Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD are often overlooked due to inattentive symptoms that are less evident, gender biases between healthcare professionals and symptom masked. It is crucial to be diagnosed to improve relationships and set you up for success, and help understand your behaviors.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to check for these signs:
Hyperfocus
Many people who have ADHD can focus in on an event to the point that they are unable to think about the outside world, even when the activity is not productive. This is called hyperfocus. While certain individuals, such as writers, artists, and scientists make use of this skill to do their best work however, hyperfocus that is not controlled can be a risk. It can result in delays in appointments, a loss of time at school or at work and even strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus can be extremely difficult to stop, especially if you don't realize that it's taking place. The best method to get out of an ADHD hyperfocus phase is to establish a routine and prioritize your tasks for the day, which includes daily chores such as brushing teeth or taking shower. Set an alarm or a clock to help you keep track of time. You can also ask a trusted friend or family member to check in on you regularly. When working on an assignment, it's beneficial to move around a lot and take frequent breaks.
In children, hyperfocus is often considered to be positive, since it allows children to be highly engaged in an enjoyable sport like skateboarding or building with Legos. However, unrestrained hyperfocus can lead to setbacks in school, decreased productivity at work and strained relationships with parents or siblings.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to determine if the child is experiencing emotional issues like anxiety or depression which are common among adolescents. It is crucial to seek medical attention in the event that your child's symptoms of ADHD are hindering her daily functioning.
ADHD symptoms may be more prevalent during certain phases of pregnancy or menstrual cycles. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms, such as irritability and mood swings. It also increases the chance that a woman will be misunderstood by her romantic partner or coworkers.
While the male-to-female ratio of diagnosed ADHD is at 2:1 in childhood the imbalance is less noticeable after age 14 when more women receive a diagnosis. There are a variety of resources to aid girls and women in managing their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a typical adult female ADHD sign, and it can cause problems in both your personal and professional life. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, particularly ones that require self-regulation and executive functioning skills. Procrastinators often fall behind in important work or school assignments, which could damage their reputation and damage relationships.
Missing deadlines and forgetting appointments are a few other typical signs of adult ADHD for women. You might also forget important information in conversations or even your own personal needs like paying bills. It can be difficult to concentrate in noisy or busy places, which can lead you to be distracted at work or school. ADHD symptoms in women adults can also become easily distracted by social media or your phone and have trouble staying focus when listening to or reading.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can cause a range of emotional challenges that range from anxiety and depression to mood swings that can impact your life in different ways. It can also make it hard to handle conflicts and miscommunications in your personal and professional relationships.
Women are more adept than men at hiding their ADHD symptoms, which can make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis and receive treatment. This is especially the case for women who suffer from high-functioning ADHD. The signs of inattention are less obvious, and can be concealed by anxiety or mood disorders. School reports tend to focus on academic performance and behavior and not social or relationship issues. This can cause girls and women with ADHD to be misdiagnosed and not diagnosed.
There are a variety of treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavior treatment, and lifestyle adjustments. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Keeping in mind that the purpose of any treatment plan is to assist you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Discuss the side effects and benefits of every medication you are taking, together with any co-occurring conditions.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. However, the inattention symptoms are quite common and can interfere with school, work, and relationships.
Impulsivity is a sign of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can result in poor choices or risky behaviors. The signs of impulsivity include blurting out answers prior to questions are asked, interrupting other people in conversations, or buying things on impulse, without considering the consequences. These impulsive behaviors can result in embarrassing social situations, relationship problems and financial problems.
Emotional impulsivity is common in adult female ADHD. It can result in the impulsive behavior that occurs in response to anger or frustration. This impulsivity could lead to mood fluctuations that make it difficult for people to keep healthy and positive relationships.
Women with ADHD may find it difficult to manage their emotions, which can lead to low self-esteem and anxiety. These negative emotions can impact the performance of a person at work and cause missed appointments and health issues. Women suffering from hyper-impulsive ADHD frequently struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. As a result, they may become dependent on others, or have a hard time keeping their commitments.
Girls and women with ADHD are more likely of engaging in risky sexual behavior throughout their adolescence, and even into adulthood. This is compared with their peers who do not suffer from the disorder. This is due to the fact that sexual activity is valued for social acceptance. Sexual risky behavior among adolescents and young adults with ADHD is a factor that is responsible for the higher incidence of unplanned, teenage or early-stage pregnancy.
The good news is that there are many ways to decrease the impulsivity of your behavior. It can be helpful to take a moment to think and write down thoughts before making a decision. Meditation or mindfulness practices can also help in calming the mind and body, blocking out distractions, and controlling the impulsiveness. Diet can play a part in controlling impulsiveness. A balanced diet, which includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as high-quality proteins, can improve concentration and reduce the risk of an impulsive behaviour. Sleep is another important factor in reducing impulsivity. Make sure you have a regular sleep routine, utilizing a thick blanket to calm your mind and body and limiting your use of screens prior to going to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a common problem that often affects people with ADHD. It can be difficult to manage daily stress and relationships when you are unable to manage your emotions. This can lead to self-destructive behavior such as addictions and eating disorder. This could make it difficult to keep a job, school or home life.
It can be difficult to recognize your emotions or to understand what they mean. This is especially difficult if you suffer from a mood disorder like depression or anxiety. Emotional dysregulation can be characterized by the difficulty of calm after an argument, frequent outbursts or becoming easily annoyed by small annoyances. It could also be difficult in letting go of past events or holding grudges.
Females who suffer from ADHD are more prone to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is that the symptoms of ADHD tend to be internalized and they're less likely than men and boys to be diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Additionally, girls who suffer from ADHD are often subject to more pressure than men and boys to live up to the expectations of society. This can be especially difficult for teenage girls who have ADHD as they go through the hormonal changes that come with puberty and adolescence. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, especially when combined with the increased sensitivity of girls with ADHD to social and academic pressures.
If you're ADHD symptoms cause you to experience emotional dysregulation, treatment options could include medication or therapy. Medication can aid in regulating your hormones and improve your mood while therapy can offer a safe space to work through emotions of sadness, anger or anxiety.
If you decide to take medication or therapy the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to implement steps to improve your sleep. You can do this by following a bedtime routine, practicing meditation or listening to calming music before you go to sleep. A good night's sleep will also help you to have more energy throughout the day.
Although everyone's experience with ADHD is unique, it's important to remember that there are ways to manage the symptoms and live a fulfilling life. It's not uncommon for people to encounter a combination of medications, therapies or lifestyle changes to determine what works best.