Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from ADHD are often faced with different social expectations regarding how they should handle their work as well as family and home life. This can cause you to be embarrassed and frustrated if your symptoms hinder your life.
Research has proven that girls and women are often under-diagnosed for ADHD compared to males and boys. This could be due to the fact that they hide their symptoms or develop coping mechanisms to cover their symptoms.
1. Inattentiveness
Having trouble paying attention at school or at work is one of the main signs of adhd. People with this condition frequently miss important meetings, get behind on projects or get confused when trying to follow directions. They may also have trouble concentrating in noisy or crowded environments. People who suffer from ADHD may have "thousand-yard gazes" or a tendency to lose focus during conversation. These symptoms can lead to problems at work or with relationships.
Girls and women can be particularly at risk for undiagnosed ADHD, especially as they grow older. They frequently develop coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms and use these coping methods into adulthood. They may even start to recognize their symptoms as personal attributes, which can make it more difficult to seek help.
Additionally, many teachers don't suggest ADHD assessments for girls as frequently as they do for boys. If a girl's numbness or ADHD is impacting her school performance or social interactions, she should talk to an expert in health.
Inattentive ADHD is a frequent cause of emotional stress. It can be difficult when you feel that you're not meeting the expectations of friends or family members, as well as coworkers. It can be difficult to feel as if you're unable to get along well with your siblings or kids. adhd traits in women with ADHD have anxiety and depression, which can be exacerbated by their impulsivity and inattention. You can decrease the severity of these symptoms by seeking out help and doing other activities. Regular exercise can help release the neurotransmitters that boost concentration and attention. It can also help reduce mood swings, anxiety, and other symptoms that are common among people with ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage. You may say things that you shouldn't or purchase items on impulse. You could also get in trouble with the police because of your behavior. It can be difficult to control your feelings and emotions. This can lead to self-injury, such as burning, cutting or scratching yourself. It can also lead drinking and drug abuse.
People who are impulsive usually have problems with relationships and school or work performance. Your doctor can help you manage your impulsivity by prescribing medications. Medications like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall Ritalin) or methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin) can help you improve your ability to control your impulses. Nonstimulant drugs like clonidine and Guanfacine can improve your ability to manage yourself.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. But this type of ADHD is more difficult to detect and can lead to underdiagnosis. Women may hide symptoms to conform to social norms and expectations. This masking is especially problematic in adolescence and early adulthood. Some women use unhealthy strategies for coping such as excessive drinking and substance use to hide their ADHD problems.
Women with high functioning ADHD might cover up their symptoms by achieving the success they desire in certain areas of their lives, such as at school or at work. This could create a false impression that everything is going well and make you feel overwhelmed. Consult your doctor about accommodations at work or school that will aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms. This is a great way to build awareness with your co-workers or professors of the challenges you might face.
3. Disorganization
If you suffer from ADHD you may be late for appointments or turning up late for work, not remembering dates, and zoning out during conversations can lead to frustration and leave others feeling unappreciated or offended. The disorder can make it difficult to manage your finances and keep track of your schedule and complete tasks. If you aren't able to remember what you'll need for groceries, you might miss out on meals or spend too much on unnecessary items.
Women who suffer from ADHD have difficulty keeping the daily chores, bills and homework. The disorder can also lead to messy workspaces, unorganized homes and a tendency to hoard. The "time blindness" that ADHD patients are prone to makes it difficult to determine how long has passed or how long they've worked on a specific task. Time management issues can trigger feelings of guilt or shame when combined with the difficulty of staying organized.
Research has shown that women, girls and boys are more likely than males to suffer from ADHD. However, the symptoms may be misdiagnosed or concealed. Women are often not diagnosed until they reach adulthood when their symptoms become more obvious. Additionally, social stigma and stereotypes could make it harder for women to access the help and treatment they require.
Your doctor may recommend medication to help manage your ADHD symptoms. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine can boost and regulate levels of neurotransmitters, which are the brain chemicals that communicate with each other. Antidepressants and atomoxetine, which are nonstimulant medications are also used to treat ADHD. However, adhd traits in women work more slowly than stimulants. Your doctor might refer you to an expert in mental health, who can help create a treatment plan tailored to your requirements.
4. Impulsiveness
Women with ADHD can have difficulty controlling their emotions, and may be more sensitive to rejection. The chemical imbalance that comes with ADHD interferes with communication between brain regions that regulate emotions and determine how to handle them.
People suffering from ADHD are more prone to moodiness and depression. This, in conjunction with the difficulty of keeping track of their responsibilities, can cause problems with family and romantic relationships. Women with ADHD also have lower self-esteem and may have trouble forming friendships and managing social situations. They may wander off on tangents during conversations or have trouble comprehending what other people are saying, which could make it difficult for them to determine their place within groups.
When managing their daily responsibilities women with ADHD may have trouble finding the motivation to do boring or mundane tasks, such as laundry, dishes, and cleaning. This can lead them to develop unhealthy coping strategies like binge-watching TV shows or consuming substances. These behaviors can be especially dangerous for young girls as well as adolescents with ADHD, who are more likely to engage in sexually risky behavior, such as early beginning of sexual activity, fewer protected sex partners, and more casual sex than their peers.
As adults, women with ADHD are more likely to go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed than men because they tend to have inattentive symptoms instead of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Many women conceal their ADHD due to the many expectations placed on them by society (managing home and family for instance). It isn't easy for doctors to determine if there is a problem because the symptoms are easier to spot in both men and boys.
5. Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD might find it difficult to manage their daily tasks. They may have difficulty managing their lives, making payments on time and keeping track of appointments or school/work requirements. In addition, emotional symptoms, such as mood swings and trouble managing their emotions, could make it hard to get along with others and contribute to difficulties in personal relationships.
People suffering from ADHD often have trouble picking social cues or reading body language. They might have trouble following a conversation or go off on a tangent, which can cause issues at school or at work and causing tension in relationships. They might also have difficulty making new friends or finding the right balance between work, home, and social life.
The symptoms of ADHD are able to change throughout the day, and may be affected by hormones such as during menstruation and pregnancy, or during perimenopausal perimenopausal cycles. This could lead to an incorrect diagnosis or a wrong type of medication being prescribed.
There are certain signs and symptoms that are common to ADHD that can aid you or a loved one recognize the condition. It is essential to recognize these signs in order to receive the treatment and assistance you require to manage your symptoms effectively.
It is important to remember that ADHD does not mean that you are unaffected by other mental or physical conditions. Your therapist or doctor should perform a thorough assessment. They'll ask questions regarding your past and current behavior, review your medical history, and talk about the impact of your symptoms in different settings.