Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Adult females with ADHD are often misdiagnosed and missed. A correct diagnosis can make a difference in your life, both professionally and personally.
The most common symptoms are forgetfulness, difficulty staying organized, impulsive behavior, poor emotional regulation, and difficulty interpreting social cues. Treatment may include therapy and medication.
Inattention and lack of Focus
ADHD is characterized by difficulties maintaining focus. People suffering from ADHD have trouble being able to concentrate on a job for more than a few seconds regardless of how fascinating the task is. When they do become obsessed with something, they may become obsessed to the point that they neglect other tasks or responsibilities. This could lead to procrastination and missed appointments, as well as incomplete work projects.
People suffering from ADHD are also prone to having difficulty following instructions and remembering particulars. This can make it difficult to complete tasks at work or school and can lead to miscommunications and frustration in relationships. It could also play a role in problems with time management that include not paying bills on time or missing appointments.
Women suffering from ADHD might develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. This can result in them being perceived as unorganized or sloppy by other people. This can cause people to feel shame and guilt. This can affect their self-confidence.
Use a planner to manage this symptom. adult male ADHD symptoms can also use post-it notes or a planner to appointments and deadlines. Use a noise-canceling headset to block out distractions, and also listen to music to improve concentration (be sure the music does not have lyrics that compete with your focus). Avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime because it can disturb sleep patterns. A good sleep hygiene routine includes setting an established routine for time to go to bed and removing screens one hour before going to bed. You can also consider taking an ice-cold bath, listening to soothing music or using a weighted blanket to help calm your mind before falling asleep.
Inattention
Women who suffer from the inattentive type of ADHD typically have difficulty to complete tasks and keep track of important deadlines and dates, remember appointments or complete routine chores. They may also lose out on important details in conversations or become distracted by other events happening around them. Most often, they make naive mistakes at school or work and don't check their work before submitting it. Additionally, they face difficulties planning and setting priorities.
Forgetfulness and impulse can lead to frustration and misunderstandings between romantic partners, family members, colleagues, or even teachers. This makes it difficult for people with these issues to seek treatment for their symptoms. If you're often late for meetings, or are having trouble keeping the track of your time, people may assume that you do not care about them, or lack commitment in the relationship. Your forgetfulness or inability of concentration can lead to misunderstandings with those who live with you.
Women who suffer from ADHD have symptoms of high functioning that don't have a significant impact on their daily lives. For example, they may forget about appointments, miss deadlines or put off tasks. However, they still have other issues, such as restlessness and ineffective organizational skills.
Symptoms of adult ADHD can become more severe during the menopausal perimenopausal period (perimenopause is the period that precedes menopausal). Getting enough sleep and exercising can help to manage these symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD is among the most common types of ADHD. A thorough evaluation by a healthcare specialist is needed to diagnose ADHD. This can include a physical, cognitive or behavioral test and an interview with your doctor of your family. Note: Sex is a biological phenomenon, which includes chromosomal make-up, hormones, and anatomy that determine if a person is a woman, a man, or a nonbinary. Gender identity however is a personal perception of who you are, including cultural and social beliefs.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD have difficulty controlling their impulses and have the capability of delaying action or refraining from acting based upon thought. They may be unable to self-restrain or interrupting other people without thinking, and having a hard time understanding the boundaries of social interaction. They also have a difficult time waiting for their turn and are likely to be impatient throughout the day. These symptoms can cause issues at home, school at work, and in social relationships.
Keeping up with multiple tasks including phone calls, emails, and meetings can be particularly difficult for people with ADHD. Additionally, they might have difficulty remembering names and their handwriting could be messy. They may also be suffering from an inability to organize their lives and procrastinate on projects, which can affect their job performance and create stress. In some instances the impulsive behavior can lead to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol or using drugs.
Since many women suffering from ADHD don't realize they suffer from the condition, they are underdiagnosed. The symptoms of ADHD are difficult to identify because they are often obscured by hormonal changes such as those associated with menopausal, puberty, or pregnancy.
At Salience Health, we help patients with ADHD manage their symptoms by using a combination of therapy and medication. Medicines can be extremely beneficial for treating the issue of impulse control. To learn more about treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty sitting still or remain still for long periods of time. Their restlessness and fidgeting often hinders their ability to focus during tasks at school or at work. They also have trouble playing or taking part in leisure activities with a calm attitude. They may appear to be disoriented and not concerned about what other people think. They might also have a difficult time remembering the details of the conversations or events that they attended.
In addition, they might be unable to stick to plans and commitments. As they grow older, many women who have ADHD develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms in order to meet expectations and maintain relationship. This can result in feelings of being out of control and overwhelmed. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood swings could be misinterpreted as a sign of depression by male colleagues and spouses.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for men and women However, a thorough examination by a qualified health care professional is essential. A Salience Health provider can use tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to determine an assessment and suggest treatments.
Adult women suffering from ADHD are usually treated with the combination of therapy and medication. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and training in interpersonal skills can assist to change negative thinking patterns and behaviors. Medication, such as stimulant medications and non-stimulant medications, can be helpful in the treatment of symptoms of ADHD in women of adulthood. A health care provider can prescribe the right medication for you, based on symptoms and age, your stage in life, your primary responsibilities, and any other illnesses or conditions you may have.
Social Skills
Many people with ADHD feel lonely despite having a large number of family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. They are unable to make new acquaintances and maintaining relationships because of their forgetfulness and impulsivity, as well as focus issues. This can result in long periods without having a meaningful conversations and being late to appointments and being absent from social events.
These social problems can cause difficulties at school, work and in relationships. Failure to fulfill promises and commitments can result in feeling like you are being disregarded and not appreciated. This can cause depression and anxiety, as well as low self-esteem and a feeling of being unworthy or losing control. In some cases, it can even result in marriage or relationship breakups because the inappropriate social behavior becomes too much for the partner or spouse who does not have ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD often mask their symptoms by changing their behavior to fit social expectations and norms. This can make it more difficult to get an diagnosis, since they might not be as open about their struggles. They may have developed a repertoire of coping strategies to mask their symptoms.
For instance, they could keep track of their appointments in the calendar app or set up phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They might be able to cope with their inability of multitasking by doing more than one thing at a single time however, they may struggle with memory or executive function issues that hinder their ability to plan and handle time.
They may also have difficulties reading between the lines or comprehending subtexts while listening to others, which can contribute to social problems. Accurate diagnosis is the first important step in finding solutions and enhancing relationships with others. There are a variety of options and solutions that can help with therapy and medication.