performance and behavior, but not the relationship or social issues. This can lead girls and women with ADHD to be misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed.
There are a variety of treatment options for adult ADHD that include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and lifestyle modifications. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan that is right for you. Keeping in mind that the goal of any treatment plan is to help manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Discuss the side effects and benefits of every medication you are taking along with any co-occurring disorders.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. However, the inattention symptoms are quite common and can interfere with school, work, and relationships.
Impulsivity is a signification of the type of ADD/ADHD that is inattentive and can result in poor choices or dangerous behaviors. ADHD symptoms adults of impulsivity can include uttering answers before questions are asked, interrupting other people during conversations, and purchasing items on impulse without thinking through the consequences. These impulsive actions can result in embarrassing situations in social situations, relationship issues and financial issues.
Emotional impulsivity is another typical characteristic of female adult ADHD. It can cause people to act out in the face of anger or frustration, which may be difficult to manage. The impulsivity of this behavior can also trigger mood swings, making it difficult to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women with ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions, leading to depression and anxiety. These negative emotions can impact work performance and lead to absences from appointments and health issues. Women suffering from an impulsive ADHD often struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. They might become too dependent on others or have trouble keeping their commitments.
Throughout adolescence and into adulthood, girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors than their peers without the disorder. This is usually due to a recognition of the value of sexual activity for social acceptance. Sexually threatening behaviors of adolescents and young adults with ADHD are a contributing factor to the higher rate of early, teenage or unplanned pregnancies among these groups.
The good news is that there are a variety of ways to decrease the impulsivity of your behavior. Learning to pause before acting and writing down thoughts that may be impulsive can assist. Meditation or mindfulness can help calm the body and mind and block out distractions. Diet can play a part in reducing impulses. A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables whole grains, whole grains and high-quality protein, can improve focus and help prevent an impulsive behaviour. Sleep is another key factor in reducing impulsivity. Set up a regular sleeping routine, with a heavy blanket to soothe your mind and body, and limiting your use of screens during the time before you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a frequent issue that typically affects adults suffering from ADHD. If you're not able to manage your emotions, it can be difficult to navigate daily challenges and relationships. This could lead to self-destructive behaviours like addictions or eating disorder. This can make it difficult to manage a home, work or school life.
It can be difficult to pinpoint your emotions or to understand what they mean. This can be particularly challenging when you suffer from a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety. The signs of emotional dysregulation could include difficulty in getting calm after a fight and having frequent outbursts, or getting easily frustrated by small inconveniences and annoyances. It is also possible to have trouble letting go of old experiences or holding grudges.
Females with ADHD may be particularly vulnerable to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because the symptoms they experience are internalized, and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than males or females. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Girls with ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social norms than boys and men. This can be particularly challenging for teenage girls who have ADHD as they go through the hormonal changes that accompany puberty and adolescence. Combined with their heightened sensitivity to social and academic pressures, they can create an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If you're ADHD symptoms cause you to experience emotional dysregulation, treatment options include medication or therapy. Medication can improve your mood and regulate your hormones, while therapy offers a safe place to work through feelings such as anger, sadness and rejection. It can also help with anxiety.
Whether you choose therapy or medication the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to take steps to improve your sleep. This can be accomplished by following a daily routine before going to sleeping, practicing meditation or listening to calming music. ADHD in adults symptoms women can also help you have more energy throughout the day.
While everyone's experience is unique, it's important to keep in mind that there are ways to manage ADHD symptoms and lead a fulfilling lifestyle. It's commonplace for people to test a combination or therapies or medications or lifestyle changes to find the best solution.