Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Females
Adult females suffering from ADHD are often misdiagnosed and missed. However, a proper diagnosis can help improve your life quality, including relationships at work and in personal relationships.
The most common symptoms are memory loss, trouble staying organized and impulsive behavior, insufficient emotional regulation and trouble reading social signals. Treatment may include therapy and medication.
Insufficient Focus
A hallmark symptom of ADHD is difficulty with sustained focus. People suffering from ADHD find it difficult to focus on a task for more than a few seconds, no matter how interesting the task is. When they become interested in the task, they can become hyper-focused and neglect other tasks or obligations. This can lead to procrastination and missed appointments as well as a lack of completion of work projects.
Additionally, people who suffer from ADHD may have difficulty recalling instructions and details. This could make it difficult to accomplish tasks at school or at work and lead to misunderstandings and frustration in relationships. It also plays part in problems with time management, such as not paying bills on time or missing appointments.
Women who suffer from ADHD might develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can cause them to be perceived as unorganized or sloppy by others. This can lead people to feel shame and guilt. This can also affect their self-confidence.
To manage this condition Try using a planner or post-it notes to track appointments and deadlines. Use a noise-canceling headset to block out distractions, and listen to music to increase concentration (be sure that the music doesn't have lyrics that compete with your focus). Try to avoid caffeine before bedtime, as it can disrupt sleep cycles. Make sure you practice good sleep hygiene including establishing a regular bedtime routine and turning off screens an hour before going to sleep. You can also try a weighted quilt, a warm bath or soothing music to relax your mind before you sleep.
Attention!
Women with the subtype of inattention ADHD are often unable to complete tasks and stay on top of important dates and deadlines and remember appointments, or complete daily chores. They might also be unable to remember particulars in conversations, or be distracted by the other things happening around them. They are often guilty of making mistakes at school or work and do not check their work prior to they submit. In addition, they experience difficulty establishing priorities and planning.
Inattention and forgetfulness can increase tension and confusion with romantic partners or family members, friends, co-workers or teachers which makes it difficult for those with these issues to seek out treatment for their symptoms. For instance, if you are frequently late for meetings or struggle to keep track of your schedule it could lead others to assume that you aren't interested in your partner or don't care about the relationship. Your forgetfulness or inability of focus can lead to misunderstandings with the people who live with you.
Some women with ADHD experience high-functioning symptoms, that do not have any significant impact on their daily lives. For instance, they might forget about appointments, miss deadlines or delay tasks. However, they still have other issues, such as restlessness and a lack of ability to organize.
The symptoms of adult ADHD can become more severe during the perimenopause (perimenopause is the time that precedes menopausal). Regularly sleeping and exercising can help with these symptoms.
Inattention ADHD one of the most prevalent types of ADHD is a disorder that occurs when a person isn't paying attention. A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to diagnose ADHD. This can include a behavioral, cognitive or physical test as well as an interview with your physician. *Note: Sex refers to biology - the chromosomal makeup, hormones and anatomy that determine if you are either a woman or a man; non-binary or another gender; and gender identity - an internal feeling of being a woman, a man or another gender, including the associated social and cultural beliefs about roles, behaviours and expressions.
Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD typically struggle with impulse control, which is the ability to delay action or stop from taking action based on thoughts. They may be unable to self-restrain and interrupting others without thinking, and have a hard time understanding social boundaries. They may also have trouble waiting for their turn and tend to be irritable in general. These signs can cause problems at home, in the workplace, at school and in social relationships.
It can be difficult to keep up with a variety of tasks such as emails, phone calls, and meetings can be particularly difficult for adults suffering from ADHD. They may also have difficulty remembering names and their handwriting may be messy. They may also be suffering from a lack of organizational skills and procrastinate on projects, which could affect their job performance and cause stress. In some instances, impulsive behavior leads to unhealthy coping strategies, such as alcohol or drugs.
Many women suffering from ADHD aren't diagnosed because they don't realize they have it. The symptoms of ADHD are difficult to identify since they are often disguised by hormonal changes like menopausal changes, puberty or pregnancy.
At Salience Health, we help people with ADHD manage their symptoms by using a combination of therapy and medication. The use of medications can be extremely beneficial in treating impulse control. To learn more about the treatment options available to adults suffering from ADHD, contact us today to set up a consultation.
Hyperactivity
Women with ADHD might have difficulty sitting still or remain quiet for long periods of time. Their flitting and restlessness can hinder their ability to focus on tasks at school or at work. They are unable to play or doing leisure activities in silence. They might appear as if they aren't interested in the things that others are interested in, and they are easily distracted. They can also have trouble remembering details of conversations and events they've attended.
They may also have difficulty staying on track with plans and commitments. As adults, many women who have ADHD develop coping mechanisms to mask their symptoms, achieve their goals and maintain relationships. This can result in feelings like being overwhelmed and out of control. It is especially difficult for women who have the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, which can cause mood swings. These mood fluctuations are often misinterpreted by male partners and colleagues, which could contribute to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for women and men however a thorough assessment by an experienced health professional is vital. A Salience Health provider can use tools such as Creyos Cognitive Testing and Brainview Advanced testing to determine a diagnosis and recommend treatment options.
A combination of therapy and medication is generally recommended for those suffering from ADHD, including adult women. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal skills training can help change negative patterns of thinking and behavior. Medication such as stimulant and non-stimulant drugs can aid in managing the symptoms of ADHD among women of adulthood. A doctor can prescribe the right medication for you, based on symptoms, age, stage in life, primary responsibilities and any other medical conditions or illnesses you have.
Social Skills
Many people with ADHD struggle to connect with others and feel isolated despite having many coworkers, friends acquaintances, family members, and acquaintances. They have difficulty making new friends and maintaining relationships due to their forgetfulness and focus issues, as well as impulsivity. This can lead to 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 school, work and in relationships. Inability to keep promises and commitments can result in a feeling that you are being resentful and unloved. This can lead to depression, anxiety, low-self-esteem, and a sense of failure or lack of control. In some instances it may lead to divorce or breakups in relationships due to the insidious behavior can be too excessive for the partner or spouse who doesn't have ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD may mask their symptoms through changing their behavior in order to comply with social norms and expectations. This makes it more difficult for them to get diagnosed because they may not be as transparent about their struggles. They may have developed a healthy set of coping strategies to disguise their symptoms.
For example, they might keep track of their appointments in a calendar app or set phone reminders to pay bills or attend important events. They may also be able to cope with their inability to multitask by doing more than one task at a time however, they may struggle with executive and memory limitations that hinder their ability to plan and manage time.
They may also have difficulties in reading between the lines or comprehending subtexts while listening to other people, which can contribute to social problems. A clear diagnosis is the first crucial step to finding solutions and enhancing relationships with other people. There are ADHD symptoms female adults and solutions available that can assist, including medication and therapy.