ADHD can affect both men and women, but it’s more difficult for women to recognize it. That’s because females often don’t exhibit the same levels of hyperactivity and the same impulsivity as men, which means they could be overlooked or not diagnosed correctly.
The first step in managing your symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. The use of stimulant medication is a typical treatment for adults with ADHD, but there are also other options.
1. Problems with Focusing
Although everyone is distracted at times, women who suffer from ADHD have trouble putting their attention on tasks and conversations particularly when they’re experiencing emotional or sensory overload. These problems can become worse during menstrual periods.
Women who are inattentional ADHD suffer from problems with their working memory. This causes them to be unable to remember simple things like appointments or upcoming events. They often forget where they put their keys to their car or the name of the lady who drove them to home from spin class or even important dates and deadlines.
Procrastination and the inability to stick with plans are also signs of ADHD in females who are adults. They are more likely to be distracted by shiny objects or social media, which makes it harder to complete their assignments and projects. This can result in feeling overwhelmed and a lack of performance at school or at work.
Because of societal ideas about gender, a lot of women suffering from ADHD are not diagnosed. This means that they are embarrassed and mistakenly label their issues as “bad habits” or “character flaws.” They also frequently feel like an imposter. A diagnosis can be a “lightbulb” moment for them, because it provides them with an external explanation of their struggles and helps them accept themselves more fully.
Untreated ADHD in girls and women can have a variety of negative effects, including problems with academics, behavioral issues, relationship and family problems, and coexisting mental health issues. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan can make a difference to the lives of people with adult adhd symptoms at any stage in their life. Treatment options include stimulant medication and therapy. *
2. Difficulty Finishing Projects
Women with ADHD often have difficulty completing tasks and duties. They may lose important information, have trouble switching between tasks and duties and find it difficult to meet deadlines. They may also be more likely to make mistakes, struggle with organizing their schedules and managing their time, and underestimate how long it takes to complete tasks.
The emotional symptoms of ADHD in adults, such as mood swings and irritability, can be a major source of frustration for women with the condition. The symptoms can be exacerbated by hormone changes, including those that occur during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy and menopausal. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may be frustrated and disappointed about their performance at work and in their relationships.
Some women who suffer from ADHD struggle with staying on top of daily tasks, such as grocery shopping and household chores. They might not remember to empty the garbage or shut off the stove, and be easily distracted. They may also struggle with repetitive tasks, such as folding the laundry or washing the dishes. The monotonous or repetitive chores can become overwhelming, resulting in impulsive behaviors like excessive talking or sharing. Women who suffer from ADHD may also make unruly decisions and resort to unhealthy strategies to cope, such as alcohol or other drugs.
If you’re having difficulty working through tasks, suffer from memory issues, have a tendency to procrastinate for a long time, or face relationship challenges it is essential to seek out professional help for ADHD. Getting a proper diagnosis can improve your quality of life and set you up for success in your personal and professional lives. It can aid you in managing your ADHD symptoms and create strategies to manage the symptoms. To minimize lapses in concentration and attention, you can try to adhere to a regular schedule and use a planner or reminder apps, take notes at meetings, and practice good habits of sleep (avoid screens for an hour prior to going to bed). Exercise also helps improve focus by increasing the production of brain neurotransmitters.
3. Difficulty remembering names
It is possible that a difficulty remembering names may be accompanied by other ADHD symptoms, such as trouble following directions or finishing projects. This is due to the difficulty to organize and prioritize tasks, which can hinder information retrieval. This symptom also tends to worsen during times of fatigue, stress, or hormonal changes, for instance prior to, during, or after menopause.
The feeling of forgetting names can be more frustrating if it’s accompanied by a sense of forgetfulness over larger things like appointments or events, or personal reminders. These lapses could also be caused by depression or anxiety, which commonly co-occur with ADHD in women.
Due to gender stereotypes and internalized symptoms, ADHD is often misdiagnosed by women. inattentive adhd in adults symptoms ADHD symptoms for adhd in adults are more subtle than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, making them harder to detect and identify. They are, therefore, under-diagnosed and are not being referred to a doctor to receive treatment and diagnosis.
In addition, there is a gender-based bias because ADHD is typically considered to be a male-specific condition and boys with hyperactivity being the ones who are the most referred to clinics for assessment and treatment. Combined with internalized stigma and the fact that women’s symptoms tend to look different than men’s as well, a lot of professionals fail to diagnose or treat ADHD in women.
It’s becoming more common for women to be diagnosed with ADHD as they reach adulthood. A diagnosis can help improve your relationships and set you up for ADHD Adult Female Symptoms success at school and at work and provide the support you need to excel in your life. If you are looking to get a diagnosis, talk to an experienced Salience Health provider. We will be able to assess your symptoms with tools like Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced and connect you to a therapist that is suitable for you.
4. Ailoofs that appear difficult to see
Women suffering from ADHD may exhibit subtle signs of inattention. They may forget to do chores at home, miss appointments, or have trouble taking notes. They may also struggle with impulsivity and have difficulty understanding social boundaries. This can result in misinterpretation and misunderstandings in relationships with friends and family, and it can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
In addition, women with untreated ADHD often have difficulty meeting social expectations for them as women. They may be struggling with the responsibility of caring for children and household chores, and this societal pressure can intensify their ADHD symptoms and feelings of inadequateness. Many women with untreated ADHD report low self-esteem and turn to unhealthy strategies for coping such as binge eating or television marathons.
The difficulties of ADHD for women are added to by gender biases in how women and girls are treated, and how clinicians evaluate their symptoms. There is evidence that suggests that women and ADHD Adult Female Symptoms girls tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms or compensate for them, and they are less likely than men and boys to get referred for diagnosis and treatment.
Women suffering from ADHD may also have difficulties understanding their symptoms and could be confused with anxiety disorders or mood disorders. This can lead to a false diagnosis and delayed or incorrect treatment.
The symptoms of ADHD can be influenced by hormonal fluctuations. They are most evident during the ovulation period and during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopausal. These changes can cause women to be more unhappy with her ADHD symptoms and increase the likelihood of being misunderstood or viewed as a moody or emotional.
5. Impulsivity
The impulsivity of ADHD affects men and boys differently, women are affected similarly. They may also have difficulty controlling their emotions, and are prone to “foot in the mouth” moments. These actions that are impulsive can have a significant impact on relationships and professional life.
The part of the brain that controls the ability to make decisions and reason is known as the prefrontal cortex. This area is able to prevent individuals from making poor choices since it serves as an alarm. ADHD patients have a less-functional prefrontal cortex. This can make it harder to resist the urges and avoid engaging in reckless behavior. It can also lead to a lack in self-respect. In women, impulsiveness often manifests as difficulty with social boundaries and self-control in conversation (interrupting the conversation, not finishing other’s sentences, and speaking too much).
Women also may have issues with impulse control during the different hormone fluctuations throughout their lives. Estrogen fluctuates in different intervals throughout the menstrual period as well as during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. The use of oral contraception and hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopausal cycles can alter the levels of estrogen and other hormones that affect women’s ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms for girls and women can differ from those in males and boys, which is why they are often incorrectly diagnosed. Many people with ADHD are unaware of their health issues. The good news is that diagnosing and treating ADHD can make a difference in the quality of life of a person regardless of age. If you’re unsure if or not you suffer from ADHD discuss it with your doctor and see how they can assist. Treatment options include medication, cognitive therapy, and couples counseling.