10 Things Everyone Hates About Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females While ADHD affects men and women equally throughout adulthood, the condition typically is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of women to conceal their symptoms. Many healthcare professionals do not have the knowledge or experience to identify ADHD among women. Many females are misdiagnosed and fail to receive the treatment they need. 1. Disorganization Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often struggle with disorganization, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks, and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Even if you've invested money in products to help you manage your clutter, your home or office is likely still messy and chaotic. Inability to keep on top of your work can result in missed deadlines and appointments. You might also struggle with “time blindness,” where you don't recall or know how long it takes to finish a task. This can make you feel frustrated and feel like you're not doing a good enough job in your profession or in your personal life. There is a possibility that you have trouble controlling your emotions. This could cause you to react excessively when confronted with stressful situations. You might also say things that are not intended to hurt the feelings of someone else. You may also have trouble stopping yourself from speaking before thinking things through, since it is common for people with ADHD. If you have ADHD It's likely some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes and beliefs about how men, boys and women should behave. This can make it harder for you to identify and treat your ADHD. You could also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the underlying causes of your disorder. It might take time to determine the most effective coping strategies, but implementing them will allow you to feel in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and other friends. 2. Impulsivity People who suffer from ADHD are prone to intense emotions. However, their brains are not capable of separating them from or evaluate them. This means they can get overwhelmed by one setback or have difficulty being able to accurately assess the mood of others. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by minor issues such as a book out of stock or a friend who isn't reliable. Many women with ADHD conceal their symptoms and devise strategies to cope with their attention problems. They could be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at work or in school but struggle to keep on top of important dates, deadlines, and appointments. They may also have issues with verbal self-restraint and talk excessively, interrupt others often, or ramble 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 activities or activities; not being able to wait your turn in conversation; and difficulty in interpreting social cues (like facial expressions or body language). While gender stereotypes can impact on the development of ADHD for women, it's difficult to recognize these issues. The scales used to measure ADHD symptoms are still skewed towards male behavior and some health experts may be misinformed or underestimate the severity of a woman's symptoms. Many women with ADHD have reported that their symptoms are more severe when hormonal changes occur like menstrual cycles or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can cause emotional issues and cause frequent feelings of frustration, irritability or depression. They may also feel a persistent sense of dissatisfaction with their lives or relationships. This can cause self-esteem issues, substance abuse or unhealthy coping strategies. This is why it's important for women to understand that these symptoms aren't a reflection of their value or worth as an individual. The good news is that with a well-planned treatment program the symptoms can be alleviated or even eliminated. 3. Attention! Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing at times, with ADHD the symptoms can occur often enough that they cause disruption with your daily life. You may make careless errors at work or in school, miss appointments or spend a large deal of time procrastinating. You aren't comfortable waiting for your turn in conversations and frequently interrupt other people. Attention deficit symptoms in adults could include the tendency to get involved in projects without thoroughly planning and researching them, which can result in incomplete or subpar results. It is also possible to get lost easily and tend to leave projects unfinished -for example, from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new system of organization that was put together and left to rot on your nightstand. People with inattentive ADHD struggle with chronic disorganization at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and lose things on a regular basis. You could also be unable to keep your track of time and end up over time for meetings, work or school. 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 might perform actions or words without thinking about the impact including snoozing over others or making nonsensical sounds when they are alone. They may have trouble sitting still and can be prone to fumbling around or pacing in their seats. They may have difficulty working and may be in frequent conflict with colleagues and managers. In some cases the mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD may lead to frustration in relationships and misunderstandings. This is especially the case when it comes to romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD also are more likely having comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. Girls and women with ADHD are often faced with a range of obstacles when seeking diagnosis and treatment, including gender bias and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. However, a lot of young women and girls don't know they have it. 4. Anxiety An anxiety disorder is characterised by a constant, excessive anxiety. While everyone feels anxious or nervous from time to time Anxiety disorders are defined by constant high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant feeling of unease or anxiety, a fast heartbeat, trouble keeping calm and having trouble thinking clearly. You may also feel a sense of danger in situations that you know aren't dangerous. The most frequent types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorders. Anxiety is more prevalent in women with ADHD compared to men. It is more likely to be exacerbated during certain life events, like menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause. This can make it more difficult to handle everyday tasks and social interactions and cause feelings of self-doubt and general dissatisfaction with your life. You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipating rejection and you can get angry over small things that others do not see as an issue with. Mood swings may also be an indication of adhd in women . You might notice that you have unpredictable moods or find it difficult to control them. You may also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal like scratching, burning or hitting yourself. It's important to seek out a diagnosis if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It will help you know your issues and offer you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an online ADHD test, or visit your doctor for a professional evaluation. In certain cases a doctor might prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. In other cases they may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavior therapy. In any case, it's important to change your lifestyle as quickly as you can. This will help you get back in control of your life and make you feel more confident, productive and competent.