Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Adult females suffering from ADHD are often misdiagnosed or overlooked. A proper diagnosis can enhance your life both professionally and personally.
Symptoms include forgetfulness and inability to keep track of time and impulsiveness, poor emotional regulation, and trouble reading social cues. Treatment may include medication and therapy.
Inattention and lack of Focus
ADHD is characterized by difficulties keeping focus. People with ADHD struggle to focus on a task beyond a few moments, no matter how interesting the task is. If they are interested in the task, they can be absorbed in the task and neglect other tasks or responsibilities. This could lead to procrastination and missed appointments as well as a lack of completion of work projects.
People suffering from ADHD are also prone to having difficulty remembering instructions and retaining specifics. This can make it hard to complete tasks at school or at work and can cause confusion and anger between individuals. It also plays a role in time management issues, such as not paying bills on time or not making appointments.
Women suffering from ADHD can develop coping strategies to hide their symptoms. This can lead to them being perceived as chaotic or unfocused by other people. This can lead them to feel shame and guilt. This can further impact their self-esteem.
Use a planner to help you manage this symptom. You can also make use of post-it notepads or a planner to keep appointments and deadlines. Utilize a headset that blocks out noise to block out any distractions, as well as listen to music to increase concentration (be sure the music does not have lyrics that compete with your concentration). Avoid caffeine before bedtime as it can disturb sleep patterns. Practice good sleep hygiene by setting a routine for bedtime and turning off screens an hour before you go to sleep. You can also take your bath in a warm tub and listening to soothing music or using a weighted blanket to calm the mind before falling asleep.
Inattention
Women who are inattention ADHD subtype often have difficulty finishing tasks such as not being able to remember important deadlines and dates or even completing their daily chores. They might also be unable to remember important details in conversations, or be distracted by other things happening around them. They frequently make mistakes at work or at school and forget to check their work prior to submitting. They also have difficulty planning and setting priorities.
combined ADHD symptoms in adults and forgetfulness of people can cause frustration and misunderstandings with romantic partners, friends, family members colleagues, teachers or coworkers which makes it difficult for these individuals to seek treatment for their symptoms. For example, if you frequently miss meetings or have trouble keeping track of your schedule it could lead others to believe that you aren't interested in them or lack commitment to the relationship. Your forgetfulness or inability to concentrate can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts with those you share your life with.
Women who suffer from ADHD have high-functioning symptoms that do not have a significant impact on their lives. This includes forgetting appointments, not meeting deadlines or postponing tasks. However, they may have other issues, such as restlessness and poor organization skills.
Symptoms of adult ADHD may become more severe during perimenopause (perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause). Getting enough sleep and exercising can help with these symptoms.
Inattentive ADHD is among the most frequent types of ADHD. A thorough assessment by a medical professional is necessary to determine ADHD. This can include a cognitive, physical or behavioral test as well as an interview with your family physician. *Note: Sex is biology which refers to chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy which determines if someone is a woman, man, or a nonbinary. Gender identity however is a personal feeling of who you are, which includes cultural and social beliefs.
Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD have trouble controlling their impulses, which is the ability to delay action or refrain from acting based upon thought. They may have trouble self-restraining during conversations, interrupting others without thinking, and have trouble understanding social boundaries. They also have a difficult time waiting for their turn and are likely to be impatient throughout the day. These symptoms can cause issues at home, school, work and in social interactions.
It can be difficult to keep up with a variety of tasks such as phone calls, emails and meetings can be particularly difficult for people with ADHD. In addition, they may be unable to remember names and their handwriting could be messy. They may also be lacking in organizational skills and procrastinate with projects, which can affect their job performance and lead to stress. In some cases, impulsive behavior leads to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol or using drugs.
adult male ADHD symptoms with ADHD aren't diagnosed because they don't realize they have it. The symptoms of ADHD can be difficult to identify because they are often obscured by hormonal changes caused by puberty, pregnancy, as well as menopausal changes.
At Salience Health, we help patients with ADHD manage their symptoms by using a combination of therapy and medication. Medicines can be extremely beneficial in treating the issue of issues with impulse control. To find out more about the treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD may find it difficult to sit still or remain quiet for long periods of time. Their restlessness and fidgeting often hinders their ability to concentrate on tasks at school or at work. They have difficulty playing or doing things in silence. They could appear disoriented and not concerned about what others think. They might also have trouble remembering details of conversations and events they've attended.
They might also have issues staying on track with plans and commitments. As adults women with ADHD develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms, keep up with expectations and maintain relationships. This can result in feelings like being out of control and overwhelmed. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood swings may be interpreted as signs of depression by male coworkers and spouses.
Women and men experience different symptoms of ADHD, but a thorough evaluation is necessary by a licensed healthcare professional. A Salience Health provider can use tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to determine an assessment and suggest treatments.
A combination of therapy and medication is typically recommended for people with ADHD including adult women. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal skills training and other treatments can aid in changing negative thinking patterns and behavior. Drugs, such as stimulant medications and non-stimulant medications can be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. A doctor can recommend the appropriate medication for you based on your symptoms and age, your stage in life, primary responsibilities, and any other illnesses or conditions you may have.
Social Skills
Many people with ADHD are lonely despite having a large number of family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. They are unable to make new acquaintances or maintaining relationships because of their forgetfulness and problems with focus as well as impulsivity. This can result in long periods of time without an engaging conversation or being late for meetings, and missing social events.
These social issues can lead to problems at work, in school, and in relationships. The inability to follow through on commitments or promises creates feelings of being rejected and not loved by family members, coworkers and peers. This can cause depression and anxiety, as well as low self-esteem, and a feeling of being unworthy or losing control. In some cases, the inappropriate social behaviors can lead to a breakup of an existing relationship or marriage due to the fact that the spouse or partner is not suffering from ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD often mask their symptoms by altering their behavior to conform to social expectations and norms. This can make it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis because they might not be as forthcoming about their difficulties. They may also have developed a repertoire of healthy coping strategies that mask the impact of their symptoms.
For example, they might keep track of their appointments in the calendar app or set phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They might also be able to cope with their inability to multitask by performing more than one thing at once, but they can still struggle with executive function and memory deficits that limit their ability to plan and manage time.
They may also have difficulty understanding the language or interpreting subtexts when listening to others which can lead to social issues. Accurate diagnosis is the first important step in finding solutions and strengthening relationships with other people. There are many solutions and resources available, such as medication and therapies.