Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are the characteristic features of ADHD in childhood, and can lead to behavioral and academic issues. It's a chronic illness, but children usually outgrow the symptoms.
In adulthood, inattentive symptom persists and can cause problems in school or work. These symptoms can also be triggered or aggravated by hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause.
Inattentional symptoms
The symptoms of inattention ADHD can be very frustrating for adults. They can hinder relationships, productivity at work and school performance. You may be easily distracted, lose things frequently or have trouble following directions. You might forget business appointments or meetings or leave work unfinished. Your office or home may be messy, and you may have trouble remembering important details about the events of your life. You may find it difficult to listen to others and you may be prone to the thousand-yard stare, where you look at people, but don't hear them.
Adults with inattention ADHD can also have memory problems, especially when hormonal changes occur, such as during menstrual cycles, pregnancy menopausal, perimenopausal, and menopausal. This can be particularly difficult for women, who may think that their symptoms are made worse due to these changes.
You can make a difference in your life if you are diagnosed with inattention ADHD. Set realistic goals. You can make use of reminder apps, planners and post-it note to keep the track of appointments or deadlines. Break large projects down into smaller pieces and finish them one at a time. Take breaks regularly and move around to refocus.
You may also ask your employer or school for accommodations that might assist you in managing your symptoms, for example, allowing you to work from home, giving you extra time for assignments or tests or even providing notetaking assistance during meetings. A lot of places have policies that require them to offer these accommodations to people with disabilities, such as ADHD.
Women with ADHD who don't receive a diagnosis may be left with anger or frustration. They might blame themselves for their troubles, or they might believe that they were dismissed by doctors or other friends and family members. Many feel sadness and loss for the opportunities lost and the relationships that were damaged because they never received treatment for their condition.
Research suggests that, compared to males and females women and girls with inattention ADHD are often not diagnosed and recognized. This is due to the fact that their symptoms tend to camouflage. They may appear like mood disorders or anxiety and cause doctors to mistakenly diagnose the condition. They may also develop more effective coping strategies than men, which could mask the underlying ADHD symptoms.
Hyperactive Symptoms
In girls and women, hyperactive ADHD symptoms can manifest as a sense of agitation or difficulty sitting still. They may feel tense or constantly in motion and talkative or find it hard to focus in class or work. Girls can also be susceptible to mood swings, and have difficulties controlling their emotions. They struggle to meet the societal expectations of women's behavior which can cause them to feel unsatisfied and chronic stress.
Although the symptoms of female ADHD are different from those of male ADHD however, it remains a chronic disorder. It's estimated that just 30% of adults outgrow their ADHD, and women are less likely to achieve this than men. If you've been diagnosed of adult ADHD and you are suffering from it, it is possible that your symptoms get worse as you get older and experience hormonal changes.
You may be aware that your ADHD symptoms are more intense in puberty, at the time of your menstrual cycle and during perimenopausal (the period leading up to menopausal symptoms). You may notice that you're making more mistakes, have trouble staying on top of deadlines and assignments or forgetting 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 after the time of ovulation and also in the middle of your period. This can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms. adult adhd signs could be the reason that many women are not diagnosed with ADHD in their early years but are diagnosed as they grow older.
During the initial diagnostic procedure, doctors will employ a mix of rating scales, interviews and other methods to determine if you have ADHD. How you perceive and react to your symptoms is also vital. For example, women and girls might conceal or disguise their ADHD symptoms to avoid being judged, which could lead them to be misdiagnosed as having anxiety or a mood disorder. Boys and men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with ADHD due to their disruptive behaviors. This is why many of the initial ADHD studies were conducted on hyperactive males and girls.
Impulsive Symptoms
Having ADHD can make it hard to stop impulsive behaviours like hitting your fist against the wall or picking things off the floor. It also makes it harder to think before you act and could lead to trouble at school or work where you might be required to follow directions or complete tasks with no interruptions.
As you reach adulthood, these trouble with impulse control and planning and organisational skills may be more internalized and less apparent than they were as when you were a child. Hyperactivity can become an inner turmoil. Periods of organisation may alternate with periods of procrastination or feeling overwhelmed.
Research suggests that women tend to hide their ADHD symptoms more effectively than boys or men. It's partly due to the fact that males and boys are more likely to be accepted by society for their ADHD-related behavior, particularly hyperactive or impulsive ones. This can be due to gender stereotypes, like the belief that boys are more raunchy and less organized than girls, which can encourage girls to conceal her ADHD symptoms to blend into the crowd.
The hormone fluctuations that happen during menstrual cycles or pregnancy can also cause ADHD symptoms in females. This is because estrogen levels decrease during ovulation and then increase when menstrual cycles begin. This causes symptoms to flare. This is why it's essential for women and girls suffering from ADHD to be assessed by a health care professional or mental health professional when they experience these symptoms.
If you are suffering from ADHD, it's possible to learn to manage your symptoms. A combination of therapy, medication and lifestyle modifications can help. Regular exercise is a great way to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters to improve focus and energy levels. Try some aerobics, sports or cardio exercises in your gym at home or in a local one.
Sleeping enough is essential. A restful night can help reduce fatigue which is often a sign of ADHD. Finally, it's important to eat healthy and avoid eating foods that trigger ADHD symptoms in you.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD might have difficulties in various areas of their lives. They are more prone to inattention-deficiency symptoms, and are able to develop strategies for coping like internalization. This can cause low self-esteem and a negative image of the body. For these reasons, it's essential that they get diagnosed and receive treatment as adults. For many, getting a diagnosis can be a moment of clarity that provides a rationale for the struggles they've been having and giving them the chance to accept themselves more fully (Waite, 2010).
The severity of symptoms can vary depending on hormone levels. Symptoms can be improved during pregnancy or ovulation and can worsen as you approaching menopausal. In this period, women can struggle with everyday tasks and relationships, leading to feelings of unsatisfaction with their lives.
The quality of relationships can be affected by impulsive and forgetful behavior. Not remembering birthdays or projects that aren't finished, or not paying your bills on time can make people feel as if you don't give a damn which can lead to conflicts. People with ADHD are often afflicted by sensitive to rejection and have difficulty controlling their emotions that can trigger intense reactions to even perceived rejection or failure.
Due to impulsivity, a desire to belong and to be loved, women and girls with ADHD might become sexually active earlier than their peers. This can put them at increased risk of becoming victims of intimate partner violence and STIs, because they are less likely to use protection or make their partners do so. They are also more likely to suffer from co-occurring depression or anxiety and may have a difficult to maintain friendships.
While more research is needed to determine the impact ADHD affects different genders, it is clear that females are more likely be undiagnosed, and to have a distinct experience with the disorder. However, it is possible to get a diagnosis and benefit from treatment, which can improve relationships and position you for success in the workplace or at school. Alongside medication the doctor may also recommend therapy like cognitive behavior therapy which can help you manage your thoughts and emotions while reversing negative thinking patterns for better ones.