Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women with ADHD are often not diagnosed because of inattentive or less obvious symptoms, gender bias by healthcare professionals, and the maskedness of symptoms. Getting a diagnosis is important to improve relationships and set you up for success, and assist you to recognize your behavior.
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 check for these signs:
Hyperfocus
Many people who have ADHD can focus in on an activity until they are unable to think about the outside world, even when the activity is not productive. Hyperfocus is the term used to describe this. While certain individuals, such as scientists, artists and writers make use of this skill to do their best work however, hyperfocus that is not controlled can be a problem. It can lead to missed appointments, setbacks in work or school and strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus is hard to stop if unaware of the fact that it is occurring. The most effective way to get rid of an ADHD hyperfocus session is to make a plan and prioritize your tasks for the day, which includes daily chores such as brushing teeth or taking a shower. Use an alarm or clock to aid in keeping the time. You can also ask a trusted friend or family member to check in on you at regular intervals. It also helps to move around and take frequent breaks while working on a task.
Hyperfocus in children can be considered to be positive because it allows them to be highly engaged in a fun and exciting activity like skateboarding or creating with Legos. However, uncontrolled hyperfocus can lead to problems at school, lower productivity at work, and frayed relationships between parents and siblings.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to discern whether the child is suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety that is prevalent among adolescents. It is crucial to seek medical assistance if your daughter's symptoms of ADHD are affecting her daily functioning.
ADHD symptoms can be more prevalent during certain phases of a woman's pregnancy or menstrual cycles. This can increase the frequency and severity of emotional symptoms like mood swings and irritability. It also increases the likelihood of a female being misinterpreted by her partner in love, or coworkers.
While the ratio of males to females with diagnosed ADHD is at 2:1 in childhood but this disparity becomes less apparent after age 14, when more females receive a diagnosis. There are numerous resources to help women and girls manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination can be a common ADHD symptom in adult women, and it can cause issues in your personal and professional lives. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, particularly those that require self regulation and executive functioning skills. People who are prone to procrastination are often in a bind with important assignments or work and this can hurt their reputations and relationships.
Other symptoms of adult ADHD include not remembering appointments and ignoring deadlines. You might also forget important details in conversations or even your own personal needs like paying your bills. It may be difficult to focus in noisy or busy places, which could cause you to be distracted at school or work. You may also be easily distracted by social media or your phone and find it difficult to stay focused while listening to or reading.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can lead to many emotional problems that range from anxiety and depression to shifts in mood that can impact your life in many ways. It can also make it difficult to deal with frustration and misunderstandings in the workplace and in personal relationships.
Women are better than men in hiding their ADHD symptoms and this can make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis and receive treatment. This is especially the case for women with high-functioning ADHD, where the inattentive symptoms aren't as apparent and are more easily disguised by mood or anxiety-related symptoms. School reports tend to concentrate on academic performance and behavior, but not the relationship or social issues. This can lead to girls and women with ADHD to be under-identified and under-diagnosed.
There are many treatments for adult ADHD that include medication as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications. Discuss with your doctor the best treatment plan for you. Keeping in signs and symptoms of add and ADHD in adults that the goal of any treatment plan is to help manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Make sure you discuss the advantages and side consequences of any medication you're taking, as with any co-occurring issues you may have.
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. Inattention symptoms are extremely frequent, and can lead to problems at work, school or in relationships.
It is an attribute of the inattention subtype of ADD/ADHD. It can be a cause of concern when it causes unsafe choices or reckless behaviour. Symptoms of impulsivity can include blurting out answers before questions are asked, interrupting other people in conversations, or buying items on impulse without considering the consequences. These actions of impulsivity can lead to embarrassing social situations, relationship problems and financial difficulties.
Emotional impulsivity is common in adult female ADHD. It can lead to acting out in the face of anger or frustration, which can be difficult to manage. This impulsivity can also result in mood swings that make it difficult to keep healthy and positive relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to manage their emotions, which can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can negatively impact work performance, and even cause missing appointments or health issues. Women who suffer from hyper-impulsive ADHD have a hard time making decisions or planning ahead. They might become too dependent on others, or have difficulty keeping their commitments.
Through adolescence and through adulthood, women and girls with ADHD are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior than peers who are not affected by the disorder. This is due to the fact that sexual activity is valued for social acceptance. Sexually threatening behaviors of young adults and teens with ADHD are a contributing factor to higher rates of early, teenage or unplanned pregnancy in these groups.
There are many ways you can control your the impulsive behavior. Making sure to pause before doing something and to record thoughts that may be impulsive can assist. Meditation or mindfulness can also aid in calming the body and mind and eliminate distractions. Diet plays an important role in reducing the impulsiveness. A balanced diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains and quality protein can improve focus and prevent the impulsive behavior. Sleep is another key element in reducing impulsiveness. Make sure you have a regular sleep routine, utilizing a thick blanket to calm your mind and body, and limiting your screen time during the time before bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation affects many adults with ADHD. When you're unable to control your emotions, it can be difficult to navigate daily challenges and relationships. This can lead to self-destructive behavior like addictions or eating disorders. This can make it difficult to manage a home, work or school life.
You may have difficulty identifying your feelings or understanding what they mean. This is especially difficult when you suffer from a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Emotional dysregulation is characterized by the difficulty of slowing down after an argument, frequent outbursts or becoming easily annoyed by minor inconveniences. You may also have difficulty in letting go of past events or repressing grudges.
Females who suffer from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. It's because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than boys or men. 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 who suffer from ADHD typically feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than boys and men. This can be particularly challenging for teenage girls who have ADHD because they are going through the hormonal changes that accompany puberty and adolescence. symptoms of ADHD in adults can cause emotional dysregulation, particularly when coupled with the increased sensitivity of girls suffering from ADHD to social and academic pressures.
If you suffer from an emotional disorder due to ADHD symptoms therapy or medication could be the best treatment option. Medication can help regulate your hormones and improve your mood while therapy can offer a safe space to work through feelings of anger, sadness or anxiety.
Whether you opt for therapy or medication the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to take steps to improve your sleep. You can do this by implementing a routine before bed and meditating or listening to calming music prior to bed. A healthy sleep routine can help you feel more refreshed throughout the day.
Although everyone's journey is different, it's vital that you remember there are ways to manage ADHD symptoms and live a fulfilling lifestyle. It's not uncommon for people to experience a combination of treatments, medications or lifestyle adjustments to find the most effective treatment.