Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Symptoms of ADHD in adults females are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. However, a proper diagnosis can enhance your quality of life including your personal and professional relationships.
The symptoms include forgetfulness, inability to stay organized as well as impulsiveness, insufficient emotional regulation, and difficulty understanding social signals. Treatment may include therapy and medication.
Inattention and lack of Focus
A hallmark symptom of ADHD is a lack of sustained focus. People suffering from ADHD find it difficult to concentrate on a task for longer than a few minutes, no matter how interesting the task is. However, when they do find themselves attracted to something, they can get obsessed to the point of neglecting other tasks or responsibilities. This can lead to procrastination, missed appointments and even incomplete work projects.
In addition, people with ADHD may have trouble following instructions and remembering details. This can make it difficult to perform tasks in school or at work and can cause miscommunication and frustration between colleagues. It could also play a role in problems with time management that include not paying bills on time or not making appointments.
Women suffering from ADHD can develop coping strategies to mask their symptoms. This could result in being viewed as unorganized or unfocused by other people. This can cause them to feel shame and guilt. This can further affect their self-esteem.
To manage this condition Try using a planner or post-it notes to track deadlines and appointments. Use a headset that blocks out noise to block out distractions and listen to music for improved concentration (make sure that the lyrics don't distract your focus). Avoid caffeine before bedtime as it can disturb sleep patterns. Make sure you practice good sleep hygiene including establishing a regular bedtime routine and turning off screens an hour before you go to bed. You can also consider taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music or using a blanket that is weighted to help calm your mind before falling asleep.
Inattention
Women who suffer from the subtype of inattention ADHD are often unable to complete tasks and stay on top of important deadlines and dates, remember appointments or complete their daily chores. They might also be unable to focus on specifics in conversations or be distracted by other activities around them. They frequently make mistakes at work or school and fail to double-check their work before submitting. They also have trouble planning and setting priorities.
Inattention and forgetfulness can cause anger and miscommunications between lovers, colleagues, family members or even teachers. This makes it difficult for those with this condition to seek treatment for their ailments. For instance, if are frequently late for meetings or struggle to keep track of your schedule it can lead people to assume that you don't care about them or lack commitment to the relationship. Your forgetfulness or inability to focus can also lead to conflict and miscommunication with the people you share your life with.
Certain women who suffer from ADHD have high-functioning symptoms which do not have an impact on their everyday lives. These include forgetting about appointments, missing deadlines, or postponing tasks. There are other signs like anxiety and lack of organization skills.
The symptoms of adult ADHD may worsen during the perimenopause (perimenopause is the period that precedes menopausal). A good night's sleep and exercise can help manage these symptoms.
Inattentive ADHD is among the most common types of ADHD. A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is necessary to determine ADHD. This may include a physical, cognitive or behavioral test and an interview with your family physician. *Note: Sex is biology which refers to chromosomal makeup hormones, anatomy, and hormones that determine if a person is a woman, a man, or a nonbinary. Gender identity is, on the other hand, is an internal perception of what you're about, as well as social and cultural beliefs.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD have difficulty controlling their impulses, which is the ability of delaying action or refraining from taking action based on thought. They may struggle with self-control in conversations, or interrupting others without thinking and have trouble understanding social boundaries. They have a tough time waiting for their turn and are generally impatient. These signs can cause problems at home, in school, at work and with social relationships.
Adults suffering from ADHD might find it difficult to keep track of multiple tasks. This includes phone calls, emails, and meetings. They may also have trouble remembering names, and their handwriting could be messy. They might also lack organizational skills and procrastinate with tasks, which can impact their work performance and create stress. In some instances the impulsive behavior can lead to unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol or using drugs.
Since many women suffering from ADHD are unaware that they have the condition, they are underdiagnosed. The symptoms of ADHD can be difficult to detect because they are often masked by hormonal changes, such as menopausal, puberty, or pregnancy.
At Salience Health, we help those suffering from ADHD manage their symptoms through a combination of therapy and medication. The use of medication can be particularly helpful in the treatment of the issue of impulse control. To learn more about the treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD might have difficulty sitting still or be still for long periods of time. Their restlessness and fidgeting can hinder their ability to focus on tasks at school or at work. They are unable to play or engaging in things in silence. They may appear to be disoriented and not concerned about what others think. They can also have trouble remembering details of conversations or events they've been to.
In addition, they might be unable to stick to commitments and plans. As they age women with ADHD develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms, meet expectations and maintain relationship. This can lead to feeling like they are overwhelmed and out of control. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood swings could be interpreted as signs of depression by male coworkers and partners.
Women and men have different symptoms of ADHD however a thorough evaluation is necessary by a certified healthcare professional. A Salience Health provider can use tools such as Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment options.
A combination of therapy and medication is generally recommended for those suffering from ADHD including adult women. Techniques for therapy like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), interpersonal skills training, and other therapies can help change negative thought patterns and behaviors. The use of stimulant and non-stimulant medication can help manage the symptoms of ADHD among women of adulthood. A health care professional can prescribe a medication appropriate for you depending on your symptoms, your age stage, stage of life and primary responsibilities, as well as any other medical conditions or diseases you may have.
Social Skills
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to connect with others and feel isolated despite having many friends, coworkers acquaintances, family members, and acquaintances. They have trouble making new friends and maintaining relationships due to their forgetfulness and impulsivity, as well as focus issues. More Support can result in long periods without having a meaningful conversations or being late for appointments and missing social gatherings.
These social problems can create difficulties at work, at school and in relationships. The inability to follow through on promises or commitments creates a feeling of being disregarded and unloved by family members, friends and peers. This can cause depression, anxiety, low-self-esteem, and a sense of failure or feeling of being out of control. In some instances it could cause marriage or relationship breakups because the unruly behavior can be too excessive for the partner or spouse who does not have ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD might hide their symptoms by changing their behavior in order to conform to societal norms and expectations. This makes it more difficult to get an diagnosis, since they may not be as forthcoming about their struggles. They may have developed a set of coping strategies to disguise their symptoms.
For instance, they might keep the track of their appointments using a calendar app or set up phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They may also be able to cope with their inability to multitask, by doing more than one task at once However, they might struggle with executive function and memory issues that limit their ability to plan and manage time.
They may also have difficulties understanding the language or comprehending subtexts while listening to other people, which can contribute to social issues. Accurate diagnosis is the first crucial step to finding solutions and establishing relationships with other people. There are a variety of solutions and resources, including treatments and medications.