Five Killer Quora Answers On Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
Although ADHD affects both genders equally throughout adulthood, the condition typically goes undiagnosed in females. This is likely due to gender stereotyping and the capability females to hide their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals lack the expertise or experience needed to recognize ADHD among women. In the end, many women are misdiagnosed prior to receiving the treatment they need.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often plagued by disorganization. This condition is difficult to manage. Your desk, for example could be a jumble of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. And while you spend money on products that promise to help you stay organized, your home and office are likely to remain chaotic and messy.
Inability to keep the track of your tasks can lead to missed deadlines and appointments. In addition, you might struggle with a concept called "time blindness," which means you aren't able to remember or comprehend the amount of time it takes to finish the task. This can cause you to be unhappy and feeling that you're not doing an adequate job in your professional or personal life, especially when you feel like other people don't value your efforts.
You may also have difficulty regulating your emotions. This could cause you to overreact when confronted by stressful situations. Your fast-paced verbal communication could create misunderstandings and miscommunications with your loved ones and colleagues, and you may make comments that hurt others' feelings without a thought. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, as impulsivity can be common among people with ADHD.
If you have ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and cultural ideas regarding how men, boys and women should behave. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from a treatment for behavioral issues to address the root causes of your disorder. It may take a while to discover the most effective strategies for dealing with stress, but implementing them can help you feel in control of your own life and improve your relationships with family, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However their brains aren't able to filter them or evaluate them. This means they can get overwhelmed by a single setback or struggle to assess the mood of other people. It also makes it easier for them to be distracted by minor inconveniences like the book that's out of stock or a friend who's running late to the spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD mask their symptoms and develop coping strategies to compensate for their attention issues. They may be perfectionists or highly conscientious at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping on top of important dates, deadlines, and appointments. They may also have issues with self-control and verbal control. They may also talk excessively, interrupt others frequently, or info dump during conversations.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. These symptoms include a sudden desire to stop, start or alter the course of action; being unable to wait your turn in a conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender stereotypes can have an impact on the development of ADHD for women, it is not always easy to identify these issues. The scales of rating used to detect ADHD symptoms still favor male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might not be aware of a woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women and attention deficit disorder suffering from ADHD also note that their symptoms tend to become worse during times of hormonal changes, for example during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal (the menopausal transition). This can lead to emotions such as anger, irritability or depression. They might also experience a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction in their relationships or lives. This could result in self-esteem issues, substance abuse, or unhealthy coping strategies. It's important that women understand that these symptoms don't reflect their worth or value as a human being. The good news is that with a solid treatment strategy, these symptoms can be improved or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
Everyone has difficulty paying attention and focusing, with ADHD the symptoms are experienced so frequently that they interfere with your daily routine. You might make mistakes at school or work and forget appointments, or spend a lot of time procrastinating. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people.
Adults who aren't attentive can also have a tendency to rush into projects before fully planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or subpar ones. You could also get easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be the vegetable garden that was planted but not watered, or an organizational system that you assembled and then put away on your nightstand to accumulate dust.
People with inattentive ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents, keys or bills and lose things regularly. You may be unable to keep track of time and be late for school, work or meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. Women with these symptoms may say or do things without considering the consequences. For instance they might be rude to others or make a lot of nonsensical noises in solitude. They may have trouble sitting still and can fidget or pace in their seats. They may have difficulty maintaining a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and supervisor.
In some cases the mood swings or emotional stress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is especially the case in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to have other comorbidities, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD have a myriad of challenges when seeking treatment and diagnosis that include gender bias and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or undervalue the severity of their symptoms. Famous women like Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have spoken out about their struggles with adhd in women adult have helped raise awareness. However, a lot of young women and girls don't know they have it.
4. Anxiety
Although most people experience anxiety or nervous from time to moment, a constant and overwhelming anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might feel an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, difficulty staying calm and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also experience an increased sense of danger, even in situations that aren't likely to be dangerous to you. The most frequent forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women with ADHD compared to men. It tends worsen around certain life events, such as menstrual cycles or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. This can make it difficult for women to manage everyday tasks and social interaction and can trigger feelings of self-esteem loss or discontent.
You're highly sensitive to rejection and have a tough to accept criticism. You are prone to misinterpret feedback, or even anticipate rejection and you might get angry over small things that others wouldn't see as to be a problem.
Mood swings are a part of the add adult women female adhd symptoms (blogfreely.Net) and you could discover that your mood is unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that is not suicidal, such as scrubbing, burning or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek out a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. It can help you understand some of the challenges you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an ADHD test online, or talk to your physician for an expert assessment. In some instances, your doctor might prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In other instances, they might recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In either case, it's important to start making some positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This will help you gain control of your life, and feel more confident and capable.