Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD are often overlooked due to inattentive symptoms that may not be obvious, gender bias in healthcare professionals and symptom-masking. It is essential to obtain a diagnosis in order to improve your relationships, set yourself up for success, and understand your behavior.
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 symptoms:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to be so focused on a particular task that they lose sight of the outside world. This can happen even if the activity isn't productive. Hyperfocus is what this is. While some people, such as writers, artists, and scientists make use of this skill to excel in their work, unrestrained hyperfocus can be a risk. It can lead you to miss appointments, have problems at work or school and can cause tension with family and friends.
Hyperfocus can be a challenge to stop, especially when you don't know it's happening. Make a plan for your day and prioritize daily tasks like brushing your teeth or taking a bath. If you have a difficult time keeping track of time you can use a clock or alarm clock to help you remain focused or ask a friend to keep track of you at regular intervals. When working on a project, it's beneficial to move around frequently and take frequent breaks.
Hyperfocus in children is often thought of as positive, since it allows them to be engaged in a fun and exciting activity, such as skateboarding, or making things with Legos. Hyperfocus that is not controlled can cause problems in school, a decrease in productivity at work, and even strained relations between siblings and parents.
Hyperfocus can make it difficult to determine if your child suffering from a mental disorder such as anxiety or depression. These are very common among adolescents. It is crucial to seek medical help in the event that your child's symptoms of ADHD are hindering her daily functioning.
Symptoms of ADHD can also heighten at certain times in women's lives for instance, when she is having menstrual cycle or pregnant. This can increase the severity and frequency of emotional symptoms, such as anger or mood fluctuations. It can also increase the chance that a woman will be misunderstood or misinterpreted by her spouse or colleagues.
The male-to-female ADHD ratio is 2:1 during childhood. However, the disparity becomes less pronounced as women begin to receive more ADHD diagnoses after the age of 14. There are numerous resources that can assist girls and women manage their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is an atypical adult female ADHD symptoms, and it can cause issues in your personal and professional life. This symptom can make it difficult to complete tasks, particularly ones that require self-regulation and executive functioning abilities. People who are prone to procrastinating often find themselves behind on important school or work assignments and this can hurt their reputations and relationships.
Other signs of adult ADHD include the inability to remember appointments and missing deadlines. You may also be prone to forgetting important information in conversations, or even your own personal needs like paying bills. You may find it difficult to concentrate in noisy or busy environments, which can lead to missed opportunities at work or school. You could also be easily distracted by your mobile or social media, and have difficulty staying focused while listening to or reading a book with another person.
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 various emotional problems that range from anxiety and depression and mood changes that can have a significant impact on your life. It can also make it difficult to deal with conflicts and miscommunications in your personal and professional relationships.
Women are better than males in obscuring their ADHD symptoms, which can make it harder to obtain an accurate diagnosis and get treatment. This is particularly true for women with high-functioning ADHD, where the inattentive symptoms aren't as obvious and can be camouflaged by mood or anxiety-related symptoms. School reports usually do not contain any mentions about social or relationship difficulties and focus more on academic performance and behavior, which could cause under-diagnosis and mis-identification of women and girls with ADHD.
There are a variety of treatment options for adult ADHD that include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. Talk with your doctor about what treatment plan is right for you. Be aware that the aim of any treatment plan is to assist you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Be sure to discuss the benefits and side effects of any medications you're taking as well any co-occurring conditions you have.
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. The inattentive symptoms are very common and can cause problems at work, school or in relationships.
Impulsivity is a characteristic of the inattentive ADD/ADHD subtype and can be a cause of concern when it leads to reckless choices or risky behavior. Symptoms of impulsivity can include blurting out answers prior to questions are asked, interrupting people in conversations, or buying things on impulse without taking into consideration the consequences. These impulsive behaviors can lead to embarrassing situations in social settings, relationship issues, and financial issues.
Emotional impulsivity may also be a common symptom in adult female ADHD. It can result in an impulsive response to anger or frustration. This impulsivity could result in mood fluctuations which make it difficult to maintain healthy and supportive relationships.
Women suffering from ADHD can find it challenging to manage their emotions, leading to low self-esteem and anxiety. These negative emotions can negatively impact the performance of a person at work, and can lead to missing appointments or health issues. Women with an impulsive ADHD often struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. They can become dependent on others, or have difficulty keeping their commitments.
Women and girls with ADHD have a higher risk of engaging in sexually risky behavior throughout adolescence, and even into adulthood. This is in contrast to peers who don't have the disorder. This is because sexual activity is viewed as a sign of social acceptance. Sexually risky behaviors of young adults and adolescents with ADHD are a contributing factor to the higher rate of teenage, early or unplanned pregnancy in these populations.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to decrease the impulsivity of your behavior. It can be helpful to take a step back and write down thoughts before making a decision. Meditation or mindfulness can aid in calming the mind and body and eliminate distractions. Diet plays an important role in reducing impulses. A balanced diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-quality protein, can help improve concentration and prevent the impulsive behavior. Sleep is a key factor in reducing impulsiveness. Make sure you have a regular sleep routine, using a heavy blanket to relax your mind and body, and limiting screen use prior to you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
A lot of adults suffer from emotional dysregulation with ADHD. When you're unable to control your emotions, it can be difficult to navigate daily challenges and relationships. It could also lead to self-destructive behaviors such as eating disorders and addictions. This can make it difficult to keep a clean home, work or school life.
You might find it difficult to pinpoint your emotions or understand what they mean. This is especially difficult for those suffering from a mood disorder like depression or anxiety. Emotional dysregulation can be characterized by the difficulty of slowing down after an argument, frequent outbursts or being easily frustrated by minor inconveniences. It is also possible to have difficulty getting past events out of your mind or retaining grudges.
Females with ADHD may be particularly vulnerable to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than men or boys. signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults 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 under more pressure than men and boys to meet societal expectations. This can be particularly challenging for teenagers suffering from ADHD, as they enter into the hormonal changes that accompany puberty and adolescence. Combined with their heightened sensitivity to social and academic demands, this can be the cause of emotional dysregulation.
If you are experiencing emotional dysregulation due to ADHD symptoms, medication or therapy may be the best option for treatment. The use of medication can aid in regulating your hormones and improve your mood, while therapy can provide an environment that allows you to work through emotions of sadness, anger and anxiety, as well as rejection.
Whether you choose medication or therapy, the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to implement steps to improve your sleep. This can be accomplished by implementing a routine prior to going to going to bed, doing a meditation routine or listening to calming music. Good sleep hygiene can help you feel more refreshed throughout the day.
Although everyone's experience with ADHD is different, it's important to remember that there are ways to manage symptoms and live a fulfilling life. It's common for people to try different treatments and medications, or lifestyle changes to find the most effective solution.