Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are the characteristic features of ADHD in the early years of childhood, which can lead to academic and behavioral issues. It is a chronic condition that children typically overcome the symptoms.
In adulthood, the inattention symptom persists and can cause issues at school or at work. These symptoms can be caused or worsened by hormonal fluctuations during menstrual periods and pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
Attention-deficit Symptoms
Adults may find the signs of inattention ADHD difficult. They can hinder relationships, work productivity and school performance. You might be easily distracted, lose items frequently or have trouble following instructions. You might miss appointments or business meetings, leaving tasks not completed. You might be overwhelmed by the clutter in your home or office and find it difficult to remember important details of events that happened in your life. You may find it difficult to be attentive to others and may have what's known as the thousand-yard stare, in which you stare at people but you don't listen to them.
Adults with inattention ADHD may also have difficulty with their memory, especially during times of hormonal changes such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. This can be particularly difficult for women, who might find that their symptoms are intensified by these periods of change.
If you suffer from inattentive ADHD it is possible to improve your life by learning to recognize and manage your symptoms. It is essential to establish realistic goals for yourself and plan ahead. You can use reminder apps or planners, as well as post-it notes to keep the track of appointments or deadlines. Break big projects into smaller parts and complete them one at a time. Take regular breaks to move around and redirect your focus.
You may also request accommodations from your employer or school to aid in managing your symptoms. For instance you may be able to work at your home, given extra time to finish assignments or tests and offered notetaking assistance in meetings. Many organizations have policies that require that they provide accommodations for those who have disabilities, such as ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD who do not receive a diagnosis could end up with anger or frustration. They may blame their troubles on themselves, or believe that medical experts or family members have dismissed them. Many feel sadness and loss over the opportunities missed and strained relationships due to the fact that they did not receive treatment for their disorder.
Research suggests that, in comparison to boys and men women and girls who suffer from inattentive ADHD are not recognized and diagnosed. This is due to the fact that their symptoms tend to be concealed. They can appear similar to mood disorders or anxiety and cause doctors to not recognize the problem. They may also develop better strategies to cope than males, which can conceal the true symptoms of ADHD.
Hyperactive symptoms
In women and girls Hyperactive ADHD symptoms may appear as restlessness or trouble sitting still. They may be fidgety or constantly on the move, be very talkative, or find it hard to concentrate at school or work. Girls are also anxious and struggle to control their emotions. They have to work hard to meet the societal expectations of a woman's behaviour which can cause them to feel inadequate and enduring stress.
Although the symptom profile of females suffering from ADHD differs from men however, it is a chronic disorder. Only 30% of adults are believed to overcome ADHD. Women are less likely than men to do so. If you have a diagnosis of adult ADHD the symptoms could worsen as you age and go through hormonal changes.
For instance, you could discover that your ADHD symptoms are more severe during puberty, in the middle and near the time of your menstrual cycle, and in perimenopause, the years leading up to full-blown menopause. You may be noticing that you're making more mistakes, having difficulty keeping up with deadlines and assignments or forgetting appointments.
If you have inattention-based type of ADHD, symptoms may also increase during menopausal or perimenopausal. This is because estrogen decreases around ovulation and in the middle of your menstrual cycle which can cause an increase in your ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations could be the reason for why many women aren't diagnosed with ADHD during their childhood and are instead left undiagnosed when they reach adulthood.
In the initial diagnosis process, doctors will use a combination of interviews, rating scales, and other methods to determine if you suffer from ADHD. How you react and perceive your symptoms is also important. Girls and women may hide or disguise their ADHD symptoms in order to avoid being assessed. This could lead to being mistakenly diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders. Males and females on the other hand are more likely be referred for ADHD due to their behaviors being more disruptive. This is why many of the initial ADHD studies were conducted on hyperactive males and females.
Instinctive Symptoms
A condition known as ADHD can make it hard to control impulsive behaviors such as hitting your fist against the wall or picking objects from the floor. It also makes it more difficult to think before acting and could lead to trouble at school or work where you are required to follow instructions or complete tasks with no interruptions.
As you grow older as you get older, your issues with control of your impulses, planning and organisational abilities could become more internalized and less apparent than when you were a kid. Hyperactivity can become an inner restlessness. Periods of organization could be accompanied by periods of procrastination and feeling overwhelmed.
Research suggests that women tend to hide their ADHD symptoms more than men or boys. This is partly because it is considered more socially acceptable for males and females to exhibit ADHD-related behavior including hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. This can be due to gender stereotypes and stereotypes, for instance, that boys are more impulsive than girls, and less organized. This can make it easier for girls to hide her ADHD symptoms to fit in.
Female ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormone fluctuations during menstruation or pregnancy. This is due to the fact that estrogen levels decrease during ovulation and falls even further during menstrual cycle's beginning, causing symptoms to become more severe. This is why it's important for women and girls suffering from ADHD to be assessed by a medical professional or mental health professional when they're experiencing these symptoms.
If you are struggling with ADHD it is possible to reduce your symptoms. A combination of medication, therapy and lifestyle changes can make a difference. Regular exercise is a great method to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters that improve concentration, attention and energy levels. Try some aerobics, sports, or cardio exercises in your gym at home or in a local one.
A good night's sleep is essential. A good night's rest can help reduce fatigue, which is often a sign of ADHD. It is important to eat a balanced diet and avoid foods that could trigger ADHD symptoms.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD may have issues in a variety of areas of their life. They are more likely to experience the inattentive symptoms and can develop coping strategies such as internalization. This can result in low self-esteem and negative body image. This is why it's especially important that patients are diagnosed and treated as they grow older. Receiving a diagnosis is an important moment for many. It provides them with an explanation for their struggles and allows them to accept themselves better (Waite 2010).
The severity of symptoms can vary based on the hormone levels. These symptoms may improve when pregnant or ovulation occurs, but may worsen when approaching menopausal. Women may have difficulty to maintain relationships and perform daily tasks during this time. This could lead to feelings of unsatisfaction.
The quality of relationships can be affected by impulsive and forgetful behavior. Not remembering birthdays or projects that aren't finished, or not paying your bills on time can make people feel like you're not paying attention which can lead to conflict. inattentive adhd symptoms with ADHD tend to be extremely sensitive to rejection and have difficulty regulating their emotions. This can cause extreme reactions to rejection or failure.
Due to the impulsivity, desire to belong, and to be loved, women and girls with ADHD are likely to develop sexually active earlier than their peers. This puts them at increased chance of being victims of violence from intimate partners and STIs as they are less likely to seek protection or insist their partners do it. They are also more likely to have anxiety or depression co-occurring with it and may have a tough time maintaining friendships.
Although more research is needed to better understand the effects of ADHD on different genders, it's clear that women tend to be more likely to go undiagnosed and have different experiences with the disorder. It is, however, possible to receive a diagnosis and benefit from treatment, which can improve relationships and prepare you to be successful at work or school. Alongside medication your doctor may suggest therapy, like cognitive behavior therapy that can help you learn to manage your thoughts and feelings while swapping out negative thinking patterns for better ones.