ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who have undiagnosed ADHD may have issues at work or in their relationships. It's important to identify the signs and find a treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Having a proper diagnosis can help you improve your life by managing your symptoms and focusing on the things that matter most.
1. Difficulty Paying Attention
Women might have trouble paying attention to the details, remembering deadlines and appointments or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete a task. They may also have difficulty keeping track of their responsibilities at work or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to deliver on their promises. They may also have issues with impulsivity, trouble controlling their emotions and an inclination to talk about things without thinking them through first.
It is crucial to be aware of and treat symptoms of ADHD in adult women. ADHD symptoms adult female to pay attention can cause difficulties with friendships and relationships. Women may have difficulty to make new friends or have difficulty in their relationships due to recurring arguments, missed opportunities for fun, and a lack of attention. They can also have a harder time managing the demands of work, home and childcare.
It can be a challenge for health care providers and therapists alike to recognize ADHD in a lot of people. However, that doesn't mean it's not true or that the person doesn't need to do more to stay on task. The diagnosis is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact daily functioning across multiple areas of life.
It's more common for females to have inattentive symptoms rather than hyperactive or impulsive signs - and that could help explain why this group is often undiagnosed. In addition, many women with ADHD feel a sense of guilt about their condition because they don't fit into the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This can make it more difficult for women with ADHD to seek help or seek treatment.
Some women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a long period of time because they attempt to conceal their symptoms and deal with. They are also more likely to be suffering from other comorbidities, including depression or anxiety, which can cover up the symptoms of ADHD. They are also more likely to suffer from hormonal fluctuations that may cause symptoms to flare up or fade away, for instance during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Problems
Disorganization, forgetfulness, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can make it difficult for them to complete their daily tasks, keep up with their obligations, and maintain relationships. They might also suffer from low self-esteem and struggle with anxiety. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often feel like they are failing to meet societal expectations and have a hard than their peers in terms of academic achievement or job performance. They also have a harder time maintaining social relationships.
In addition to disorganization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can manifest as hyperfocus or procrastination. These problems can lead to women not attending appointments, not paying bills on time and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can result in a lack of attention to other things that are important and a poor sense of time, which could make it difficult to switch from one activity to another. Procrastination can also result in a buildup of stress, anxiety, and an unending feeling of being lagging behind.
Another common symptom of ADHD is difficulty communicating verbally and nonverbally. This could include a lot of talking, interrupting other people, or uttering inappropriate phrases. It could also be an inability to wait his or her turn or trouble understanding social boundaries. It is important to note that these behavior patterns don't necessarily suggest a lack of the ability or intelligence.
Many women suffering from ADHD develop strategies to hide their symptoms. This can have both positive and negative effects. Some of these strategies for coping can be healthy, such as using a daily schedule or setting reminders for certain events. Some of these strategies may be healthy, for instance, setting reminders for events or using alcohol and drugs to mask symptoms. It is therefore important that women who suspect they may have ADHD seek help from a professional.
Women with ADHD might benefit from taking medications, lifestyle changes, therapy, or other treatment options. Some of these include cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with negative thoughts and beliefs mindfulness techniques and relaxation, exercise as well as a balanced diet and a sufficient amount of sleep. A health care provider might also suggest accommodations to make work or school simpler.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women suffering from ADHD are often afflicted by emotional dysregulation. In the end, they are often frustrated and discouraged when the challenges of life aren't solved. It can be difficult to maintain relationships, whether with romantic partners, colleagues or even friends. For example, forgetfulness or impulses can cause frustration or confusion in romantic relationships and cause feelings of loneliness, abandonment or depression. In addition, a tendency to seek excitement on a whim can be misinterpreted as lack of interest or indifference by other people.
This is why ADHD symptoms are often overlooked or under-diagnosed in women and girls. They may also have a hard time recognizing that their struggles are a result of the disorder because of stereotypes and social norms regarding the behavior of women and men.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD can disguise their symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may lead to being referred to a specialist less frequently than boys and men who suffer from the same symptoms. This disparity could be due to gender bias in research that informs the diagnostic criteria. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger discovered that women and girls are more likely to be unidentified and under-diagnosed than men and boys who have similar ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that healthcare professionals are conditioned by their training to view hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as more prevalent in both men and boys. This makes them easier to detect and to refer to an assessment.
In adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are typical ADHD symptoms however, they can also have a major impact on an adult's life. People with ADHD may feel restless or find it difficult to sit still. This is especially the case when they're anxious or stressed. They are also susceptible to fluttering around and can be overly talkative, often interrupting or completing sentences of other people without even thinking that they're being rude.
If you suspect that you may have ADHD, you can be directed to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. Or, you can self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024, and updated in November 2022.
4. Social Skills
Women suffering from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions or communicating effectively at work. This can lead to issues in relationships with family and friends as well as in achieving professional goals. For example, they might struggle to understand and respond to feedback, which could lead to frustration and disappointment. Also, they may struggle to maintain healthy sleeping and eating habits, which could lead to feelings of anxiety. In some instances women with ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to deal with these problems. These include substance abuse, eating disorder and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI) such as cutting, burning or scratching.
Women who suffer from ADHD may find it more difficult to receive treatment as adults than males, because they are more likely to hide their symptoms. To be accepted by society and to meet the expectations of society, they often develop coping strategies. This could make it more difficult for others recognize their ADHD symptoms. These strategies for coping could be as simple as creating lists and setting reminders or more complicated strategies, like learning to control their emotions or developing mindfulness strategies.
These coping mechanisms could but backfire and cause worse symptoms. These coping methods can also make it difficult to get the rest you need which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. In addition, women with ADHD often feel overwhelmed by the demands of life, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However the gap gets smaller as they age. This is because women typically experience a variety of symptoms over the course of their lives. This can lead to different diagnoses.
Changes in hormone levels can also affect ADHD symptoms in women. For instance in the event that they have an elevated estrogen level during pregnancy, symptoms may improve. Higher levels of estrogen regulate brain chemicals that influence the ability to focus. However, if they begin to have low estrogen levels due to perimenopausal changes or age or perimenopausal symptoms, their ADHD symptoms may become worse.
It is possible for people with ADHD to receive an accurate diagnosis and receive effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy that can assist people with ADHD develop the essential skills needed for improving their daily functioning. They can also attend support group meetings for ADHD to share their experience with others who are on the same journey, and gain valuable insights from their peers.