Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women with ADHD are often faced with different social expectations regarding how they should handle their careers as well as their family and home lives. This can cause you be embarrassed and frustrated when your symptoms cause problems.
Research suggests that girls are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than men and boys. This could be due to the fact that they conceal their symptoms or develop coping mechanisms to conceal them.
1. Inattentiveness
Finding it difficult to focus at school or work is among the primary signs of adhd. Women with adhd often forget important meetings or projects, or are misguided by instructions. They may also find it difficult to concentrate in noisy or crowded environments. Certain people with ADHD may exhibit what's called "thousand-yard stares" and zone out during conversations. These symptoms can lead to difficulties at work or in relationships.
adhd symptoms in women and girls are particularly susceptible to undiagnosed ADHD especially as they grow older. They develop coping strategies that disguise their symptoms and continue to do so into adulthood. They might even begin to consider their symptoms personal characteristics, which could make them less likely to seek help.
In addition, many teachers do not recommend ADHD evaluations for girls as frequently as they do for men. If a girl's numbness or ADHD is affecting her school performance or social interactions she should talk to a health professional.
Being a bit inattentional ADHD can cause lots of emotional stress. It can be frustrating to feel that you aren't capable of meeting the expectations of your coworkers, friends and family members. It can also be upsetting when you feel like you're unable to get along with your children or siblings. Inattention and impulsivity can exacerbate depression and anxiety in some people with ADHD. You can decrease the severity of these symptoms by seeking help and doing other activities. Regular exercise can release neurotransmitters to improve attention and concentration. It also helps reduce mood swings and anxiety, which are common in people with ADHD.
2. Impulsivity
The impulse-driven symptoms of ADHD can be a challenge to manage. You may utter things you shouldn't, purchase something on impulse or even get in trouble with the law because of your behavior. It can be difficult to control your feelings and emotions. Self-injury could result from cutting, burning or scratching oneself. It can also lead drug and alcohol abuse.
add symptoms in women who are impulsive often have issues with relationships and school or work performance. Your doctor can help you manage your impulsivity with prescription medications. You can boost your impulse control with medications like amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and the methylphenidate. Non-stimulant drugs like clonidine or guanfacine may also help you to manage your impulses better.
Women are more likely than men and boys to have a hyperactive/impulsive form of ADHD. This type of ADHD can be harder to detect, leading to the wrong diagnosis. Women may hide symptoms in order to conform to social norms and expectations. This can be particularly problematic in adolescence and early adulthood. Some women use unhealthy ways of coping that include excessive drinking and drug abuse, to cover up their ADHD issues.
Women who suffer from high functioning ADHD might cover up their symptoms by having success in particular areas of their life like at school or at work. This can give you a false sense that everything is fine and make you feel overwhelmed. Talk to your doctor about accommodations at school or at work to help you manage your ADHD symptoms. This is an excellent opportunity to create awareness with your co-workers or professors about the challenges you may encounter.
3. Disorganization
If you suffer from ADHD then you may be unable to attend appointments, arriving late to work, forgetting dates and not paying attention to conversations can result in anger and make others feel unimportant or offended. The condition can also make it difficult to manage your finances and keep track of your schedule and complete tasks. If you don't know what you need to get for food, you might not be able to cook your meals or spend too much on unnecessary things.
Women who suffer from ADHD often have a difficult time keeping track of daily chores, homework and expenses. The condition can also cause messy homes, messy workspaces and a tendency to pile up. People with ADHD suffer from a condition known as "time blindness," which makes it difficult to determine how long it has taken and the length of time you've spent on a project. Combined with difficulty staying focused, issues with time management can cause feelings of guilt and shame being not organized.
Although research shows that girls and women are more likely to suffer from ADHD than men and boys the symptoms can be hidden and underdiagnosed. Many women don't receive an diagnosis until they reach adulthood when their symptoms become more apparent. In addition, social stigmas and stereotypes may hinder women to get the support and treatment they need.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to help manage your ADHD symptoms. stimulants such as amphetamine or methylphenidate boost and balance neurotransmitters - brain chemicals that talk to each other. Non-stimulant drugs like antidepressants and atomoxetine are also used to treat ADHD, but they work slower than stimulants. Your doctor might also recommend you to a mental health professional, who can help develop an individualized treatment plan that meets your individual requirements.
4. Impulsiveness
Women who suffer from ADHD may have a hard managing their emotions, and are often more sensitive to rejection. The chemical imbalance that is associated with ADHD disrupts the brain's communication between the areas that regulate emotions and interpret how to handle these emotions.
People with ADHD are more susceptible to moodiness and depression. This, in conjunction with the difficulty of managing their obligations can lead to problems with family and romantic relationships. Women who suffer from ADHD might also suffer from low self-esteem, and may have difficulties forming relationships and navigating social situations. They can wander off in a tangent or struggle to comprehend what other people are saying. This could make it difficult for them to find a spot in an organization.
Women suffering from ADHD might find it difficult to keep themselves motivated to complete simple or boring tasks such as washing dishes, cleaning, or doing laundry. This can lead them to develop unhealthy coping habits, such as binge-watching TV shows or consuming substances. These types of behaviors are particularly dangerous for young girls as well as adolescents with ADHD who are more likely to engage in sexually dangerous actions, such as early initiation of sexual activity, fewer sexual partners who are protected 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. Additionally many women conceal their ADHD symptoms because of the a myriad of expectations that society puts on them (managing the home and the family, for example). It isn't easy for doctors to identify that there is a problem since the symptoms are easy to detect in men and boys.
5. Hyperactivity
For women suffering from ADHD the daily chores can be difficult to handle. They may have trouble managing their lives, paying off bills on time and keeping track of schedules or school/work requirements. The emotional symptoms, such as mood swings and difficulty controlling emotions, may make it difficult to connect with other people and cause difficulties in relationships with family and friends.
People suffering from ADHD are unable to discern body language or social cues. They may go off on a tangent in conversations or have trouble following the thread of conversation, causing problems with work or school performance and tension in relationships. They might also have difficulty making new friends or achieving the right balance between their work, home, and social life.
The symptoms of ADHD are different throughout the day and may be affected by hormone levels, like those during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or as they move through perimenopause (the menopausal transition). This could result in misdiagnosis or the wrong types of medication being taken.
There are certain symptoms and signs that are common to ADHD that can aid you or a loved one recognize the condition. It is crucial to be aware of these signs to get the treatment and assistance you require to manage your symptoms effectively.
Having ADHD isn't a guarantee that you don't have other physical or mental health conditions, so it's important that your doctor or therapist conducts a thorough examination. They'll ask you questions about your past and present behavior, review your medical history, and talk about the impact of your symptoms in various settings.