ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who have undiagnosed ADHD may face challenges at workplace or in relationships. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and find the right treatment for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A correct diagnosis can improve your life by managing your symptoms and focusing your attention on what is important.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women may have difficulty paying attention to details, recollecting appointments and deadlines or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete a task. They may also struggle to keep track of their obligations in their relationships or at work, get easily distracted, and aren't able to keep commitments. They might also struggle with the urge to be impulsive, difficulty managing their emotions and an inclination to talk about things without thinking them through first.
It is important to recognize and treat symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to focus can lead to problems with relationships and friendships. Women may find it difficult to establish new friendships or struggle in their relationships due in part to repeated arguments and opportunities to have fun and being ignored. They can also face difficulties balancing the demands of work, home and childcare.
Many people with ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it may be hard for health professionals or therapists to identify the condition. But that doesn't mean that it's not true or that the person doesn't need to try harder to keep on track. Diagnoses are based on symptoms and how they impact the daily activities in a variety of areas.
Women are more likely to suffer from inattentive symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive, which could explain why they go undiagnosed. Many women with ADHD are also embarrassed of their symptoms, because they don't conform to the stereotypes associated with ADHD. This can make it difficult for women who suffer from ADHD to seek assistance or seek treatment.
In some cases women suffering from ADHD go undiagnosed for a long time because they are trying to cope and conceal their symptoms. They are more likely to have comorbidities, such as depression or anxiety which may mask the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to experience hormonal fluctuations that can trigger symptoms that flare up or disappear. This is particularly the case during menstrual cycles as well as pregnancy and perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Issues
Women with ADHD often experience forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation. These symptoms can cause them to be difficult to manage daily tasks, meet their obligations, or maintain relationships. They might also suffer from low self-esteem or experience anxiety. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often feel as if they're not meeting social expectations and have a difficult time keeping up with their peers in terms of academic success or job performance. They also have a harder time maintaining social connections.
ADHD in women may manifest itself as procrastination, hyperfocus or forgetfulness. These issues can cause women to skip appointments, not pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can cause a lack of attention to other activities that are crucial and a poor sense of time, which can make it difficult to shift from one task to another. Procrastination may also lead to stress, anxiety and a constant feeling of being behind.
Communication issues, both verbal and nonverbal are a typical symptom of ADHD. This can mean talking too much, interrupting others or saying inappropriate things. This could include the inability to be patient or having difficulty understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to keep in mind that these signs are not necessarily indicative of a lack of intelligence or capability.
Many women suffering from ADHD develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can have positive as well as negative consequences. Some of these coping mechanisms may be healthy. For example using a calendar for the day or setting reminders for important events. Some of these strategies for coping may be healthy, like setting reminders for events or using alcohol and drugs to disguise symptoms. Therefore, it is essential for women who suspect they have ADHD to seek assistance from an expert in mental health.
Women with ADHD might benefit from taking treatment, lifestyle changes or therapy, as well as other treatments. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative thoughts and beliefs such as mindfulness and relaxation, exercising and a balanced diet and adequate rest. A medical professional can also suggest accommodations that can help make school or work more manageable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women who suffer from ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. They may become frustrated and discontent if life's challenges can't be easily resolved. It can be challenging to maintain relationships, whether it's with romantic partners, colleagues or even friends. For example the tendency to forget or be impulsive can create confusion or frustration in romantic relations and lead to feelings of loneliness or depression. Additionally the desire to find excitement on a whim could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or apathy by others.
These are the reasons ADHD symptoms for girls and women are often missed or underdiagnosed. It is possible that they are not able to recognize their issues as being related to ADHD because of stereotypes and social norms regarding men and women's behavior.
Girls and women with ADHD often conceal their symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This may result in them being referred for diagnosis less often than boys and men who have similar symptoms. Additionally there is a gender bias in the research that informs the diagnostic criteria may contribute to this asymmetry. Hartung and Widiger discovered in an earlier study that women and girls with ADHD symptoms are more likely to be undiagnosed and under-identified than boys and adults. This could be due to the fact that healthcare professionals are conditioned by their education to view hyperactive and aggressive ADHD as more prevalent for both genders. This can make them easier to recognize and to refer to an assessment.
For adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty settling. ADHD symptom test for adults are common symptoms of ADHD however, in the later years of adulthood they can have a major impact on a person's life and wellbeing. People with ADHD may feel restless or find it difficult to stay still. This is especially the case when they're anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget and are often overly talkative. They frequently interrupt or end sentences of other people without even realizing they're being rude.
If you suspect that you might have ADHD and are concerned, you can be recommended to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) as well as members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. The content was updated in November 2022.
4. Problems with Social Skills
Women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty communicating effectively or manage their emotions in the workplace. This can cause problems in relationships with family and friends as well as in achieving professional goals. They may have trouble recognizing and responding properly to feedback. This can lead to disappointment or anger. Additionally, they might struggle to maintain healthy sleeping and eating habits, which can lead to feelings of anxiety. Women with ADHD utilize unhealthy strategies for coping to deal with their issues. They may include substances abuse or eating disorders, or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), such as cutting, burning, or scratching.
Women who suffer from ADHD might be more hesitant to get treatment as adults than men because they often hide their symptoms. In an effort to be accepted by society and meet the expectations of society, they often create coping mechanisms. This could make it more difficult for others to recognize their ADHD symptoms. These coping mechanisms might be as simple as creating lists and setting reminders or more complicated strategies, like developing a strategy to manage their emotions or implementing mindfulness strategies.
These coping strategies can but backfire and worsen symptoms. These coping methods can also make it hard to get an adequate night's rest, which is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms. Women who suffer from ADHD can also feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, which can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are diagnosed more often with ADHD than girls. However, the gap narrows as they grow older. It's because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which can result in being diagnosed at different instances.
Changing hormone levels can also affect ADHD symptoms in women. For instance when they have an elevated estrogen level during pregnancy, their symptoms could improve. This is because higher levels of estrogen can aid in regulating brain chemicals that affect attention. If their estrogen levels drop due to perimenopausal changes or aging, ADHD symptoms may worsen.
Adults with ADHD can get a correct diagnosis and get effective treatment. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurocognitive psychology, and other therapies that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. They are also able to attend meetings of support groups for ADHD in order to share their experience with others on the same journey and gain valuable information from their colleagues.