ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects men and women equally in adulthood, the condition typically goes undiagnosed in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the ability of women to conceal their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals do not have the expertise or experience needed to identify ADHD in women. In the end, many women are misdiagnosed and not receiving the proper treatment they require.
1. Disorganization
Girls and women with ADHD are often plagued by disordered thinking, which can be very difficult to manage. For example your desk could be a mess of tangled papers, 17 different chapsticks, and a ticket for the Kings of Leon concert you went to in 2008. Even though adult female adhd symptoms may have spent money on products to help you organize your workspace, your home or office is likely still chaotic and messy.
Your inability to keep track of your responsibilities can lead to missed deadlines and missed appointments. You may also experience "time blindness," where you don't know or remember how long it takes to complete a task. This can leave you frustrated and feeling like you're not doing a good job in your professional or personal life, especially when it seems like others don't appreciate your efforts.
You might also have trouble controlling your emotions. This could cause you to overreact when faced with stressful situations. You might also say things that are not intended to hurt someone's feelings. And since impulsivity is common for those with ADHD, you might have trouble stopping yourself from making comments without taking a second to think them through.
If you have ADHD, it's likely that some of your symptoms stem from gender stereotypes and ideas about the ways men, boys, and women should act. This can make it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
You may also benefit from behavioral treatment to address the root cause of your disorder. It might take time to determine the most effective strategies to cope, but using them will allow you to feel more in control of your life and improve your relationships with family members, coworkers, and other friends.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD frequently experience intense emotions, but their brains don't have a method to evaluate or filter them. They can be overwhelmed by a minor event, or have difficulty assessing the emotional state of others. It can also make it easier for them to become distracted by minor inconveniences like a book that's out of stock or a friend who's late to spin class.
Many women suffering from ADHD compensate for their attention difficulties by masking symptoms and devising strategies for coping. They may be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or at work however, they have trouble keeping the track of important dates, bills, and appointments. They may struggle with self-talk control and speak too much or interrupt others often.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. The symptoms include a sudden desire to stop, start or alter activities or activities; not being able to wait for your turn during a conversation and having trouble reading social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender-based stereotypes can play a role in the development of ADHD but it's often difficult to tell if a woman has these issues. Rating scales that are used to determine ADHD symptoms are still skewed toward male behavior and some healthcare professionals might misunderstand or underestimate a woman's symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD have reported that their symptoms get worse during times of hormonal change, such as during menstruation or pregnancy, and also during perimenopausal symptoms. This can cause emotions such as anger or irritability as well as depression. They might also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their lives or relationships. This may lead to the use of drugs, low self-esteem and unhealthy coping habits. This is why it's crucial for women to understand that these signs aren't a reflection of their value or worth as individuals. navigate here is that with a well-planned treatment program, these symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated.
3. Inattention
Although everyone has trouble paying attention and focusing, with ADHD, these symptoms occur often enough that they cause disruption with your life. You might make mistakes at work or school and forget appointments, or spend long hours delaying. You have a hard time waiting to be the first in a conversation and are often interrupted by other people.
Adults who are inattentive can also rush into projects before fully planning them and researching them. This can lead to poor results or even subpar ones. You might also get side-tracked quickly and tend to abandon projects that are not finished -for example, from the vegetable garden that got planted, but never watered, to the new organizational system that got assembled and then left to gather dust on your nightstand.
People with inattentive ADHD also struggle with an ongoing sense of disorganization at home and at work. It is possible that you have trouble finding important documents keys, bills or even keys and lose items on a regular basis. You may also lose the track of time and end up running late for meetings, work or school.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. Women who suffer from these conditions may perform actions or words without thinking about the impact including snoozing over other people or making strange sounds when they are on their own. They might be unable to sit still, and may flitter around in their chair or move. They might be unable to keep a job, and have frequent disagreements with their colleagues and their manager.
In some instances mood swings and emotional turmoil caused by ADHD can cause frustration and miscommunication in relationships. This is especially true in romantic relationships and at work. People with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Girls and women with ADHD have a myriad of obstacles when seeking treatment and diagnosis which include gender discrimination and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or undervalue the severity of them. The rise of famous women such as Mia Freedman and Em Rusciano who have publicly shared their own struggles with ADHD has raised awareness, but many young women and girls do not know they have the condition.
4. Anxiety
An anxiety disorder is defined by a constant, excessive anxiety. Although everyone feels anxious or nervous at times anxiety disorders are defined by persistently high levels of anxiety. You might experience a constant sense of unease or fear and also rapid pulse, difficulty staying calm, and difficulty thinking clearly. You may also feel the sense of danger even in situations that you know aren't risky. The most common types of anxiety are general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, phobias and panic disorders.
Anxiety is more common among women with ADHD than in men and it tends to worsen during certain periods of a woman's life like the time of her menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. This can make it difficult for women to manage everyday tasks and social interaction and can trigger feelings of self-esteem loss or discontent.
You're extremely sensitive to rejection and have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipating rejection and you might get angry over minor things that others don't find to be a problem.
Mood swings are a part of the symptoms of adhd in women who are older and you could be able to notice that your moods are unpredictable or difficult to manage. You could also be susceptible to self-injury that isn't suicidal which includes striking, burning or scratching yourself.

It's important to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you better identify your issues and give you strategies to improve your quality of living. You can take an ADHD test online or consult your doctor to get an assessment from a professional. In some cases your doctor may prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms. In other cases they may recommend the combination of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In any situation, it's crucial to start making some positive changes in your life as soon as you can. This will allow you to regain control of your life, and feel more confident and competent.