ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Many women don't realize they are diagnosed with ADHD until they reach adulthood. The symptoms can go unnoticed during childhood and the strategies for coping they learned as children may not be as effective when they become adults.
Treatment options include stimulant medications and other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy. Coaching and support groups are also available.
1. Inattentiveness
Women with inattentive ADHD struggle to stay focused whether at work or at school. They can forget the simplest tasks or make a few mistakes that cause frustration. They can also find it difficult to finish long-term or complex tasks and be late on their commitments. The signs of inattention ADHD tend to persist into adulthood, though the intensity of hyperactivity and impulsivity tend to decrease.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can be hard to recognize for children and girls who don't have the same obvious signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity as boys and children who are assigned male at birth (AMAB). This means that the disorder goes undiagnosed until the early years of childhood, with girls frequently being misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety.
It can be a huge relief for women who have struggled with these issues throughout their lives to finally receive a valid diagnosis. This can help explain the difficulties they've faced, validate their experiences, and provide a path to successful treatment.
Distractibility, which persists throughout adulthood, is a different symptom that can be caused by inattention ADHD. People suffering from the condition may easily be enticed into side quests, such as video games or social media and have difficulty keeping their focus on a task at hand. They may also have trouble working through multi-step tasks, like writing a report or paying bills.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help treat inattentive ADHD. This involves teaching strategies for managing distractions and creating and using schedules. Finding support groups and making adjustments to the environment could help. A healthcare professional can recommend medications and other treatments to enhance the quality of life for women suffering from inattentive ADHD. Getting guidance from an experienced professional can assist women to manage their symptoms and improve their everyday functioning, and achieve their goals.
2. Hyperactivity
Women suffering from ADHD may experience difficulties with hyperactivity. Restlessness, inability to sit still or play games and a lack of ability to finish tasks are just a few of the signs. They may speak or act before they are finished with their sentences and may display the "thousand-yard stare". These symptoms can impact work, school, relationships, and family. Being diagnosed with ADHD isn't easy however treatment, which includes psychotherapy and medication can improve your relationships, prepare you for success at school or at work, and help you better know yourself.
Despite being more frequent than boys, there isn't much research has been conducted to study the effects of ADHD in adult, cisgender females. This is partly because the rating scales of ADHD symptoms tend to favor male behavior and internalized feelings aren't easy to measure.
In addition to hyperactivity, women suffering from ADHD may have trouble with impulsivity and have difficulty keeping commitments. They may find it easy to engage in risky sexual activities due to early sex beginning and lack of planning. They may also are more likely to develop sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancies. They also may struggle with rejection sensitivity, which is an intense emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection.
Managing ADHD symptoms can be difficult at any age. Women with ADHD can employ a variety of tools to manage their symptoms, ranging from medication to psychotherapy to lifestyle adjustments. Joining a support group could be beneficial for many people with ADHD. They can talk to other people who are facing similar challenges. They can also hire an executive function coach to help with their organizational abilities and learn healthy coping strategies such as exercising. Adults suffering from ADHD might also take part in clinical trials that evaluate new medications and treatment approaches. Visit the NIMH Clinical Trials page for more information.
3. Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle to control their behavior, leading to problems with self-esteem and strained relationships. Their impulsivity puts them at the risk of being forced into sexually inappropriate activities or being the victims of intimate partner violence, especially if they have poor planning and organizational skills.
While impulsiveness can be part of all kinds of ADHD but it's more prevalent in the subtype of inattentive, which is what the majority of people who suffer from ADHD get diagnosed with. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are characterized by racing thoughts and being easily bored, getting distracted, forgetting details and missing appointments, having difficulty with time management and having trouble with conversational self-restraint (interrupting people frequently or completing sentences of others).
Attention-deficit ADHD can affect both adults and children. It's less common in the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes, which is why many girls and women with this condition go undiagnosed or get a misdiagnosis, even into adulthood.
The gender roles that are a part of the norm could also be a reason why women and girls are more likely to conceal their ADHD symptoms. It's accepted for boys to be reckless or be unorganized, which makes it more difficult for parents and teachers to recognize girls' behavioral problems.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also suffer from mood swings or difficulty in interacting with others. The symptoms may vary from day to day, depending on the fluctuation of their hormones. They can be exacerbated by, for example, a drop of estrogen after ovulation, or at the time of menstrual cycle. Additionally, an unbalanced, processed and sugary diet can exacerbate symptoms. These women may also be affected during the course of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and changes in hormones at menopause.
4. Disorganization
Women with ADHD are usually unorganized, which could be either severe or mild. You may spend hours searching for your keys, or lose them often. You may find it difficult to work because your bedroom or desk are filled with clutter. You may also have trouble keeping track of your appointments or paying your bills.
The disorder can also affect your emotional wellbeing. You may find it difficult to manage your mood. This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and feeling inadequate. You may also be prone to impulsive behavior that can lead to relationship issues. These can include putting off tasks with many details, or putting off work until the last minute.
You might also put off things that require effort due to the fact that you're not organized. This can lead to an accumulation of unfinished projects, which can be stressful. In addition, it can cause you to lose or forget important items like medications or your wallet. The reason for this is usually stress or a stressful lifestyle, but ADHD could also be the reason.
Disorders that cause disorganization can also be a result of problems in your social and personal life. You might not know how to respond to someone else's request, or you could interrupt them inappropriately. You might also struggle to keep your emotions in check and can result in disagreements or feelings of disapproval.
A diagnosis can help you comprehend your symptoms and learn how to manage them. It could also provide you with the peace of mind that you're not alone in having to deal with your ADHD symptoms. You may be able get treatment by a doctor or other health professional, such as a ADHD coach or psychotherapy. You may also be able to participate in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that examine new ways to detect, prevent or treat illnesses. Find out more about clinical trials on the NIMH Clinical Trials page.
5. Indecisiveness
What to wear or the best place to eat dinner, indecisive people may struggle to make even the most small of decisions. Indecision can also affect bigger decisions, such as choosing an occupation or buying an apartment. People who are indecisive often feel trapped in limbo. This can lead to anxiety and stress.
Indecisive people may constantly weigh pros and cons or ask for advice, but they're unable to make a decision. Certain people who are indecisive have difficulty accepting the consequences of decisions. adhd in adult women symptoms could ultimately affect their health and well-being in significant ways.
Some indecisive people might be hesitant to make an even decision and this can have negative effects on their relationships and lives. For example, they may not apply for a job or begin dating because they fear the decision will be wrong. They may even be unable to buy a home or car as they are unable to decide on the right one.
Indecisiveness also has a significant impact on work performance and productivity. Indecisive leaders have been shown to demotivate and stifle the morale of their teams. This can negatively impact employees in other departments and spread throughout the organization.
There are several strategies to assist those who have difficulty making decisions overcome their uncertainty. For instance, they could practice mindfulness by focusing on the present moment. They can also learn to trust their own instincts. They can also seek out guidance from mental health professionals to identify the thoughts and behaviors that hinder them from being able to make decisions.